ProfitScout, Its my understanding that the dividend is to be paid in restricted shares (i.e. not sellable for 2 years). Are you saying that the hqnt shorts will be paying their dividends (owed via borrowing hqnt stock ) in free-trading stock (which can be sold day 1) ? To my knowledge that is the only type of stock that can be purchased on the open market, and comprise the increased volume you mention. If this is the case we should easily be able to tell how many shares are shorted by looking at how many hqnt share holders receive free-trading shares versus restricted shares. Personally I hope my shares are among the ones loaned out as I would prefer free-trading shares of sndh versus restricted shares of sndh.