Energy

Short Interest in Solar and Alt Energy Stocks Drops as Crude Prices Rise

Alternative Energy sources
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Among the solar and alternative energy stocks we cover, every one experienced a decline in short interest during the two-week reporting period that ended on January 30. This could have been due to a rise in crude oil prices during the period and traders treating the alt energy stocks as leveraged plays on crude prices. That has been the case for a while now, especially among the solar stocks.

First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) saw short interest drop by about 7% to 8.16 million shares, which represents 11% of the company’s float. Days to cover rose to four. In the two-week short interest period to January 30, shares rose fractionally. The stock’s 52-week range is $39.18 to $74.84, and it closed at $46.33 on Tuesday.

SunEdison Inc. (NYSE: SUNE) showed a decrease of 1.8% in short interest to 79.5 million shares. About 29.5% of the company’s stock is now short and days to cover remained unchanged at seven. In the latest two-week short interest reporting period, shares fell about 10%. The stock closed at $20.36 Tuesday night, in a 52-week range of $13.09 to $24.35.

ALSO READ: Short Sellers Keep Exiting Semiconductors

SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) short interest fell by 4.5% to 9.96 million shares, or 19% of the company’s float. In the two-week period, shares fell by about 10.3%. The stock’s 52-week range is $22.75 to $42.07, and it closed at $26.95 on Tuesday. Days to cover rose to nearly five.

SolarCity Corp. (NASDAQ: SCTY) saw a short interest fall by 4.1% to 18.84 million shares, or 35.7% of the company’s total float. Days to cover rose to 10. In the two-week short interest period, shares fell 6%. The stock’s 52-week range is $45.79 to $88.35, and shares closed at $56.52.

Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) saw a drop of 28.7% in short interest in the two-week period to January 30. Some 10.3% of the stock, or 3.9 million shares, are short, and days to cover fell to two. The company’s shares fell about 8% over the two weeks. Shares closed Tuesday night at $26.67, in a 52-week range of $18.68 to $44.50.

FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) had a decline of 0.4% in short interest during the two-week period. About 12.7% of the company’s stock, 30.88 million shares, is short, and days to cover fell to seven. In the two-week short interest period, the shares dropped about 4.4%. The stock closed at $1.24 on Tuesday, in a 52-week range of $1.05 to $4.74.

Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) saw short interest fall by 1.6% to 30.96 million shares. Days to cover fell to six and about 19.7% of the company’s shares are short. In the two weeks to January 30, the stock’s share price fell about 2.9%. The stock’s 52-week range is $2.48 to $11.72, and shares closed Tuesday at $2.91.

ALSO READ: The 5 Nasdaq Stocks With the Most Shares Short

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE) saw a drop of 5.4% in short interest to 15.75 million shares. About 22.5% of the company’s shares are short, and days to cover slipped to just under 12. Shares fell about 10% in the two-week period to January 30. The stock closed at $5.08 on Tuesday in a 52-week range of $3.99 to $11.79.

Pacific Ethanol Inc. (NASDAQ: PEIX) saw short interest fall by 8.3% in the two-week period to 3.64 million shares, about 16.1% of the company’s float. Days to cover rose slightly to more than three. The stock price rose nearly 9% in the two weeks to January 30. The stock closed at $9.83 on Tuesday, in a 52-week range of $7.30 to $23.97.

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