Energy

Short Interest in Solar Stocks Rises, Mixed on Alternative Energy

Paul Ausick

Published: January 26, 2017 7:35 am

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 3:30 pm

Short interest moves among solar and alternative energy stocks were mixed during the two-week reporting period that ended on January 13. Of the companies we watch, short interest rose on all three solar stocks and on one of four alternative energy stocks.

First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) saw short interest rise by 1.5% to 15.49 million shares, which represents about 20.2% of the company’s float. Days to cover rose from seven to eight. In the two-week short interest period, the stock’s share price added 9.8%. The stock’s 52-week trading range now is $28.60 to $74.29, and shares closed at $32.90 on Wednesday, up about 1.1% for the day.

Short interest at SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) increased by 2.9% to 18.56 million shares, or 31.7% of the company’s float. In the two weeks, the share price rose 9.7%. Days to cover fell from seven to six. The current 52-week range is $6.00 to $26.29, and shares closed at $6.92 on Wednesday, up about 3.1%.

Between the most recent settlement dates, Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) saw a rise of 8% in short interest. Some 14.9% of the total float, 6.59 million shares, were short, and days to cover rose from five to seven. The company’s share price rose by 2.3% in the period, and shares closed Wednesday at $12.58, up about 0.7% for the day, in a 52-week range of $10.25 to $23.56.

FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) posted a decrease of 20.7% in short interest in the first two weeks of this month. Some 3 million shares were short as of January 13. The stock closed at $1.50 on Wednesday, down about 6.3% for the day, in a 52-week range of $1.50 to $8.88. Shares added about 4.1% in the short interest period, and days to cover rose from five to seven.

Plug Power Inc.’s (NASDAQ: PLUG) short interest decreased by 1.3% to 32.7 million shares. Days to cover rose 10 to 15, and about 17.3% of the company’s shares were short. In the two weeks to January 13, the share price added about 2.5%. The stock’s 52-week range now is $1.10 to $2.28, and shares closed Wednesday at $1.23, down about 2.6% for the day.

The short interest in Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE) rose about 3.2% to 6.77 million shares. About 5.9% of the company’s float was short, and days to cover remained unchanged at three. The share price fell by about 5% in the two-week period. The stock closed at $2.80, up 1.5%, on Wednesday, in a 52-week range of $2.15 to $4.80.

Pacific Ethanol Inc. (NASDAQ: PEIX) saw short interest drop by 12% between the settlement dates to 1.24 million shares, or about 3.2% of the company’s float. Days to cover remained unchanged at three. The stock price dipped by about 10% in the two weeks. Shares closed at $7.50 on Wednesday, down 8% on the day, in a 52-week range of $2.87 to $10.95.

In addition, check out the most shorted Nasdaq stocks, which included Sirius XM, Intel and Yahoo.