Each week our technical scanner evaluates every stock in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, counting the number of bearish and bullish signals thrown up by a broad range of indicators — from moving-average crossovers and momentum oscillators to volume trends and relative-strength readings. Stocks that accumulate the highest number of bear signals relative to bull signals rise to the top of our short-candidate watchlist. The five names below are today’s leaders on that bearish scoreboard, dated 9 September 2026.
Important risk warning: Short selling is materially more risky than buying and holding equities. Losses on a short position are theoretically unlimited, margin requirements can force premature closure of a trade, and a single piece of positive news can trigger a sharp short-covering rally. The analysis below is purely technical and educational in nature; it does not constitute a recommendation to sell short any security.
1. Leidos (LDOS) – 13 technical sell signals
Price: $133.78 | Daily change: -3.88%
View the full technical analysis of Leidos
Leidos leads today’s bearish scoreboard with 13 sell signals against just 3 bull signals, and a single-session decline of nearly 4% underscores the technical pressure building on the stock. The defence and technology services contractor has endured a turbulent 2026: earlier in the year the shares were trading well below current levels — around $105 in late July — before staging a recovery. That rebound, however, now appears to be running into headwinds, with the price action on 9 September suggesting sellers are reasserting control.
From a fundamental context, sentiment around Leidos has been decidedly mixed. Analysts have flagged the stock as potentially undervalued on several valuation metrics, and the company has continued to win contract awards from US government agencies. Yet concerns about Health IT contract uncertainty earlier in the year weighed heavily on the stock, and questions about the quality of returns have lingered. While some commentators continue to make a long-term value case, the near-term technical picture tells a different story.
With 13 bearish signals now active, our scanner is flagging deteriorating momentum across multiple timeframes. Investors considering a short position should be mindful that positive contract news from a major government client could move the stock sharply in the opposite direction, and defence stocks can attract sudden institutional buying interest.
2. Omnicom Group (OMC) – 13 technical sell signals
Price: $81.76 | Daily change: -5.03%
View the full technical analysis of Omnicom Group
Omnicom Group matches Leidos on bear signals at 13, but its daily decline of more than 5% gives it an especially sharp look on today’s watchlist. The global advertising holding company has a modest six bull signals providing some counterweight, but the weight of technical evidence remains firmly on the negative side. A drop of this magnitude in a single session often attracts attention from contrarian buyers, so traders should keep that risk firmly in mind.
Zooming out on the news flow, Omnicom’s five-year total return of roughly 38% sounds respectable, but the stock has been lagging its broader communications-services peers over the past year. The company has been positioning itself around AI-driven transformation and strategic restructuring, and its return on equity has been boosted — partly by leverage — to levels well above the media industry average. Whether those financial engineering effects translate into durable earnings growth remains a question mark for many observers.
The advertising industry faces ongoing cyclical sensitivity, and any softening in corporate marketing budgets could weigh on revenue visibility. From a technical standpoint, the combination of 13 sell signals and today’s heavy selling pressure suggests the path of least resistance may be lower in the near term, though the higher bull-signal count relative to some peers on this list warrants some caution for short sellers.
3. 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 is the most dramatic mover on today’s list, shedding more than 9% in a single session and joining Leidos and Omnicom at the top of the bear-signal count with 13 alerts flagged by our scanner. The proximate cause of the sharp decline is well-documented in the news flow: the cybersecurity firm delivered quarterly earnings that analysts broadly characterised as strong in absolute terms, yet the results still disappointed a market that had priced in a higher bar given the stock’s elevated valuation.
This is a classic post-earnings derating scenario. Palo Alto Networks reported better-than-expected free cash flow and solid FCF margins, which led some analysts to suggest the selloff may have been overdone. Market commentators have pointed to the $315 area as a potential technical support level where demand from buyers who missed the initial move could materialise. That bullish case deserves acknowledgement, and it represents a meaningful risk for anyone initiating a short position after such a large single-day decline.
Nevertheless, with only 3 bull signals against 13 bearish ones, the technical picture remains decisively negative for now. High-growth, high-multiple technology names can remain under pressure for extended periods after a valuation reset, but they can also recover violently on any positive analyst revision or sector rotation back into growth. Short sellers should size positions accordingly.
4. Autodesk (ADSK) – 12 technical sell signals
Price: $241.73 | Daily change: -2.41%
View the full technical analysis of Autodesk
Autodesk enters the list at fourth place with 12 bear signals and only 3 bullish counterpoints. The design and engineering software group has had a choppy few weeks: shares rallied meaningfully in late August ahead of second-quarter fiscal 2027 earnings, helped in part by enthusiasm around the company’s acquisition of MaintainX and the resilience of its subscription model. However, the post-earnings reaction has been negative, with the stock falling sharply as investors appeared to focus on a cautious profit outlook rather than the headline revenue beat.
Reports from early September noted that trading volume during the selloff was running well below average — a factor that can exaggerate price moves in either direction and may indicate that the decline reflects thin liquidity rather than broad-based institutional selling. That context is worth bearing in mind: low-volume moves can reverse quickly once normal activity resumes. Autodesk’s cloud revenue growth and its recurring subscription base continue to attract long-term investors, and analyst coverage remains broadly constructive on the multi-year growth thesis.
From a purely technical perspective, however, 12 sell signals with minimal bullish support is a meaningful warning. The transition from a post-earnings rally to renewed selling pressure in the space of just a few days points to a deteriorating near-term trend that bears watching.
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 today’s list with 12 bear signals and 6 bull signals — the highest bull count among this week’s candidates, which suggests the technical picture is somewhat more balanced than for the other names. The beverage alcohol company, best known for its Corona and Modelo beer brands in the United States, has been under sustained pressure throughout much of 2025 and into 2026, with the shares having declined considerably from prior-year highs before finding some tentative stabilisation.
The fundamental narrative around Constellation has been evolving. The company has demonstrated an ability to generate robust free cash flow, and Citi moved to a buy rating earlier this year, citing the stock’s defensive characteristics and what the bank viewed as an attractive valuation. An independently derived fair-value estimate that surfaced following the last quarterly update pointed to a figure well above the current trading price, suggesting some analysts believe the market has overpenalised the stock for softer near-term volume trends in its beer business.
Despite those potentially supportive longer-term data points, the technical signals are pointing in a bearish direction today. Consumer staples and beverage stocks do tend to attract defensive buying during periods of broader market uncertainty, which is one reason the bull-signal count here is relatively elevated. Short candidates in this category carry their own specific risks, and the relatively higher number of bull signals is a factor that prudent traders should weigh carefully.
Disclaimer: This article is produced solely for informational and educational purposes and does not constitute investment advice, a solicitation, 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. 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 any investment decision. The Wall Street Stock Investors Club and its contributors may or may not hold positions in the securities mentioned.