Short-Selling Interest In Apple Just Spiked Significantly

Many investors wouldn't even fathom betting against Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL). However, it seems like bears are starting to pile up as the stock continues to tumble, down 15 percent over the past month.

FIS' Astec Analytics provides its clients with intra-day short-selling market data every week and, the companies included, are usually recurring. However, this is not the case for Apple.

Related Link: Tesla & Sunedison Still Among Short-Sellers' Favorites

According to a recent report, borrow volume for Apple’s stock has spiked up almost 50 percent since the end of March. While the surge seems large, it should be noted that borrow levels remain at less than half of where they were a year ago.

Shares of Apple have been strong performers for a long time. However, the stock is starting to suffer as smartphone markets reach maturity and/or saturation.

Having lost roughly 27 percent over the past year, Apple is now one of the worst performing stocks in the Dow Jones Index. Moreover, the fact that Carl Icahn recently closed out his stake in the company "has not helped the long term prognosis," Astec's note read.

"Short interest has yet to make a real impact, but more may be seen as the company considers changing its boom and bust sales style to an annuity membership style model," the report concluded.

Disclosure: Javier Hasse holds no positions in any of the securities mentioned above.