A large influx of short-sellers shouldn’t be a condemning factor to any company, but it could be a red flag from traders that something may not be as cut-and-dried as it appears. Let’s look at three companies that have seen a rapid increase in the number of shares sold short and see whether traders are blowing smoke or if their worry has some merit.
| Company | Short Increase April 30 to May 15 | Short Shares as a % of Float |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV) | 94% | 4.8% |
| Walter Energy, Inc. (NYSE:WLT) | 24.2% | 24.1% |
| Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NYSE:NLY) | 26% | 3.4% |
Source: The Wall Street Journal.
Flying high
Shareholders in Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV) have certainly been privy to a fantastic May that saw the company quadruple its quarterly dividend from $0.01 to $0.04 (vaulting its yield to 1.1%) and boost its share repurchase program to $1.5 billion from its previously authorized $1 billion. Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV) clearly has the cash flow to merit these shareholder-enriching moves, but there’s also cause for concern, as evidenced by the dramatic rise in short-sellers.
At 11 times forward earnings, Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV) isn’t particularly expensive, but it’s also in the process of fully integrating AirTran, which it purchased two years ago. There are innumerable benefits to Southwest’s purchase, including international exposure that it previously didn’t have; a hub in the world’s largest airport, Atlanta-Hartsfeld; and access to busy metropolises. Then again, mergers and acquisitions in the airline space don’t always go as planned. United and Continental merged to create United Continental Holdings Inc (NYSE:UAL) in 2010 to realize synergies, reduce expenses, and better compete against the nation’s largest airlines. However, last year the merger actually resulted in more costs, not less, for United!
There are ultimately a few factors that will determine whether Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV) remains successful. Reasonably low jet fuel prices, steady to rising passenger traffic, and the struggles of its competitors are likely to give Southwest the lift it needs to head even higher. Admittedly, though, investors should keep their expectations in check for a sector that historically has performed miserably over the long run.
Digging this deal
Walter Energy, Inc. (NYSE:WLT) and the entire coal sector have struggled through an incredibly rough year. Low natural gas prices have persuaded electric utilities to make the switch from coal-burning facilities to natural-gas-powered ones while worldwide steel demand remains muted because of slower growth in China and stringent austerity measures throughout Europe. Unsurprisingly, in its first-quarter results, Walter reported a 22% decline in year-over-year revenue as demand and prices for both coal grades remained weak.
However, it’s my contention that the coal sector isn’t nearly as bad off as the results make it out to be. In fact, with respect to thermal coal, I would expect to see coal gaining significant ground on natural gas in the coming quarters, with natural gas eclipsing the $4/mbtu mark — roughly double where it was last year. While natural gas is cleaner-burning, coal still accounts for more than 40% of all electrical generation in the U.S. and will remain a key component to our energy independence.
The steel side of the business is a bit trickier to predict, but it appears that the U.S., South America, and China look ready to pitch in with extra demand. In the U.S., more favorable home prices could encourage homebuilders to ramp up production, which would be great for steel producers. Likewise, emerging-market economies in South America have been relatively immune to overall global market weakness which should spur steel demand in those countries. Even China, with its below-average 7.7% GDP growth rate in its most recent quarter, is more than capable of propping up the steel market.
