Our technical scanner continuously monitors every stock in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, tallying bullish and bearish indicator readings across a standardised set of momentum, trend and volatility tools. When bearish signals significantly outnumber bullish ones, a stock surfaces as a potential short candidate. The five names below registered the highest bear-signal counts in today’s scan, dated 16 September 2026.
Important risk warning: Short selling involves risks that go well beyond those of a conventional long position. Losses on a short trade are theoretically unlimited, margin calls can force premature exits, and heavily shorted stocks are prone to sharp short squeezes. The technical signals below are observations only and should never be treated as trading instructions. Always apply your own due diligence and risk management before initiating any position.
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 scan with 13 sell signals against just 3 bull readings, and the stock shed nearly 4% in today’s session alone. The technical picture is notably weak despite the company landing an $875 million Navy network extension contract announced only yesterday — a reminder that even genuinely positive fundamental news does not always override deteriorating chart structure.
Looking at the broader news backdrop, Leidos had a difficult start to 2026, and earlier commentary flagged the stock as cheap on valuation metrics but weak on returns. More recently, the successful deployment of the Seahawk unmanned surface vessel alongside carrier strike groups generated some positive sentiment, and the stock did manage a modest bounce in mid-September before today’s selloff reversed much of that move.
The disconnect between an active contract pipeline and a struggling share price is worth noting. Bears may point to elevated execution risk on large government programmes and the broader pressure on defence-adjacent IT spending. Shorts here face the real danger of a headline-driven squeeze, given the company’s steady flow of contract announcements.
2. Omnicom Group (OMC) – 13 technical sell signals
Price: $81.76 | Daily change: -5.03%
View the full technical analysis of Omnicom Group
Omnicom matches Leidos on bear-signal count but today’s price action is more severe, with the stock falling just over 5%. The 13 bearish readings against 6 bull signals suggest that selling pressure is broad-based across multiple indicator types. A drop of this magnitude in a single session often reflects either a material news event or a technical breakdown through a key support level — both scenarios worth investigating before acting.
From a fundamental standpoint, the picture is mixed. Analysts have noted that Omnicom has lagged the broader communications services sector over the past year, even as the company delivered a respectable five-year total return and maintained a return on equity above the industry median. The group’s debt-driven capital structure amplifies ROE but also leaves it more exposed in a higher-rate environment.
Strategic commentary earlier in the year pointed to an AI-driven transformation agenda, which could reshape the advertising landscape in ways that are genuinely uncertain for incumbents. Bears may argue the market is beginning to price in disruption risk, while bulls see a well-capitalised franchise trading at a discount. The 6 remaining bull signals are a caution for anyone considering a short position.
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 unquestionably the most volatile name on today’s list. The stock is down more than 9% today — yet it surged 13% on the previous session, closing at $374.36 on 14 September. That extraordinary two-day swing illustrates just how treacherous this name is for short sellers. Our scanner records 13 bear signals against only 3 bull readings, which is a strongly bearish configuration, but the recent whipsaw action demands extreme caution.
The fundamental narrative is similarly conflicted. The company’s fiscal fourth-quarter results, reported in early September, showed revenues and earnings ahead of consensus, along with robust free cash flow margins. However, forward guidance suggested a moderation in growth, and the stock fell sharply after those results before bouncing hard on AI-driven optimism. Markets appear to be repricing the cybersecurity sector rapidly as AI both threatens and potentially enhances demand for the company’s platform.
For technically oriented bears, the combination of a high bear-signal count and a stock that can move 13% in a single day is a double-edged sword. Momentum can shift violently in either direction, and short sellers here face an unusually elevated risk of a sudden squeeze. Position sizing and stop discipline are paramount.
4. Autodesk (ADSK) – 12 technical sell signals
Price: $241.73 | Daily change: -2.41%
View the full technical analysis of Autodesk
Autodesk registers 12 bear signals against just 3 bull readings, placing it squarely in bearish technical territory. The stock has been under sustained pressure for much of 2026, drifting from the $260s earlier in the year toward the current $241 level. Today’s decline of 2.4% continues a pattern of underperformance relative to the broader market.
Recent fundamental developments add context to the weakness. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage in early September with a Neutral rating, specifically flagging near-term concerns around artificial intelligence as a potential disruptor to Autodesk’s core design software business. Full-year adjusted earnings guidance issued at the end of August came in with a midpoint that fell short of analyst forecasts, triggering a selloff. The stock attempted to recover in mid-September, with one report attributing the bounce to investors refocusing on a raised revenue outlook and looking past a financing-related overhang.
The tension between an AI threat narrative on one hand and a resilient core franchise on the other creates genuine uncertainty. Bears have a reasonable technical case, but the 3 remaining bull signals and a stock that has already repriced significantly lower mean the easy part of any downward move may already be behind us. As always, risk management should take priority.
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 readings — the most evenly contested configuration among our top five, which suggests the technical trend is bearish but not decisively so. The stock slipped less than 1% today and is trading around $129, well below the fair-value estimate of approximately $171 cited by one analyst earlier in 2026, though that gap alone is not a catalyst.
The company, best known for its Corona and Modelo beer portfolio, has faced a prolonged period of underperformance relative to the consumer defensive sector. Revenue growth has softened, and the stock shed roughly 21% in the months leading into late 2025. More recent commentary acknowledged strong free cash flow generation in the most recent quarter, which offers some fundamental support and is a meaningful consideration for anyone weighing a short position.
The 6 bull signals remaining in the scan are the highest of any stock on today’s list, and the relatively mild daily move suggests this is not a stock in freefall. Bears may point to continued top-line pressure, competitive dynamics in the beer category and the stock’s persistent underperformance. However, the stronger free cash flow profile and a potentially undemanding valuation mean this is arguably the most balanced risk-reward on the list, and short sellers should factor that in carefully.
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. The technical signals discussed reflect automated scanner output as of 16 September 2026 and may change materially at any time. Investing in equities, and in particular short selling, involves significant risk of loss. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Always consult a qualified financial adviser before making investment decisions.