Below are the top five companies in the Regional Banks industry as measured by the short interest ratio. A higher short interest ratio may indicate the potential for a sizeable short squeeze.
United Bankshares (NASDAQ:UBSI) has a short interest ratio of 44.9 based on average daily volume of 168,000 shares and 7.6 million shares short. That equates to 17.4% of the 43.5 million shares outstanding.
S&T Bancorp (NASDAQ:STBA) has a short interest ratio of 29.3 based on average daily volume of 110,000 shares and 3.2 million shares short. That equates to 11.7% of the 27.7 million shares outstanding.
First Busey (NASDAQ:BUSE) has a short interest ratio of 28.9 based on average daily volume of 181,000 shares and 5.3 million shares short. That equates to 7.9% of the 66.4 million shares outstanding.
Bank of the Ozarks (NASDAQ:OZRK) has a short interest ratio of 28.7 based on average daily volume of 100,000 shares and 2.9 million shares short. That equates to 17% of the 16.9 million shares outstanding.
Wilshire Bancorp (NASDAQ:WIBC) has a short interest ratio of 26.4 based on average daily volume of 146,000 shares and 3.9 million shares short. That equates to 13.1% of the 29.5 million shares outstanding.
SmarTrend is bearish on shares of WIBC and our subscribers were alerted to Sell on May 25, 2010 at $10.32. The stock has fallen 32.1% since the alert was issued.