Founder Evidente. Top rated quantitative analyst, Evidente

Sam Ferraro

Founder Evidente. Top rated quantitative analyst

Evidente

Evidente is an independent financial education firm that delivers innovative financial advice to wholesale investors, including active long only funds, hedge funds, pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds, in Australia and globally.  Drawing on academic research in asset pricing, behavioural finance and portfolio construction, Evidente provides wholesale investors with commercial solutions to stock selection and asset allocation decisions across equities and other asset classes.

Macroeconomics

In a blog post last year, I wrote of the lost decade for discretionary retailers; expected profitability was little changed from ten years earlier.&nbsp;A number of structural and cyclical headwinds continued to adversely impact the sector, including the persistently strong Australian dollar, consumer caution associated with the financial crisis and increased competition from e-tailers.&nbsp;In this post, I argue that signs of a less cautious consumer are emerging.&nbsp;There is downside risk to the household saving ratio as households become more optimistic about the future, durable goods spending continues to recover and consumer sentiment should benefit from the positive reaction to the Federal Budget.&nbsp;Against this backdrop, I recommend investors neutralise their under-weight bets in discretionary retailers, with a view to moving overweight as more signs of a less cautious consumer emerge.&nbsp;Getting the sector call right is more important than stock selection, but we highlight stocks that offer the strongest upside, including Echo, GUD, Harvey Norman, Premier Investment and Super Retail.

In a blog post last year, I wrote of the lost decade for discretionary retailers; expected profitability was little changed from ten years earlier.&nbsp;A number of structural and cyclical headwinds continued to adversely impact the sector, including the persistently strong Australian dollar, consumer caution associated with the financial crisis and increased competition from e-tailers.&nbsp;In this post, I argue that signs of a less cautious consumer are emerging.&nbsp;There is downside risk to the household saving ratio as households become more optimistic about the future, durable goods spending continues to recover and consumer sentiment should benefit from the positive reaction to the Federal Budget.&nbsp;Against this backdrop, I recommend investors neutralise their under-weight bets in discretionary retailers, with a view to moving overweight as more signs of a less cautious consumer emerge.&nbsp;Getting the sector call right is more important than stock selection, but we highlight stocks that offer the strongest upside, including Echo, GUD, Harvey Norman, Premier Investment and Super Retail.

A less cautious consumer: Good news for discretionary retailers (finally!)

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Australia's ASIC releases the aggregated short position data four business days after the reporting day.</li>
<li>The largest industry net increase in the past week was into "Diversified Banks"; the largest industry net decrease was out of "Broadline Retail".</li>
<li>Companies mentioned in this regular weekly report include: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/westpac-banking-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:444:1" rel="noopener">Westpac Banking (WBC AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/wesfarmers-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1104:1" rel="noopener">Wesfarmers Ltd (WES AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/inghams-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23640:1" rel="noopener">Inghams (ING AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/reliance-worldwide-corp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22690:1" rel="noopener">Reliance Worldwide Corp (RWC AU)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/idp-education-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1098:1" rel="noopener">IDP Education (IEL AU)</a>.</li>
</ul>


Australia's ASIC releases the aggregated short position data four business days after the reporting day.
The largest industry net increase in the past week was into "Diversified Banks"; the largest industry net decrease was out of "Broadline Retail".
Companies mentioned in this regular weekly report include: Westpac Banking (WBC AU), Wesfarmers Ltd (WES AU), Inghams (ING AU), Reliance Worldwide Corp (RWC AU), and IDP Education (IEL AU).


