Energy

Short Interest Rises on Solar Stocks, Mixed on Alt Energy  

Paul Ausick

Published: March 11, 2020 8:28 am

Short interest moves among solar and alternative energy stocks were mixed during the two-week reporting period that ended on February 28.  Of the companies we watch, short interest increased on all three solar stocks and decreased on three of five alternative energy stocks.

First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) saw short interest rise by 8.9% to 12.34 million shares, which represents about 16.7% of the company’s float. Days to cover remained at seven. In the two-week short interest period, the stock’s share price dropped by about 17.8%. Its 52-week range is $38.90 to $69.24, and it closed at $41.08 on Tuesday, up by nearly 5% for the day.

SunPower Corp.’s (NASDAQ: SPWR) short interest rose by 6.2% to 21.76 million shares, or 27% of the company’s float. In the two weeks to February 28, the share price increased by 2.3%. The stock’s 52-week range is $5.96 to $16.04, and it closed at $6.87 on Tuesday, down by less than 1% for the day. Days to cover remained at five.

Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) saw short interest rise by 4.1% during the two week. Some 7.4% of the total float, or 3.39 million shares, were short, and days to cover remained at four. The company’s shares tumbled by 13% over the period, and shares closed Tuesday at $18.21, up by about 0.9% for the day, in a 52-week range of $14.50 to $25.35.

Bloom Energy Corp. (NYSE: BE) short interest slipped by about 3.9% in the latter half of February. Some 17.27 million shares were short, representing about 25.9% of the company’s total float. Days to cover remained at six, and the stock price dropped by 13% during the period. Shares closed Tuesday at $8.97, up by 5.4% for the day, in a 52-week range of $2.44 to $15.45.

FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) posted a decrease of 25.9% in short interest during the two-week period. Some 24.17 million shares were short as of February 28, or about 12.1% of the total float. The stock closed at $1.70 on Tuesday, up about 0.2% for the day, in a 52-week range of $0.13 to $5.04. Days to cover remained at one. The share price fell by about 6.4% in the period.

Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) saw short interest jump by 17.9% to 66.99 million shares. Days to cover remained at four, and about 22% of the company’s shares were short. In the two weeks to February 28, the share price dipped by about 4.3%. The stock’s 52-week range is $1.86 to $6.05, and shares closed Tuesday at $4.14, up by about 5.3% for the day.

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE) had a rise of 11.2% in short interest to 1.69 million shares. About 1.1% of the company’s float was short, and days to cover remained at two. The share price plunged by about 22.6% in the two weeks. The stock closed at $2.02 on Tuesday, up by nearly 13% for the day, in a 52-week range of $1.78 to $3.47.

Pacific Ethanol Inc. (NASDAQ: PEIX) saw short interest in the two-week period fall by 12.2% to 318,281 shares. Less than 1% of the company’s float was short. Days to cover remained at two. Shares closed at $0.34 on Tuesday, up by about 3% on the day, in a 52-week range of $0.31 to $1.35.