Once a week, I like to look at ASIC’s short position report to find out which ASX shares are being targeted by short sellers.

That’s because I believe it is worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn’t quite right with a company.

With that in mind, listed below are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC.

The top 10 most shorted ASX shares

• Lotus Resources Ltd (ASX: LOT) has moved back to the top of the table with short interest of 15.9%, up from 15% last week. Short sellers may still have doubts over the uranium developer’s path to production and whether stronger uranium demand will arrive quickly enough to support its plans.
• DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) has short interest of 15.4%, which is broadly unchanged week on week. The counter-drone technology company remains a favourite with short sellers, possibly due to its valuation and uncertainty surrounding the ASIC investigation.
• 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) has seen its short interest ease to 12.2%. Its valuation remains very high relative to its current revenue base, which appears to be keeping short sellers interested despite its significant commercial potential.
• Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) has short interest of 11.8%, which is down again week on week. Short sellers may still need convincing that its restructuring efforts can deliver the earnings recovery investors are hoping for.
• Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) has seen its short interest ease slightly to 11.7%. Weakness in luxury wine demand and uncertainty around the pace of improvement in the Americas could be keeping short sellers interested.
• Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) has seen its short interest rise to 11.6%. The buy now pay later company’s strong recovery may have prompted some short sellers to question whether its valuation now leaves enough room for disappointment.
• PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) has 11.2% of its shares held short, which is up slightly week on week. Short sellers may be betting that the lithium market remains difficult for longer, delaying a meaningful recovery in margins and cash flow.
• Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) has seen its short interest rise to 11.1%. This may reflect concerns over the strength of consumer travel spending and how quickly the company can improve margins.
• Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) has short interest of 11%, which is up from 10.7% last week. Short sellers may remain cautious over production expectations and whether the uranium price can stay strong enough to support the current outlook.
• IperionX Ltd (ASX: IPX) has entered the top ten with short interest of 10.6%. Short sellers may be questioning the company’s valuation and the execution required as it works to scale up its US titanium operations.

The post These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Domino’s Pizza Enterprises and Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, DroneShield, and Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises and Flight Centre Travel Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It seems to be going from bad to worse for WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares.

The ASX tech stock has fallen 10% in five trading days, 20% over the past month, 52% year to date and 65% over 12 months. At $32.69, it is edging back towards its June low of $28.76 and sits miles below its 52-week high of $99.53.

So, after such a brutal sell-off, do brokers think WiseTech shares have fallen too far?

WiseTech still has something to prove

For much of August, it looked like WiseTech shares might finally be turning a corner.

The stock jumped 25% during the first three weeks of the month, reaching $45.47 on 25 August. Then came the FY26 result, and the recovery quickly ran out of steam.

Since reporting, shares have plunged around 20%, taking them a long way from the $100-plus levels seen just a year ago.

Yet the numbers weren’t exactly disastrous.

WiseTech delivered a 46% increase in EBITDA to US$558.4 million for FY26. While that landed within management’s US$550 million to US$585 million guidance range, it came slightly below the market’s US$569.5 million forecast.

Looking ahead, management expects FY27 revenue to grow 6% to 10%, reaching US$1.48 billion to US$1.54 billion. Underlying EBITDA is forecast to increase 12% to 21%, with margins expanding to between 49% and 51%.

A global leader with a credibility problem

The collapse in WiseTech shares isn’t simply a story about deteriorating demand.

Its CargoWise platform remains a major logistics software system used by the world’s top 25 freight forwarders, including Toll and DHL.

That gives WiseTech exposure to powerful long-term trends, including the digitalisation of global trade and the increasing complexity of international supply chains.

The bigger problems have been investor confidence, governance concerns and regulatory issues.

That’s why FY27 execution could be crucial. If WiseTech can deliver stronger growth and expanding margins while rebuilding investor trust, the current share price could eventually look like an opportunity.

What do brokers think?

Several brokers remain firmly bullish.

Morgans has retained its buy rating with a $62.50 price target, while Morgan Stanley has maintained its buy rating and $70 target. From $32.69, those targets imply potential upside of around 91% and 114%, respectively.

Bell Potter also retains a buy rating, despite cutting its target from $71.75 to $65. Citi lifted its target from $55.05 to $58.75, while UBS reduced its target from $65 to $56 but retained its buy recommendation.

Macquarie is also positive, with an outperform rating and $48.20 target.

However, not everyone is convinced. Jefferies has downgraded WiseTech shares to hold with a $45 target, while JPMorgan also has a hold rating and $40 target.

At $32.69, that enormous spread tells investors something important: the market remains deeply divided.

The bull case is that WiseTech can turn its strong competitive position into faster growth and expanding margins. The bear case is that investor concerns and slower near-term growth warrant a permanently lower valuation.

For now, brokers appear considerably more optimistic than the share price suggests. But WiseTech will need to execute in FY27 before the bulls can claim victory.

The post WiseTech shares are down 65%. Have brokers finally spotted a bargain? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has positions in WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended JPMorgan Chase and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The ASX dividend stock Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF) could be one of the leading stocks to buy right now for passive income.

I like to buy businesses for less than they’re worth and to receive solid dividends from my investments, with the prospect of longer-term growth.

For me, Rural Funds ticks all of those boxes after the farmland real estate investment trust (REIT) reported a compelling set of numbers in the FY26 result.

Let’s get into why it seems so appealing.

Very undervalued

A REIT makes it quite easy to judge its value by regularly telling investors about its net asset value (NAV) or net tangible assets (NTA).

The NAV and NTA metrics tell investors what the net value is when you include the property valuations, the loans, cash and other assets and liabilities. If the business were to be shut down, the NAV should be what remains for distribution to shareholders.

REITs regularly independently value their assets to ensure that the NAV figure is realistic.

Rural Funds reports an adjusted NAV to the market, with the adjustment being to include the market value of the water entitlements. Rural Funds owns significant water entitlements, which can be used by farming tenants for their operations.

Other key assets in the Rural Funds portfolio include almond farms, cattle farms, macadamia farms, vineyards and cropping farms.

It recently reported that at 30 June 2026, it had an adjusted NAV of $3.22 – this was an increase of 4.5% year-over-year. At the time of writing, the Rural Funds unit price is trading at an approximate 40% discount to that adjusted NAV, which I’d describe as a significant discount.

The ASX dividend stock offers a good yield

The large discount means that Rural Funds offers a much larger distribution yield than it would if it were trading at the same value as its adjusted NAV.

Rural Funds has provided investors with an annual distribution per unit of 11.73 cents in the last few financial years. I think maintaining the payout has been impressive during these periods of higher interest rates.

It has provided guidance that it will pay an annual distribution of 11.73 cents per unit in FY27. That translates into a forward distribution yield of 6%.

Rental income is growing

I think one of the most important factors in deciding whether a REIT is attractive is its potential for rental income growth. That’s the best way to increase property value and fund higher future distributions.

The ASX dividend stock has a weighted average lease expiry (WALE) of more than 14 years, meaning that rental income is locked in for a long time.

A significant portion of the REIT’s rental income is growing with fixed annual increases, while another large chunk of the revenue is growing because it’s linked to inflation.

I believe the ASX dividend stock is very undervalued, particularly for when interest rates start coming down again, whenever that is.

The post 1 ASX dividend stock down 39% I’d buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Rural Funds Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Rural Funds Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.