Alphabet Short Interest Surges 27% in March

Analysts maintain 'Buy' ratings on tech giant's stock despite increased short bets

Apr. 16, 2026 at 5:09pm

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An extreme close-up of the complex, interlocking gears and mechanisms of a banking machine, conveying the heavy, industrial nature of Alphabet's financial operations without using any literal currency or charts.The intricate inner workings of Alphabet's financial infrastructure reflect the tech giant's institutional might, even as short sellers bet against its continued growth.Mountain View Today

Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG), the parent company of Google, saw a significant increase in short interest during the month of March, with short positions rising 26.8% to 44 million shares. Despite the uptick in bearish bets, analysts remain bullish on the stock, with 38 out of 41 covering firms maintaining 'Buy' ratings.

Why it matters

The rise in short interest on Alphabet stock could signal increased investor skepticism about the company's future performance, even as Wall Street analysts continue to express confidence. This dynamic highlights the ongoing debate around Alphabet's growth prospects and valuation.

The details

As of March 31st, Alphabet had 44,038,271 shares sold short, up from 34,727,040 shares on March 15th. This represents approximately 0.4% of the company's total outstanding shares. The days-to-cover ratio, which measures the number of days it would take to cover all the short positions, currently stands at 1.9 days based on the stock's average daily trading volume.

  • The short interest data is as of March 31, 2026.
  • The previous short interest data point is from March 15, 2026.

The players

Alphabet Inc.

The parent company of Google, a multinational technology holding company headquartered in Mountain View, California.

Pivotal Research

An equity research firm that has reaffirmed a 'buy' rating and raised its price target on Alphabet shares.

Royal Bank of Canada

A financial institution that has reaffirmed an 'outperform' rating and price target on Alphabet stock.

Piper Sandler

An investment bank that has reaffirmed an 'overweight' rating and price target on Alphabet shares.

UBS Group

A global financial services firm that has reaffirmed a 'neutral' rating and price target on Alphabet stock.

Sanford C. Bernstein

A research and investment management firm that has reaffirmed a 'market perform' rating and price target on Alphabet shares.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

The rise in Alphabet's short interest reflects ongoing investor uncertainty about the company's growth prospects, even as Wall Street analysts remain bullish. This dynamic underscores the need for Alphabet to continue executing on its strategic initiatives and demonstrating its ability to navigate a rapidly evolving technology landscape.