Each trading day, our technical scanner evaluates hundreds of S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 constituents across a broad range of momentum, trend, and oscillator indicators, flagging stocks where bearish signals significantly outnumber bullish ones. The five names below carried the heaviest concentration of technical sell signals on 24 September 2026. A short candidate is a stock where the weight of technical evidence suggests further downside may be probable — though, as always, signals are tools for analysis, not guarantees of outcome.
Important risk warning: Short selling involves risks that go beyond those of a standard long position. Losses on a short trade are theoretically unlimited, borrowing costs can erode returns, and a sudden positive catalyst can trigger a sharp short squeeze. Treat these ideas as starting points for your own research, never as recommendations to act.
1. Palo Alto Networks (PANW) – 13 technical sell signals
Price: $328.48 | Daily change: -9.28%
View the full technical analysis of Palo Alto Networks
Palo Alto Networks suffered a severe single-session decline of more than nine percent, making it the most technically distressed name on today’s scan. The selling pressure coincides with a fresh downgrade from Bernstein, whose analysts moved the stock to Market Perform on the grounds that valuation multiples have stretched too far relative to the underlying growth outlook. That kind of reassessment from a major institutional research house can accelerate distribution by large funds.
The backdrop is not without positives: the company delivered a robust fiscal fourth quarter only weeks ago, posting accelerated top-line growth that sent the stock surging more than twelve percent in a single session in mid-September, and demand for its AI-driven security platform remains commercially strong. Morgan Stanley also recently lifted its price objective, maintaining an Overweight rating. However, insider selling activity reported via SEC filings adds a note of caution about near-term conviction at the management level.
With 13 bearish signals against just 3 bullish ones, the technical picture is firmly negative. The stock appears to be in the early stages of unwinding a sharp momentum-driven rally. Prospective short sellers should note that PANW remains a consensus institutional favourite, meaning headline-driven reversals can be swift and painful.
2. Leidos (LDOS) – 13 technical sell signals
Price: $133.78 | Daily change: -3.88%
View the full technical analysis of Leidos
Leidos also registered 13 bearish technical signals on 24 September, placing it joint-top of the scan. The defence and technology contractor has actually shown some resilience in recent weeks, outperforming the broader S&P 500 on several individual sessions and trading comfortably above its July lows near $105. That recovery rally may, however, be running out of steam, as evidenced by today’s near four-percent pullback.
On the fundamental side, the company has continued to build its backlog, most notably through a five-year, $301 million follow-on Army cybersecurity contract announced in late August. Such contract wins underpin revenue visibility and are typically regarded positively by defence-sector investors. This is a meaningful headwind for a short thesis and should not be underestimated.
Nevertheless, the technical scorecard of 13 bear signals versus only 3 bull signals suggests that short-term price momentum has deteriorated materially. Bears may be watching for a failure to reclaim recent highs as confirmation of a trend reversal. Given the steady government contract pipeline that Leidos typically enjoys, any short position here carries above-average headline risk if further contract awards are announced.
3. Omnicom Group (OMC) – 13 technical sell signals
Price: $81.76 | Daily change: -5.03%
View the full technical analysis of Omnicom Group
Omnicom is the third name to record 13 bearish technical signals, and its five-percent single-day decline is among the sharpest in the broader market today. The advertising conglomerate has faced a confluence of headwinds in recent weeks, including leadership changes at one of its core advertising units, which have unsettled investors who typically favour management continuity at large agency groups. Heavy trading volumes during the pressure periods suggest institutional participants are actively reducing exposure rather than simply sitting on the sidelines.
Earlier in the summer, Omnicom reported second-quarter revenues that beat analyst expectations — partly inflated by acquisition-related contributions — but profitability came in well short of forecasts, leading to a sharp sell-off following results. That earnings miss appears to have left a lasting mark on market sentiment toward the stock, which has continued to lag the S&P 500 on a relative-return basis through the autumn period.
With 13 bearish signals and 6 bullish ones, the ratio is less extreme than some peers on this list but still decisively negative. The stock’s valuation relative to its current growth and margin trajectory may attract value-oriented buyers, which could provide support and limit downside momentum. Short sellers should monitor leadership developments closely, as personnel stabilisation could quickly shift sentiment.
4. Autodesk (ADSK) – 12 technical sell signals
Price: $241.73 | Daily change: -2.41%
View the full technical analysis of Autodesk
Autodesk slides into fourth place with 12 bearish technical signals and only 3 bullish readings — a lopsided ratio that points to broad-based deterioration across trend, momentum, and oscillator indicators. The design-software company had enjoyed a notable upswing through the summer, with some analysts arguing the stock remained meaningfully undervalued even after its climb. However, periods of sharp outperformance in the absence of clear near-term catalysts can leave a stock vulnerable to technical consolidation or reversal.
Earlier in the year the picture was grimmer still, with the stock trading at recent lows and triggering unusual put-options activity — a sign that sophisticated market participants were positioning defensively even then. The subsequent rebound has not entirely dispelled those concerns. Billionaire investor Steve Cohen was reported to hold a significant stake, which speaks to longer-term institutional confidence, but institutional ownership can also mean more aggressive selling when technical conditions deteriorate.
Today’s decline of nearly two and a half percent, combined with a heavily skewed bear-to-bull signal ratio of 12 to 3, suggests the path of least resistance may be lower in the short term. Potential short sellers should be aware that any positive guidance update or sector rotation back into software names could produce a rapid reversal.
5. Constellation Brands (STZ) – 12 technical sell signals
Price: $129.35 | Daily change: -0.98%
View the full technical analysis of Constellation Brands
Constellation Brands rounds out the list with 12 bearish technical signals against 6 bullish ones. The beverages group has had a turbulent stretch: beer sales showed signs of recovery in its most recent earnings report, which helped the stock reclaim a key chart level according to technical analysts, yet the shares have continued to drift lower on subsequent sessions. A two-point-eight-percent decline in mid-September underscored the fragility of that recovery.
On the corporate side, the company has been active in reshaping its supply chain leadership, appointing a new chief supply chain officer for its beer division. Meanwhile, its strategic focus on premiumisation — building out a higher-margin portfolio of aspirational beer brands — continues to be cited by management and some analysts as a medium-term growth driver. Evercore ISI, though trimming its price objective, retained an Outperform rating, and the average analyst view remains constructive. That analyst support is a notable counterweight to the bearish technical setup.
With a 12-to-6 bear-to-bull signal ratio, the technical case for downside is real but less overwhelming than for some names higher on this list. The combination of ongoing analyst support and a slowly improving operating picture means that a short position in STZ carries meaningful fundamental risk, and position sizing should reflect that uncertainty.
Disclaimer: This article is produced for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Technical analysis is one tool among many and does not predict future price movements with certainty. All investing involves risk, and short selling carries additional risks including potentially unlimited losses. Always conduct your own due diligence and consult a qualified financial adviser before making investment decisions. The Wall Street Stock Investors Club and its contributors may hold positions in securities mentioned.