Zscaler Plummets 31% Despite Earnings Beat as Short Sellers Pressure PicoCELA

Amid a disconnect between operational performance and market reaction in the tech sector, several stocks and leveraged ETFs experienced sharp declines driven by short-selling pressure and product volatility. Zscaler stock plummeted 31.52% to close at $126.41, despite the company reporting strong third-quarter financial results that beat both earnings and revenue estimates. Similarly, PicoCELA Inc. saw a 17.58% drop fueled by a massive 29,900.8% surge in short interest during December, while the KraneShares 2X Long PDD Daily ETF declined 20.99%, highlighting the inherent risks of leveraged financial instruments.

The decline in Zscaler comes as the cybersecurity sector faces increased investor scrutiny regarding growth sustainability, with market data showing peers like Palo Alto Networks and CrowdStrike experiencing similar volatility following recent earnings reports. Per market data, the pressure on PicoCELA reflects a broader speculative trend against emerging tech firms, where spikes in short interest often follow concerns over liquidity or high valuations. Compared to the previous quarter, outflows from leveraged products like the PDD ETF have accelerated alongside heightened volatility in US-listed Chinese equities.

Traders should watch key technical support levels for Zscaler (ZS), which closed at $126.41 on May 27, 2026, as the market looks for a price floor after this aggressive sell-off. Looking at the economic calendar, the upcoming US Manufacturing PMI data will be a critical catalyst, as manufacturing and services trends could shift risk appetite for growth and tech stocks. Additionally, monitoring flows in leveraged PDD instruments remains vital given their extreme sensitivity to daily fluctuations in Asian markets.