Each week our technical scanner evaluates every stock in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, tallying bullish and bearish indicator readings across momentum, trend, volume and oscillator frameworks. The stocks featured below are those that registered the highest number of technical sell signals as of 10 August 2026. A short candidate is a stock whose technical picture suggests continued downside pressure — it does not constitute a recommendation to trade.
Important risk warning: Short selling carries risks that go beyond those of a standard long position. Losses are theoretically unlimited, borrowing costs can be significant, and stocks can be subject to short squeezes. Always size positions carefully and ensure short selling is appropriate for your personal risk tolerance and regulatory situation.
1. The Trade Desk (TTD) – 15 technical sell signals
Price: $13.80 | Daily change: -21.9%
View the full technical analysis of The Trade Desk
The Trade Desk dominates this week’s bearish rankings by a considerable margin, carrying 15 technical sell signals against just 7 bullish readings. The sheer weight of negative momentum indicators reflects what was an exceptionally damaging earnings session. The company’s second-quarter results, released after the close on 6 August, revealed revenue that fell short of analyst expectations, with sales growing only around 3% year on year to approximately $715 million — a rate of expansion that disappointed a market accustomed to stronger growth from the digital advertising platform.
Compounding the revenue miss were signs of margin pressure, which raised concerns among investors about whether the business can maintain profitability as it navigates a more competitive and cost-sensitive advertising environment. Shares fell roughly 22% on the day of reporting and the selling continued into the following session, with multiple analyst downgrades adding further weight to an already battered chart.
From a technical standpoint, a decline of this magnitude in a single session typically triggers a cascade of bearish signals — broken support levels, oversold momentum readings that have yet to stabilise, and deteriorating moving-average structures. With 15 sell signals recorded, the technical picture suggests the path of least resistance remains downward, though traders should note that extreme one-day drops can occasionally precede sharp, short-lived bounces.
2. Zoetis (ZTS) – 12 technical sell signals
Price: $72.66 | Daily change: -5.97%
View the full technical analysis of Zoetis
Zoetis, the animal health company and long-standing S&P 500 constituent, appears as the second-ranked short candidate with 12 bearish technical signals against 8 bullish ones. The stock slipped nearly 6% on the session, building on a pattern of underperformance that has been evident for several weeks. The technical deterioration reflects growing investor unease ahead of and following the company’s second-quarter earnings release.
When results were published on 6 August, Zoetis reported sales that were broadly flat year on year at approximately $2.47 billion, falling short of Wall Street expectations. The company also provided full-year guidance that appeared to leave limited room for optimism. For a business that has historically commanded a premium valuation on the strength of consistent growth, missing on the top line while offering cautious forward commentary is a combination that tends to weigh heavily on sentiment.
The technical picture has been building toward this deterioration for some time — the stock had already been lagging broader market gains in prior sessions, a classic sign of relative weakness. With momentum indicators now firmly in bearish territory and the stock trading at multi-month lows, the chart structure offers limited near-term support signals. Bears should nonetheless remain aware that Zoetis retains strong long-term fundamentals in the resilient animal health sector.
3. Rockwell Automation (ROK) – 11 technical sell signals
Price: $441.04 | Daily change: -0.17%
View the full technical analysis of Rockwell Automation
Rockwell Automation makes this list with 11 technical sell signals against just 5 bullish readings, despite a relatively flat daily move. The industrial automation company delivered third-quarter results that beat estimates and even raised its full-year 2026 guidance, citing stronger demand from semiconductor manufacturers and data centre customers. That would normally be considered a positive catalyst — yet the market’s muted reaction is itself a warning sign, and the technical indicators appear to be reflecting a broader trend of selling into strength.
The concern among analysts and investors appears to centre on valuation. Rockwell shares have delivered substantial gains over recent years, and at current price levels the stock is widely regarded as fully valued, if not stretched. When a company raises guidance and the share price barely moves, it often indicates that good news is already priced in and that the bar for further upside has become very high.
From a technical perspective, the accumulation of 11 bearish signals — including what are likely deteriorating momentum and trend indicators — suggests the stock may be in the early stages of a distribution phase. The industrial sector broadly faces questions around order cycles and capital expenditure sustainability. With the bull-to-bear signal ratio at roughly 5 to 11, the weight of technical evidence leans toward caution for existing holders and creates a case for watchful monitoring by those with a bearish disposition.
4. Targa Resources (TRGP) – 11 technical sell signals
Price: $256.87 | Daily change: -4.24%
View the full technical analysis of Targa Resources
Targa Resources, the Houston-based midstream natural gas and NGL operator, joins Rockwell Automation with 11 bearish technical readings, though its 4 bullish signals give it a weaker bull-to-bear ratio, placing it fourth on our list. The stock fell more than 4% on the session, adding to what appears to be a meaningful pullback from prior highs. Notably, only a matter of weeks ago the stock was being highlighted in momentum-positive terms by some market commentators.
That shift in narrative is significant. Targa had benefited from enthusiasm around its Permian Basin NGL midstream footprint and expectations of double-digit EBITDA growth. However, the latest analyst commentary has been more measured, and the sharp pullback in the share price suggests that some of the optimism baked into the stock earlier in the year is now being unwound. A lack of significant company-specific positive catalysts in the recent news cycle has left the stock vulnerable to broader sector selling.
Midstream energy stocks are not immune to commodity price swings, and any softening in natural gas or NGL pricing could place further pressure on sentiment. The technical picture, with 11 sell signals, suggests the near-term trend has turned negative. Prospective short sellers should be mindful that TRGP’s dividend yield and infrastructure characteristics can attract income-focused buyers who may provide a floor during weakness.
5. Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) – 10 technical sell signals
Price: $76.59 | Daily change: -1.19%
View the full technical analysis of Archer Daniels Midland
Archer Daniels Midland rounds out this week’s list with 10 technical sell signals and a notably low 2 bullish readings — the most lopsided bear-to-bull ratio among our five candidates. The agricultural supply chain giant posted second-quarter sales that actually came in ahead of expectations, growing approximately 7% year on year, and subsequently raised its 2026 earnings outlook. Gains in its crushing, ethanol and nutrition divisions were cited as key drivers of the improved outlook.
Despite that relatively encouraging fundamental backdrop, the technical picture tells a more cautious story. The stock has retreated from a share price in the mid-eighties seen in late July, and the current level of $76.59 represents a meaningful pullback. The risk-reward dynamic that some analysts flagged following strong first-quarter performance — questioning whether the stock was a buy, sell or hold at elevated levels — now appears to be playing out on the downside. Execution risks and valuation concerns that were flagged even during the stock’s rise remain pertinent.
With only 2 bullish technical signals to counter 10 bearish ones, the indicator framework suggests that selling pressure is broad-based across multiple timeframes and indicator types. Traders considering a bearish position should weigh the fact that ADM operates in a sector closely tied to agricultural commodity prices and trade policy, both of which can shift rapidly and create sudden reversals.
Disclaimer: This article is produced for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Technical analysis identifies patterns and signals in historical price data; it does not guarantee future performance. Short selling involves significant risks, including unlimited potential losses. Always conduct your own research and consult a qualified financial adviser before making investment decisions. The Wall Street Stock Investors Club and its contributors may or may not hold positions in the securities mentioned.