Aussie Shorts (23 Feb 2026): Westpac, Wesfarmers, Inghams, Reliance Worldwide, IDP Education

Asia Pac ECM and Index Rebal, Shenton Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac ECM and Index Rebal

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China Biotech

DZT Research

DZT Research is an independent Asia Pacific equity specialist. Our quantitative research covers index rebalancing flows, alongside exchange data analytics accross Asia Pacific. On the equity capital markets side, we focus on Asia Pacific ECM, especially biotech and TMT. Our lead analyst is frequently cited by international media.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analyzed the changes in short interest of ASX Stocks as of Feb 20th (reported today). The aggregated short interest was USD35.0bn.</li>
<li>We tabulate league tables for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases &amp; decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.</li>
<li>We highlight short interest changes in Zip, JB Hi-Fi, Goodman, CSL, Pro Medicus.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in short interest of ASX Stocks as of Feb 20th (reported today). The aggregated short interest was USD35.0bn.
We tabulate league tables for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases &amp; decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.
We highlight short interest changes in Zip, JB Hi-Fi, Goodman, CSL, Pro Medicus.


ASX Short Interest Weekly (Feb 20th): Zip, JB Hi-Fi, Goodman, CSL, Pro Medicus

<ul>
<li>We analyzed the changes in short interest of ASX Stocks as of Oct 10th (reported today). The aggregated short interest was USD28.1bn.</li>
<li>We tabulate league tables for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases &amp; decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.</li>
<li>We highlight short interest changes in Woolworths, ANZ, Qbe Insurance, Qantas Airways, Cleanaway Waste Management.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in short interest of ASX Stocks as of Oct 10th (reported today). The aggregated short interest was USD28.1bn.
We tabulate league tables for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases &amp; decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.
We highlight short interest changes in Woolworths, ANZ, Qbe Insurance, Qantas Airways, Cleanaway Waste Management.


ASX Short Interest Weekly (Oct 10th): Woolworths, ANZ, Qbe Insurance, Qantas Airways

<ul>
<li>We analyzed the changes in short interest of ASX Stocks as of Oct 3rd (reported today). The aggregated short interest was USD28.3bn.</li>
<li>We tabulate league tables for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases &amp; decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.</li>
<li>We highlight short interest changes in ALS, Washington H Soul Pattinson&amp;Co, Brambles, CAR, Fortescue.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in short interest of ASX Stocks as of Oct 3rd (reported today). The aggregated short interest was USD28.3bn.
We tabulate league tables for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases &amp; decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.
We highlight short interest changes in ALS, Washington H Soul Pattinson&amp;Co, Brambles, CAR, Fortescue.


ASX Short Interest Weekly (Oct 3rd): ALS, Washington H Soul Pattinson&Co, Brambles, CAR, Fortescue

Australia

Nick Scali Limited retails furniture in Australia.  The Company specializes in leather and fabric lounges, dining rooms, bedrooms and occasional furniture. Nick Scali has about nine showrooms located in New South Wales and Queensland.

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Nick Scali Ltd (NCK AU)

A less cautious consumer: Good news for discretionary retailers (finally!)

In a blog post last year, I wrote of the lost decade for discretionary retailers; expected profitability was little changed from ten years...

Sam Ferraro

Aussie Shorts (23 Feb 2026): Westpac, Wesfarmers, Inghams, Reliance Worldwide, IDP Education

Companies mentioned in this regular weekly report include: Westpac Banking (WBC AU), Wesfarmers Ltd (WES AU), Inghams (ING AU), Reliance Worldwide...

David Blennerhassett

ASX Short Interest Weekly (Feb 20th): Zip, JB Hi-Fi, Goodman, CSL, Pro Medicus

We analyzed ASX short interest report for the past week and highlight short interest changes in Zip, JB Hi-Fi, Goodman, CSL, Pro Medicus.

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

ASX Short Interest Weekly (Oct 10th): Woolworths, ANZ, Qbe Insurance, Qantas Airways

We analyzed ASX short interest report for the past week and highlight short interest changes in Woolworths, ANZ, Qbe Insurance, Qantas Airways,...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

ASX Short Interest Weekly (Oct 3rd): ALS, Washington H Soul Pattinson&Co, Brambles, CAR, Fortescue

We analyzed ASX short interest report for the past week and highlight short interest changes in ALS, Washington H Soul Pattinson&Co, Brambles, CAR,...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)