Short Interest Trends Higher in Solar, Lower in Alt Energy Stocks

By Paul Ausick Updated Jan 12, 4:36AM EST · Published Jan 11, 7:55AM EST

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Short Interest Trends Higher in Solar, Lower in Alt Energy Stocks — © Thinkstock

Short interest moves among solar and alternative energy stocks were mixed during the two-week reporting period that ended on December 29. Of the companies we watch, short interest rose on two of three solar stocks and dropped on all four alternative energy stocks.

First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) saw short interest rise by 24.1% to 4.68 million shares, which represents about 6.1% of the company’s float. Days to cover rose from two to four. In the two-week short interest period, the stock’s share price fell by 2.4%. Its 52-week trading range is $25.56 to $71.80, and it closed at $69.64 on Wednesday, down about 0.5% for the day.

SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) short interest increased by 3.6% to 13.77 million shares, or 23.1% of the company’s float. In the two weeks to December 29, the share price fell by 8.9%. The 52-week range is $5.84 to $11.70, and the stock closed at $8.49 on Wednesday, down about 0.4% for the day. Days to cover rose from three to seven.

Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) saw a decrease of 14.5% in short interest during the period. Some 5.1% of the total float, or 2.01 million shares, were short, and days to cover rose from one to three. The company’s share price fell by about 4.1% over the two weeks, and shares closed Wednesday at $16.93, down about 0.1% for the day, in a 52-week range of $10.86 to $19.09.

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FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) posted a decrease of 1.1% in short interest during the period. Some 9.06 million shares were short as of December 29. The stock closed at $1.85 on Wednesday, up about 6.3% for the day, in a 52-week range of $0.80 to $2.49. Shares traded down about 10.6% in the short interest period, and days to cover rose from six to 11.

Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) saw short interest drop by 6.7% to 32.87 million shares. Days to cover rose from nine to 11, and about 14.6% of the company’s shares were short. In the two weeks to December 29, the share price rose by about 1.3%. The stock’s 52-week range is $0.83 to $3.21, and shares closed Wednesday at $2.34, up about 0.9% for the day.

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE) saw a decline of about 21.8% in short interest to 4.14 million shares. About 3.2% of the company’s float was short, and days to cover fell from five to three. The share price rose by about 0.7% by December 29. The stock closed at $2.07 on Wednesday, down about 1% for the day, in a 52-week range of $1.96 to $3.12.

Pacific Ethanol Inc. (NASDAQ: PEIX) saw short interest fall by 9.9% between the settlement dates to 766,978 shares, about 1.8% of the company’s float. Days to cover fell from three to two. The stock price increased by about 0.6% in the two weeks. Shares closed at $4.60 on Wednesday, up about 1.1% on the day, in a 52-week range of $4.10 to $9.35.

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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.