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StocksUpdated•Originally published 17 April 2026•Updated 18 April 2026•

1 min read

Short Interest Surge Expands to KKR and Xylem Despite Insider Buying and Buybacks

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Key Facts

1Short interest in Karat Packaging Inc. (KRT) grew by 21.9% to 179,976 shares.

2MillerKnoll (MLKN) saw a 21.9% increase in short interest, indicating rising bearish sentiment.

3Karat Packaging's dividend payout ratio stands at 115.38%, noted as potentially unsustainable.

about 2 months ago

Version History

Version 1about 2 months ago

What changed: The story was updated to include new data on rising short interest in KKR and Xylem, adding context regarding insider buying and share repurchase programs.

The wave of bearish sentiment has expanded to larger entities, with short interest for KKR & Co. Inc. rising 21.1% in March to over 13.1 million shares, despite significant insider buying by CEO Scott C. Nuttall. Similarly, Xylem Inc. saw a 21% increase in short interest even as it approved a $1.5 billion share repurchase program and raised its dividend. These developments follow a 21.9% surge in short interest for Karat Packaging and MillerKnoll, previously driven by concerns over dividend sustainability and earnings misses. Despite the rising bearish bets, analysts maintain a 'Moderate Buy' consensus rating for both KKR and Xylem. This divergence highlights a growing tug-of-war between short-sellers and corporate leadership utilizing buybacks and insider purchases to signal confidence.