I don't think that is the case.-Stock Dividends
If you're short and there is a CASH dividend, than that must be paid back to the company. I don't think that applies to Stock dividends. I own another stock that is going through a stock dividend, and noone has found anything from the SEC that states that a stock dividend requires all shorts to be covered and for that stock which is the dividend to be paid back to the parent company if you're short.
We need a link from the SEC explaining this. If this statement of shorts having to cover cannot be proven, then we shouldn't be getting into a hysteria because of it. It may require a discussion.
I looked through SEC regulations until I was blue in the face. I then asked two credible sources, and they discounted the theory.
Replies Welcome.
IMHO