Most and least shorted financial stocks with up to $2B market cap at the end of March

Short positioning in small- to mid-cap financial stocks at March-end highlights investor wariness toward companies tied to housing, credit cycles, and transaction-driven businesses, particularly those exposed to mortgage origination, specialty lending, and capital-markets activity. Elevated short interest in these names suggests concerns around earnings visibility, funding conditions, and sensitivity to interest rate movements.

Meanwhile, lower short interest across a group largely comprising regional banks and traditional lenders points to a more measured investor outlook. These firms, typically supported by stable deposit bases and less volatile revenue streams, appear to be viewed as relatively resilient amid ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty.

HERE ARE THE TOP FIVE MOST SHORTED SMALL- TO MID-CAP FINANCIAL STOCKS AT THE END OF MARCH:

Arbor Realty Trust (ABR [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ABR])- Short interest: 23.89%

Better Home & Finance Holding Company (BETR [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BETR])- Short interest: 21.50%

DeFi Development (DFDV [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/DFDV])- Short interest: 21.20%

EZCORP (EZPW [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/EZPW])- Short interest: 20.63%

WisdomTree (WT [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/WT])- Short interest: 19.74%

BOTTOM FIVE LEAST SHORTED SMALL- TO MID-CAP FINANCIAL STOCKS AT THE END OF MARCH:

Virginia National Bankshares (VABK [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/VABK])- Short interest: 0.50%

International General Insurance Holdings (IGIC [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/IGIC])- Short interest: 0.51%

FVCBankcorp (FVCB [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/FVCB])- Short interest: 0.53%

Provident Financial Holdings (PROV [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/PROV])- Short interest: 0.53%

Solowin Holdings (AXG [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AXG])- Short interest: 0.55%

MORE ON ARBOR REALTY TRUST, BETTER HOME & FINANCE HOLDING, ETC.

* EZCORP, Inc. (EZPW) Shareholder/Analyst Call Prepared Remarks Transcript [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4886229-ezcorp-inc-ezpw-shareholder-analyst-call-prepared-remarks-transcript]
* International General Insurance: Cheap, But Lacking Growth Catalysts [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4885014-international-general-insurance-cheap-but-lacking-growth-catalysts]
* Better Home & Finance: Tremendous Growth Needed To Justify Valuation [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4882414-better-home-and-finance-tremendous-growth-needed-to-justify-valuation]
* Coinbase, Better Home & Finance launch crypto-backed mortgages [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4569298-coinbase-better-home-finance-launch-crypto-backed-mortgages]
* WisdomTree prices ~$604M convertible notes due 2031 [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4567729-wisdomtree-prices-604m-convertible-notes-due-2031]