Short Interest in MFS Intermediate High Income Fund Surges 209.7%

The closed-end fund's short interest jumped significantly in February, raising questions about investor sentiment.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 5:55am

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MFS Intermediate High Income Fund (NYSE:CIF), a closed-end management investment company advised by MFS Investment Management, saw a 209.7% increase in short interest during the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 58,659 shares, up from 18,942 shares at the end of January. Based on the fund's average daily trading volume of 45,471 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.3 days, indicating that short sellers have a relatively short time frame to cover their positions.

Why it matters

The sharp rise in short interest for MFS Intermediate High Income Fund suggests that some investors are betting against the fund's performance, potentially due to concerns about the fixed-income market or the fund's investment strategy. This could signal increased volatility and uncertainty surrounding the fund in the near term.

The details

MFS Intermediate High Income Fund is a closed-end fund that seeks to provide current income and capital appreciation by investing primarily in intermediate-duration debt instruments. The fund trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CIF. As of the end of the fourth quarter, hedge funds and other institutional investors owned 6.85% of the fund's shares.

  • As of February 13th, 2026, there was short interest totaling 58,659 shares in MFS Intermediate High Income Fund.
  • As of January 29th, 2026, there was short interest totaling 18,942 shares in MFS Intermediate High Income Fund.

The players

MFS Intermediate High Income Fund

A closed-end management investment company advised by MFS Investment Management, one of the oldest global asset managers headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

MFS Investment Management

An asset management firm headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts that serves as the investment advisor for MFS Intermediate High Income Fund.

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What’s next

Investors will be closely watching to see if the elevated short interest in MFS Intermediate High Income Fund persists in the coming weeks and months, as this could signal ongoing concerns about the fund's performance or the broader fixed-income market.

The takeaway

The surge in short interest for MFS Intermediate High Income Fund highlights the increasing uncertainty and volatility surrounding fixed-income investments, even for established funds like this one. Investors will need to closely monitor developments in the fund and the broader bond market to assess the long-term implications of this short-selling activity.