Where Has Solar, Alt Energy Short Interest Gone?

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By Paul Ausick Updated Published
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Short interest among solar and alternative energy stocks was mixed during the two-week reporting period that ended on March 31. Solar stocks generally saw short interest drop, as did the alternative fuel stocks.

Perhaps the most interesting change in the two-week period was the lack of change in days to cover. Not one of these stocks saw a decline in days to cover. This indicates that short sellers may be satisfied with their positions and are probably looking elsewhere for action.

First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) saw short interest decrease by about 10.1% to 7.98 million shares, which represents 10.9% of the company’s float. Days to cover remained at four. In the two-week short interest period to March 31, shares fell about 1.4%. The stock’s 52-week range is $39.18 to $73.78, and it closed at $91.30 on Friday.

SunEdison Inc. (NYSE: SUNE) showed a slight increase of 0.7% in short interest to 82.65 million shares. About 30.7% of the company’s float is now short and days to cover rose to 11. In the latest two-week short interest reporting period, shares rose about 1.4%. The stock closed at $26.69 Friday, in a 52-week range of $13.09 to $27.10.

SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) short interest fell by 19% to 5.9 million shares, or 11.3% of the company’s float. In the two-week short interest period, shares fell 4.3%. The stock’s 52-week range is $22.75 to $42.07, and it closed at $32.81 on Friday. Days to cover remained at four.

ALSO READ: The 5 Most Shorted Nasdaq Stocks

SolarCity Corp. (NASDAQ: SCTY) saw a short interest fall by 1.6% to 18.83 million shares, or 33.2% of the company’s total float. Days to cover remained at nine. In the two-week short interest period, shares rose by 3.2%. The stock’s 52-week range is $45.79 to $79.40, and shares closed at $56.09 Friday night.

Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) saw a drop of 19.8% in short interest in the final two weeks of March. Some 9.7% of the total float, 4.01 million shares, are short, and days to cover remained at two. The company’s shares rose about 4.2% over the two weeks. Shares closed most recently at $34.54, in a 52-week range of $18.68 to $41.12.

FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) had a slight drop of 0.1% in short interest during the two-week period. About 13.1% of the company’s float, 31.85 million shares, is short and days to cover remained at nine. In the short interest period, the shares lost about 2.3%. The stock closed at $1.28 on Friday, in a 52-week range of $1.05 to $2.84.

Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) saw short interest slip by 0.7% to 31.8 million shares. Days to cover remained at nine, and about 19.1% of the company’s shares are short. In the two weeks to March 31, the stock’s share price fell about 6.8%. The stock’s 52-week range is $2.42 to $8.37, and shares closed Friday at $2.61.

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE) saw a rise of 3.6% in short interest to 17.15 million shares. About 24.4% of the company’s float is short, and days to cover remained at 13. Shares rose about 4.4% in the two-week period to March 31. The stock ended last week at $5.97, in a 52-week range of $3.99 to $11.79.

Pacific Ethanol Inc. (NASDAQ: PEIX) saw short interest fall by 13.2% in the two-week period to 4.23 million shares, or about 13.2% of the company’s float. Days to cover remained at six. The stock price rose about 7.4% in the two weeks. The stock closed at $11.74 on Friday, in a 52-week range of $7.51 to $23.97.

ALSO READ: The 5 Most Shorted NYSE Stocks

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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.

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