Energy

Short Sellers Lose Interest in Solar Stocks, Gain Interest in Alternative Fuels

Paul Ausick

Published: July 26, 2017 8:00 am

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 9:46 am

Short interest moves among solar and alternative energy stocks were mixed during the two-week reporting period that ended on July 14. Of the companies we watch, short interest fell on all three solar stocks and rose on all four alternative energy stocks.

First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) saw short interest decrease by 8.2% to 11.42 million shares, which represents about 14.9% of the company’s float. Days to cover rose from five to six. In the two-week short interest period, the stock’s share price added about 7.1%. Its 52-week trading range is $25.56 to $49.50, and it closed at $45.46 on Tuesday, up about 1% for the day.

SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) short interest decreased by 8.7% to 16.85 million shares, or 28.6% of the company’s float. In the two weeks to July 14, the share price rose by about 6.6%. The stock’s 52-week range is $5.84 to $16.27, and it closed at $10.99 on Tuesday, down about 0.6% for the day. Days to cover remained unchanged at five.

Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) saw a drop of 9% in short interest during the period. Some 13.4% of the total float, or 5.95 million shares, were short, and days to cover rose from three to five. The company’s share price rose about 5.3% over the two weeks, and shares closed Tuesday at $16.57, down 0.9% for the day. The 52-week range is $10.25 to $18.12.

FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) posted an increase of 16.1% in short interest during the first two weeks of this month. Some 6.94 million shares were short as of July 14. The stock closed at $1.48 on Tuesday, up about 2.1% for the day, in a 52-week range of $0.80 to $5.67. Shares rose about 10% in the short interest period, and days to cover rose from four to eight.

Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) saw short interest rise by 1.3% to 39.13 million shares. Days to cover jumped from six to 16, and about 17.7% of the company’s shares were short. In the two weeks to July 14, the share price rose by about 1%. The stock’s current 52-week range is $0.83 to $2.70, and shares closed Tuesday at $2.32, down 2.1% for the day.

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE) saw an increase of about 2.4% in short interest to 9.83 million shares. About 7.7% of the company’s float was short, and days to cover fell from seven to three. The share price rose by about 6.6% in the two-week period. The stock closed at $2.99 on Tuesday, up nearly 4.6%, in a 52-week range of $2.18 to $4.80.

Pacific Ethanol Inc. (NASDAQ: PEIX) saw short interest rise by 1.7% in the period to 1.87 million shares, or about 4.5% of the company’s float. Days to cover fell from three to two. The stock price added about 1.6% in the two weeks. Shares closed at $6.30 on Tuesday, up 3.7% on the day, in a 52-week range of $5.62 to $10.95.