Short Interest in BNY Mellon High Yield Strategies Fund Surges

Shares sold short increased by nearly 450% in January

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The BNY Mellon High Yield Strategies Fund (NYSE:DHF) saw a significant increase in short interest in January, with the number of shares sold short rising by 447.8% from the prior month. As of January 30th, there were 252,752 shares sold short, up from 46,142 shares on January 15th. The fund, which invests primarily in below-investment-grade corporate debt, has seen its stock price fluctuate between $2.21 and $2.63 over the past year.

Why it matters

The sharp rise in short interest suggests that some investors are betting against the fund's performance, potentially due to concerns about the high-yield bond market or the fund's investment strategy. This could signal increased volatility for the fund's share price going forward.

The details

Based on the fund's average daily trading volume of 659,498 shares, the current short interest represents a 'days-to-cover' ratio of 0.4 days, meaning it would take less than half a day for short sellers to cover their positions. Approximately 0.3% of the fund's shares are currently sold short.

  • As of January 30th, 2026, there was short interest totaling 252,752 shares.
  • On January 15th, 2026, the short interest totaled 46,142 shares.

The players

BNY Mellon High Yield Strategies Fund

A diversified, closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide a high level of current income by primarily investing in below-investment-grade corporate debt securities.

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The takeaway

The surge in short interest for the BNY Mellon High Yield Strategies Fund suggests that some investors are betting against the fund's performance, which could lead to increased volatility in the fund's share price going forward. This highlights the potential risks associated with investing in high-yield bond funds, particularly in the current market environment.