Each week our technical scanner evaluates every constituent of the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, tallying bullish and bearish indicator readings across momentum, trend, volume and volatility metrics. The stocks featured below registered the highest number of bear signals on 26 August 2026, making them potential short candidates for technically oriented traders. A short candidate is a stock whose chart pattern and indicator readings suggest the price may continue to decline.
Important risk warning: Short selling involves theoretically unlimited losses, margin requirements and the risk of a short squeeze. The analysis below is based solely on technical indicators and does not constitute financial advice. Always conduct your own due diligence and consider your personal risk tolerance before opening any short position.
1. The Cooper Companies (COO) – 13 technical sell signals
Price: $73.04 | Daily change: -3.64%
View the full technical analysis of The Cooper Companies
The Cooper Companies leads today’s bearish list with 13 sell signals against only 2 bull signals — the most lopsided reading in today’s scan. The stock is down sharply on the day, and the technical picture suggests the recent momentum may be running out of steam. With only a token pair of bullish indicators to offset the weight of bearish readings, the chart structure deserves close attention from short-side traders.
The fundamental backdrop adds some complexity. COO had rallied strongly over the preceding three months, outpacing its medical-device peers, but analysts have since flagged concerns about slower revenue growth projections and whether the valuation can be justified at current levels. Questions around whether past growth initiatives have delivered adequate returns have surfaced in recent commentary, putting the bulls on the defensive.
The company’s significant reliance on international sales is an additional consideration. Currency headwinds and uneven global demand could weigh on results going forward. While some commentators continue to regard COO as a long-term value holding, the near-term technical evidence argues for caution, and today’s steep decline reinforces the case for watching this name carefully.
2. United Rentals (URI) – 12 technical sell signals
Price: $1,053.14 | Daily change: -2.81%
View the full technical analysis of United Rentals
United Rentals registers 12 bearish technical signals today, placing it firmly in second position. The equipment rental giant has been one of the standout performers in the industrial sector over the past year, having surged more than 50% during that period. Such an extended run can leave a stock vulnerable to profit-taking, and the technical indicators now appear to be reflecting precisely that dynamic.
Analysts and commentators had been broadly constructive on URI’s outlook, pointing to resilient large-scale infrastructure projects and the potential tailwind from any future easing of interest rates. However, after a prolonged advance, the valuation question has become harder to dismiss. Recent coverage has begun asking whether the current share price still offers an attractive entry point, which is a meaningful shift in tone from the unambiguously bullish narrative that prevailed earlier in the year.
From a technical perspective, a stock that has climbed sharply and is now generating a high ratio of bearish to bullish signals warrants respect. Prospective short sellers should be aware, though, that URI’s strong fundamental story and ongoing infrastructure spending tailwinds could reassert themselves quickly, making this a higher-risk short idea despite the bearish chart reading.
3. Casey’s General Stores (CASY) – 11 technical sell signals
Price: $824.92 | Daily change: -3.43%
View the full technical analysis of Casey’s General Stores
Casey’s General Stores moves into third place with 11 bearish signals and just 3 bullish readings. The convenience-store and fuel retailer has posted solid operational results over the past fiscal year, with gains across inside sales, fuel profitability and store expansion, yet the stock has struggled to hold its ground. The shares have declined meaningfully in the weeks since the most recent earnings report, suggesting the market had already priced in a great deal of good news.
Valuation has become a recurring theme in analyst commentary on CASY. Some observers have drawn comparisons to the premium pricing dynamics seen in other high-quality consumer staples names, arguing that the stock’s multiple may have drifted too far above what the underlying growth rate can sustain. The drop out of certain key Russell indexes earlier in the year may have also altered the institutional ownership mix in ways that reduce a natural buyer base.
Today’s decline of more than 3% compounds an already weak post-earnings trend. The combination of stretched valuation concerns and deteriorating technical momentum creates a coherent short thesis, though traders should note that CASY’s defensive business model and loyal customer base could limit the depth of any sustained selloff.
4. Alexandria Real Estate Equities (ARE) – 10 technical sell signals
Price: $52.90 | Daily change: -2.11%
View the full technical analysis of Alexandria Real Estate Equities
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, the life-science-focused REIT, ties for fourth with 10 bearish signals. The stock has been under sustained pressure, trading at levels that reflect a significant de-rating from its prior highs. A pending shareholder lawsuit adds a layer of uncertainty that technical indicators alone cannot fully capture, and elevated implied volatility in the options market suggests institutional participants are hedging against further downside.
The company’s core business — providing laboratory and office space to the life-sciences sector — showed stable demand in its first-quarter results, and management has taken steps to shore up its financial position, including a substantial credit facility. Some analysts argue the stock looks undervalued relative to its asset base, which is a legitimate counterargument to the short thesis and a risk that short sellers should weigh carefully.
Nevertheless, the technical picture is difficult to ignore. Ten bearish signals against four bullish readings, combined with a meaningful daily decline and heightened options volatility, paints a cautious picture. REIT stocks are also sensitive to the interest-rate environment, and any shift in rate expectations could move ARE sharply in either direction, adding to the risk of a short position.
5. Broadcom (AVGO) – 10 technical sell signals
Price: $356.74 | Daily change: -0.56%
View the full technical analysis of Broadcom
Broadcom rounds out today’s list, also registering 10 bearish signals. It is, however, the most nuanced entry on the list. The day’s price decline is modest at under 1%, and the fundamental narrative around AVGO remains strongly bullish, with multiple analysts initiating or reaffirming positive coverage and the company positioned as a leading beneficiary of enterprise AI infrastructure spending. The technical bearish signals should therefore be read with particular caution in this context.
Recent commentary has focused on two competing themes: the extraordinary scale of AI-related revenue opportunities that could materialise over the next few years, and the significant debt the company has taken on to pursue those opportunities. Some observers question whether the market’s expectations for AI revenue have grown overly ambitious, while others point to Broadcom’s track record of execution and an apparently undemanding forward earnings multiple as reasons for confidence.
For technically driven traders, the 10 bearish signals are a flag worth acknowledging, but the strong fundamental consensus and ongoing institutional buying make AVGO one of the higher-risk short ideas on today’s list. A short position here would be swimming against a powerful fundamental current, and any positive AI-related news could produce a sharp adverse move.
Disclaimer: This article is provided 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 in historical price and volume data; it does not guarantee future results. Short selling carries significant risks, including potentially unlimited losses. Always consult a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decision. The Wall Street Stock Investors Club and its contributors may or may not hold positions in the securities mentioned.