Energy

Short Sellers Find More to Like in Solar and Alternative Energy Stocks

Trey Thoelcke

Published: June 12, 2017 7:10 am

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 11:09 am

Short interest moves among solar and alternative energy stocks were mostly upward during the two-week reporting period that ended on May 31. Of the companies we watch, short interest rose on one of three solar stocks and on all four alternative energy stocks.

First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) saw short interest decrease by 11.2% to 13.81 million shares, which represents 18.0% of the company’s float. Days to cover rose from three to four. In the two-week short interest period, the stock’s share price added less than 4%. Its 52-week trading range is $25.56 to $50.40, and it closed at $36.65 on Friday, up about 3% for the day.

SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) short interest shrank by 3.3% to 19.09 million shares, or 32.8% of the company’s float. In the two weeks to May 31, the share price rose by nearly 7%. The stock’s 52-week range is $5.84 to $16.60, and it closed at $8.01 on Friday, down about 2% for the day. Days to cover inched up from six to seven in the period.

Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) saw a rise of 4.2% in short interest during the two weeks. Some 17.4% of the total float, or 7.69 million shares, were short, and days to cover remained at six. The company’s share price dipped by 3.2% over the period. Shares closed last Friday at $12.63, down almost 2% for the day, in a 52-week range of $10.25 to $17.62.

FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) posted an increase of 24.8% in short interest during the two-week period. Some 7.70 million shares were short as of May 31. The stock closed at $1.10 on Friday, up 5.7% for the day, in a 52-week range of $0.80 to $6.44. Shares dropped more than 10% in the short interest period, and days to cover rose from four to seven.

Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) saw short interest rise by 6.2% to 36.19 million shares. Days to cover rose from four to six, and about 17.3% of the company’s shares were short. In the final two weeks of May, the share price fell by about 10%. The stock’s 52-week range is $0.83 to $2.70, and shares closed Friday at $2.04, down more than 4% for the day.

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE) saw an increase of 4.4% in short interest to 8.08 million shares. About 6.3% of the company’s float was short, and days to cover rose to eight from five. The share price pulled back more than 5% in the two-week period. The stock closed at $2.43 on Friday, up about 1.2%, in a 52-week range of $218 to $4.80.

Pacific Ethanol Inc. (NASDAQ: PEIX) saw a short interest gain 1.6% in the period to 1.29 million shares, about 3.2% of the company’s float. Days to cover remained unchanged at two. The stock price shed more than 13% in the two weeks. Shares closed at $6.05 on Friday, up about 1.7% on the day, in a 52-week range of $4.64 to $10.95.