K+S and HENSOLDT face shifting hedge‑fund short bets

ExodusPoint Capital Management reduced its net short position in German fertilizer and salt producer K+S to 0.69% on 9 July 2026, a slight decline from 0.71%. Other hedge funds remain active, with BlackRock holding the largest short at 1.49%, followed by Eleva Capital (0.60%) and Centiva Capital (0.54%). The stock traded around €13.11, reflecting ongoing market attention to commodity prices, energy costs and agricultural demand.

In the defence sector, WorldQuant, LLC increased its net short on HENSOLDT to 0.51%, just above the reporting threshold. Larger short positions are held by AQR Capital Management (1.19%), D. E. Shaw & Co. (0.71%), PDT Partners (0.70%) and Arrowstreet Capital (0.50%). HENSOLDT shares were near €74.18 and remain stable despite the new short‑position signal. Both companies are viewed as attractive by institutional investors for their sector fundamentals, yet hedge funds maintain scepticism over valuation and short‑term price risks.