Copart Rises 0.51% with $240M Volume as Short Interest Surges to 12.31%—Ranking 459th in Daily Trading Volume

On August 4, 2025, Copart (CPRT) rose 0.51% with a trading volume of $240 million, placing it 459th in daily trading volume rankings. Short interest in the stock has surged to 12.31%, with 28.63 million shares sold short, translating to a 4.03-day cover period based on current trading activity. This level of short interest exceeds the 6.23% average for its peer group, highlighting heightened bearish sentiment.

Institutional activity has been mixed. TimesSquare Capital Management LLC increased its stake by 44.7% in the fourth quarter, while Fiera Capital Corp boosted holdings by 219%. Conversely, Principal Financial Group Inc. reduced its position by 1.8%, and Allspring Global Investments cut its stake by 59%. Analyst ratings remain cautiously optimistic, with two "hold" and one "buy" recommendation, though the average $58.00 price target implies a 5.75% downside from current levels.

Recent short-interest data contrasts with a January report showing a 7.1% decline in shorted shares, underscoring volatile positioning. The disparity suggests shifting market dynamics, with investors recalibrating exposure amid earnings expectations and macroeconomic uncertainty. Strategic buying by institutional investors, such as Strategic Financial Concepts LLC’s $8.56 million investment, signals selective confidence in Copart’s long-term potential.

The strategy of purchasing the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding them for one day generated a 166.71% return from 2022 to the present, outperforming the benchmark by 137.53%. This highlights liquidity concentration’s role in amplifying short-term gains, particularly in volatile markets where high-volume stocks like Copart may offer sharper price movements.