Solar, Alt Energy Stocks Post Big Short Interest Swings, Outcome Mixed

By Paul Ausick Updated Jan 30, 10:38AM EST · Published Jan 28, 7:40AM EST

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Solar, Alt Energy Stocks Post Big Short Interest Swings, Outcome Mixed — © bloomenergy / Flickr

Short interest moves among solar and alternative energy stocks were generally to the downside during the two-week reporting period that ended on January 15. Of the companies we watch, short interest decreased on two of three solar stocks and increased on four of five alternative energy stocks.

First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR | FSLR Price Prediction) saw short interest fall by 3% to 11.31 million shares, which represents about 15% of the company’s float. Days to cover remained at nine. In the two-week short interest period, the stock’s share price decreased by about 2.2%. Its 52-week range is $47.16 to $69.24, and it closed at $50.49 on Monday, down about 2.8% for the day.

SunPower Corp.’s (NASDAQ: SPWR) short interest rose by 4% to 19.24 million shares, or 22% of the company’s float. In the two weeks to January 15, the share price rose by about 10.6%. The 52-week range is $5.42 to $16.04, and the stock closed at $8.39 on Monday, down by about 4.4% for the day. Days to cover remained at five.

Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) saw short interest drop by 9% during the two-week period. Some 6.7% of the total float, or 3.06 million shares, were short, and days to cover dipped from four to three. The company’s shares rose by about 5.3% in the period, and shares closed Monday at $20.21, down by about 4.1% for the day, in a 52-week range of $14.50 to $25.89.

Bloom Energy Corp. (NYSE: BE) short interest increased by 7% in the first half of January. Some 16.58 million shares were short, representing about 23.8% of the company’s total float. Days to cover remained unchanged at five, and the stock price soared by 30.5% during the period. Shares closed Monday at $8.28, down by about 8.7% for the day, in a 52-week range of $2.44 to $16.63.

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FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) posted a jump of 63% in short interest during the period. Some 32.65 million shares were short as of January 15, about 15.5% of the total float. The stock closed at $1.54 on Monday, down about 15.4% for the day, in a 52-week range of $0.13 to $11.28. Days to cover remained at one. The company regained compliance with Nasdaq rules for listing on January 13.

Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) saw short interest jump by 22% to 55.75 million shares. Days to cover fell from six to five, and about 24.3% of the company’s shares were short. In the two weeks to January 15, the share price dropped by about 13.6%. The stock’s 52-week range is $1.32 to $4.53, and shares closed Monday at $3.81, down by about 2.3% for the day.

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE) saw a rise of 9% in short interest to 1.69 million shares. About 1% of the company’s float was short, and days to cover remained at two. The share price rose by nearly 12% in the two-week period. The stock closed at $2.35 on Monday, down about 3.3% for the day, in a 52-week range of $1.71 to $3.47.

Pacific Ethanol Inc. (NASDAQ: PEIX) saw short interest dip by 6% in the period to 438,400 shares, about 1% of the company’s float. Days to cover slipped from two to one. The stock price rose by 4.5% in the first half of January. Shares closed at $0.65 on Monday, down by about 4.7% on the day, in a 52-week range of $0.39 to $1.57.

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About the Author Paul Ausick →

Paul Ausick has been writing for a673b.bigscoots-temp.com for more than a decade. He has written extensively on investing in the energy, defense, and technology sectors. In a previous life, he wrote technical documentation and managed a marketing communications group in Silicon Valley.

He has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Chicago and now lives in Montana, where he fishes for trout in the summer and stays inside during the winter.