The increase in short interest for VRT suggests that investors are becoming more bearish on the stock, potentially leading to downward pressure on its price in the short term. However, being below the peer average in short interest could indicate that VRT is in a relatively stronger position compared to its competitors, possibly mitigating some of the negative impact. The short-term impact is considered negative due to the increased bearish sentiment, but the below-average short interest relative to peers provides a nuanced view that might not translate to a significant price drop.