DroneShield's Short Interest Climbs to 14.36% as Losses Widen and a New CFO Prepares to Take Over

DroneShield short interest rose to 14.36% as H1 2026 revenue climbed 74% but net loss widened; Rebecca Lowde was named CFO from November 2.

Short sellers are digging in at DroneShield, and the numbers are hard to ignore. According to media reports citing the latest data from Australia's securities regulator ASIC, the share of borrowed stock in the drone-defense specialist rose to 14.36% on Friday. The pressure showed up immediately in European trading, where the stock slipped 0.7% to EUR 1.00.

That elevated short position tells a story of its own: speculative players are still betting on further weakness. For anyone holding the stock, the central question is whether the company can juggle rapid growth with the path to sustainable profitability.

Two Halves of the Same Story

The operating picture is a study in contrasts. DroneShield booked revenue of AUD 125.767 million in the first half of 2026, up 74% year over year. But the bottom line moved in the opposite direction — the net loss after tax widened to AUD 32.231 million for the period.

To shore up its financial base for further expansion, management made a change at the top. On September 10, the company named Rebecca Lowde as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective November 2, 2026.

Lowde arrives with deep experience across the technology sector and in running listed companies. At software firm MYOB, she oversaw a comprehensive debt restructuring and drove growth in operating profit. During her time at Afterpay, she wore two hats as both finance and HR chief, steering a AUD 1.5 billion capital raise and helping shepherd the company's eventual takeover by Block in a deal worth AUD 39 billion.

She takes over from Carla Balanco, who is leaving after a long tenure. Balanco joined DroneShield in an earlier phase of its development, later rose to the CFO role, and built out the company's internal financial management and compliance structures.

Hardware Milestones and a New R&D Base

Progress on the project side has been tangible. Roughly a week ago, DroneShield confirmed the successful installation and formal acceptance of its DroneSentry-X Mk2 counter-drone systems on US military Infantry Squad Vehicles under the JIATF-401 contract. Since that announcement, the stock has given back 4.2%.

The company is also expanding its domestic footprint. A new research and development center at the Lot Fourteen technology precinct in Adelaide is meant to advance work on software, sensors, embedded systems, and electronic warfare, while tying technical development and customer customization more closely to military requirements.

Market Skepticism Persists

None of this has translated into share price gains. At EUR 1.01, the stock is down 44% since the start of the year. The combination of integration wins on the technology side and a reshuffled finance team forms the foundation on which DroneShield aims to cement its position in the international defense sector.