Energy

Short Interest Slides on Solar Stocks, Rises on Alt Energy

Paul Ausick

Published: August 10, 2018 7:35 am

Last Updated: January 11, 2020 7:35 pm

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

First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) saw short interest fall by 19.5% to 5.08 million shares, which represents about 6.8% of the company’s float. Days to cover fell from four to two. In the two-week short interest period, the stock’s share price fell by 1.7%. Its 52-week trading range is $45.26 to $81.72, and it closed at $54.45 on Thursday, unchanged for the day.

SunPower Corp.’s (NASDAQ: SPWR) short interest increased by 5.9% to 16.85 million shares, or 27.7% of the company’s float. In the short interest period, the share price fell by 9.4%. The stock’s 52-week range is $6.46 to $10.00, and it closed at $7.32 on Thursday, down about 1% for the day. Days to cover fell from 15 to nine.

Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) saw a decrease of 7.8% in short interest during the two weeks to July 31. Some 7.3% of the total float, or 3.3 million shares, were short, and days to cover fell from seven to five. The company’s share price rose by 3.1% over the short interest period, and shares closed Thursday at $14.45, down about 1.8% for the day, in a 52-week range of $11.37 to $19.09.

FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) posted a dip of 1.9% in short interest during the two-week period. Some 10.41 million shares were short as of July 31. The stock closed at $1.20 on Thursday, up more than 11% for the day, in a 52-week range of $1.07 to $2.49. Shares traded down about 2.6% in the short interest period, and days to cover slipped from 11 to nine.

Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) saw short interest rise by 7% to 32.64 million shares. Days to cover rose from 11 to 16, and about 15.4% of the company’s shares were short. In the two weeks to July 31, the share price fell by 5.9%. The stock’s 52-week range is $1.53 to $3.21, and shares closed most recently at $1.91, down nearly 5.5% for the day.

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE) had an increase of 2.6% in short interest to 3.17 million shares. About 2.3% of the company’s float was short, and days to cover rose from one to two. The share price rose by 5.5% in the final weeks of July. The stock closed at $2.71 on Thursday, up more than 10% for the day, in a 52-week range of $1.31 to $4.05.

Pacific Ethanol Inc. (NASDAQ: PEIX) saw short interest jump by 22.2% in the period to 867,168 shares, about 2.1% of the company’s float. Days to cover rose from two to three. The stock price soared by more than 17% in the two weeks to July 31. Shares closed at $2.35 on Thursday, down more than 11% on the day, in a 52-week range of $2.30 to $6.06.