VNET News & Events

VNET Group announced that Qiyu Wang has resigned from his position as VNET's CFO for personal reasons, effective April 30. Wang's resignation is not due to any disagreement with the Company, nor does it relate to the Company's operations, policies, practices, accounting matters, or procedures. Josh Sheng Chen, Founder, Executive Chairperson and Interim CEO of VNET, commented, "On behalf of the Company, I would like to thank Qiyu for his contributions during his tenure. His financial discipline and strategic insight have been instrumental to the Company's growth. We wish him every success in his future endeavors." In February, the Company announced the appointment of Peter Zhihua Zhang as Senior Vice President, Operational Finance of VNET, to oversee the Company's financial operations and to serve as the Company's "principal accounting officer" in accordance with applicable U.S. federal securities laws, SEC rules, and Nasdaq requirements. Since joining VNET in 2019, Zhang has demonstrated extensive expertise in multiple key roles within the Company's finance operations.

Welcome to this week's installment of "The Short Interest Report" - The Fly's weekly recap of short interest trends among some of the most widely followed high-short-float stocks. Using the data from our partner, which utilizes the latest information from stock lenders to estimate short interest changes for thousands of publicly traded companies, this report will screen for some of biggest changes in short interest as a percentage of free float and days-to-cover ratios while also considering the short interest data on some of the more volatile and heavier-traded names of the week. Based on the availability of data from Ortex, the report tracks the trading period that covers prior Friday through Thursday of this week, excluding holidays. As a basis of comparison for stocks discussed below, the S&P 500 index was up 3.7%, the Nasdaq Composite was up 4.3%, the Russell 2000 index was up 4.2, the Russell 2000 Growth ETFwas up 4.5% and the Russell 2000 Value ETFwas up 3.9% in the four-day trading session range through April 9.SHORT INTEREST GAINERSOrtex-reported short interest in Avis Budget Grouphas continued to surge this week, rising from 67.7% to a new record high of 86.9% while days to cover was slipping to 8.2 from 10.7 primarily as a result of a spike in trading volume. We profiled the name two weeks ago, with the rapid gains in the stock price attributed to increased demand at the car-rental counters due to the partial U.S. government shutdown, and the tension between the momentum buyers and the shorts betting on the inevitable pullback has only escalated. This week, in spite of a valuation-driven downgrade by Deutsche Bank, the stock was up another 56% and has now tripled in price in just a three-week period.Ortex-reported short interest in VNET Groupis up notably for the second consecutive week even though the stock appears to have found some support after losing nearly half of its value since mid-February. This week, shorts as a percentage of free float on VNET jumped five percentage points to 30.7% - a new record high. Days-to-cover on the name also nudged higher to 5.7 from 5.6, with the increase in trading activity driving a more subtle increase. Shares of the Chinese data center provider were up about 3% in the four-day period covered, though VNET is flat year-to-date, having shed all of its early 2026 gains.Ortex-reported short interest on Vital Farmstroughed about two weeks ago around 21% but has since shot up while shares are looking for a bottom after the stock lost more than half of its market cap since mid-February. This week, shorts as a percentage of free float on Vital Farms rose two percentage points to 26.6% - the highest level since the last week of February. Days-to-cover on the name were up from 4.1 to 4.4. The stock rose about 3% in the four-day period covered through Thursday, though shares of the pasture-raised egg producer are down 59% year-to-date. The company's Q4 results in late February were especially damaging, earning multiple sell-side downgrades and sending the stock down by double-digits on lower than expected bottom line and below-consensus guidance.SHORT INTEREST DECLINERSOrtex-reported short interest on Tripadvisorpeaked just above 31% on March 17th but has since turned decidedly lower, sliding for three consecutive weeks just as the stock went on to erase a two-day decline of over 20% that followed the company's disappointing Q4 results in mid-February. Short-covering has picked up in earnest after the company confirmed earlier reports of activist involvement of Starboard Value – a 9% equity holder – on March 23, and this week the flight among the bears was especially pronounced, with short interest as a percentage of free float falling four percentage points to a two-month low of 25.6%. Days to cover on Tripadvisor was down from 8.5 to 7.8. The stock rallied about 6% over the four-day period through Thursday, though while shares are now up 21% from their mid-March lows, year-to-date return on Tripadvisor – inclusive of Friday's 5% drop - is still down 25%.

Stocks closed higher on Monday, opening the week with a rebound after a volatile stretch driven largely by energy markets and geopolitical developments in the Middle East.Energy prices are still elevated amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, though reports suggest diplomatic and logistical efforts are underway to allow more tankers to pass through the Strait, which has helped cool some of the extreme volatility seen earlier in the month.Even with the modest improvement in sentiment, the broader macro picture remains fragile. Rising oil prices are feeding inflation concerns just as policymakers in the United States and Europe are preparing for upcoming rate-setting meetings.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Nvidiakicked off its annual GTC conference, during which CEO Jensen Huang said the company sees demand for Blackwell and Ruben equating to revenue ofthrough 2027Reuters reported Metais planning toto offset AI infrastructure costsSecretary of Energy Chris Wright directed Sable Offshoretoof the Santa Ynez Unit and Santa Ynez Pipeline SystemPublic StorageNational Storagein an all-stock deal valued at an enterprise value of approximately $10.5BDollar Treeshares rose after theshowed its strategy to introduce higher-priced items is helping the company increase sales2. WALL STREET CALLS:Circle Internetto Buy from Hold at Clear StreetSeaportQualcommto Sell on losing share in shrinking marketBarclaysKinderCareto Underweight after outlook missAdobeto Hold at Argus following CEO retirement announcementCiticoverage of "emerging AI hyperscaler" Nebiuswith a Buy3. AROUND THE WEB:In a series of meetings with the White House, the CEOs of Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillipshave warned that the disruption of energy flows from the Strait of Hormuz waterway due to the Iran war would continue to create volatility in global energy markets, WSJ saysAhead of its acquisition by Paramount Skydance, Warner Bros.led the 2026 Oscars with 11 winsOpenAI is in advanced discussions with private equity firms including TPG, Advent International, Bain Capital, and Brookfield Asset Managementto form a joint venture, Reuters saysFertitta Entertainment deal talks to acquire Caesars Entertainmenthave heated up, CNBC saysJD.comis launching in the UK and other European countries as the company aims to draw customers to its Joybuy.com, Bloomberg says4. MOVERS:CytomX Therapeuticsjumped after reportingand announcing the planned initiation of a Phase 1 expansion cohort for Varseta-MOneMainfell after New York Attorney General Letitia Jamesthat she is leading a coalition of 12 other attorneys general in suing the lenderNano Nuclear Energydeclined afterin the development of its HALEU transportation systemSealsqfell after30.4M shares at $4.11 in direct offeringVNETclosed lower after reporting5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCE:SAICreportedand provided guidance for FY27WWreported, with EPS and revenue lower year-over-yearTelosreportedand provided guidance for Q1 and FY26AirSculptreported preliminary, with revenue missing consensusVinFast Autoreported, with revenue up 138.9% year-over-yearINDEXES:The Dow rose 387.94, or 0.83%, to 46,946.41, the Nasdaq gained 268.82, or 1.22%, to 22,374.18, and the S&P 500 advanced 67.19, or 1.01%, to 6,699.38.

VNET Group is down -8.1%, or -85c to $9.66.