We propose a risk-based firm-type explanation on why stocks of firms with high relative short interest (RSI) have lower future returns. We argue that these firms have negative alphas because they are a hedge against expected aggregate volatility risk. Consistent with this argument, we show that...

We study the cross-section of stock returns with observed short interest and long positions of hedge funds. During the period 1997-2014, 30% of highly shorted stocks also have the highest level of hedge fund holdings. Stocks with both high short interest and high hedge fund holdings do not earn...