Energy

Short Interest Drops in Solar, Alt Energy Stocks

Paul Ausick

Published: September 27, 2017 7:55 am

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 7:46 am

Short interest moves among solar and alternative energy stocks were mostly lower during the two-week reporting period that ended on September 15. Of the companies we watch, short interest fell on all three solar stocks and on three of four alternative energy stocks.

First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) saw short interest decrease by 3.7% to 10.75 million shares, which represents about 13.9% of the company’s float. Days to cover fell from eight to seven. In the two-week short interest period, the stock’s share price rose by about 4.9%. Its 52-week range is $25.56 to $53.00, and it closed at $46.17 on Tuesday, down about 1.5% for the day.

SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) short interest decreased by 3.5% to 12.94 million shares, or 21.9% of the company’s float. In the short interest period, the share price fell by about 5.9%. The stock’s 52-week range is $5.84 to $11.70, and it closed at $7.22 on Tuesday, up about 1.6% for the day. Days to cover fell from seven to four.

Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) saw a decrease of 2.4% in short interest during the two weeks to September 15. Some 12.1% of the total float, or 5.37 million shares, were short and days to cover remained at five. The company’s share price jumped by about 10.6% between the settlement dates, and shares closed Tuesday at $16.07, up about 0.2% for the day. The 52-week range is $10.25 to $18.12.

FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) posted a decrease of 1.4% in short interest during the period. Some 7.01 million shares were short as of September 15. The stock closed at $1.79 on Tuesday, down about 0.6% for the day, in a 52-week range of $0.80 to $5.67. Shares traded flat in the two-week short interest period, and days to cover fell from 15 to six.

Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) saw short interest dip by 5.3% to 39.97 million shares. Days to cover fell from 20 to 10, and about 18% of the company’s shares were short. In the two weeks to September 15, the share price rose by about 5.6%. The stock’s 52-week range is $0.83 to $2.82, and shares closed Tuesday at $2.60, unchanged for the day.

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE) saw a decrease of about 10.7% in short interest to 8.71 million shares. About 6.8% of the company’s float was short, and days to cover fell from 12 to nine. The share price rose by about 5.2% in the two-week period. The stock closed at $2.47 on Tuesday, down about 0.4% on the day, in a 52-week range of $2.18 to $4.62.

Pacific Ethanol Inc. (NASDAQ: PEIX) saw the number of shares short rise by 20.6% in the short interest period to  1.39 million, about 3.3% of the company’s float. Days to cover rose from two to three. The stock price added about 9.5% in the first two weeks of September. Shares closed at $5.90 on Tuesday, up about 3.5% on the day, in a 52-week range of $4.15 to $10.95.