Energy

Short Interest in Solar, Alt Energy Stocks Heats Up

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Short interest moves among solar and alternative energy stocks were mixed during the two-week reporting period that ended on March 15. Of the companies we watch, short interest rose on all three solar stocks and on two of four alternative energy stocks.

First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) saw short interest inch up by 0.1% to 3.93 million shares, which represents about 5.1% of the company’s float. Days to cover rose from two to three. In the two-week short interest period, the stock’s share price jumped by nearly 10.5%. The stock’s 52-week trading range now is $25.56 to $76.61, and it closed at $74.02 on Monday, up about 4.8% for the day.

SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) short interest increased by 8.3% to 16.56 million shares, or 27.9% of the company’s float. In the short interest period, the share price slipped by about 0.1%. The stock’s 52-week range is $5.84 to $11.70, and it closed at $8.24 on Monday, up about 6.5% for the day. Days to cover rose from seven to eight.

Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) saw an increase of 3.9% in short interest during the two weeks to March 15. Some 5.2% of the total float, or 2.29 million shares, were short, and days to cover fell from six to five. The company’s share price rose by about 2.2% over the short interest period, and shares closed Monday at $17.51, up about 2.5% for the day, in a 52-week range of $11.31 to $19.09.

FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) posted a decrease of 0.8% in short interest during the period. Some 7.82 million shares were short as of March 15. The stock closed at $1.82 on Monday, up about 2.3% for the day, in a 52-week range of $0.80 to $2.49. Shares traded up about 5.5% in the short interest period, and days to cover fell from 12 to seven.

Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) saw short interest rise by 1.9% to 34.4 million shares. Days to cover remained flat at nine, and about 15.2% of the company’s shares were short. In the two weeks to March 15, the share price rose by 2.1%. The stock’s 52-week range is $1.25 to $3.21, and shares closed Monday at $1.95, up about 3.2% for the day.

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE) saw a rise of about 8.3% in short interest to 6.4 million shares. About 8.3% of the company’s float was short, and days to cover fell from seven to five. The share price rose by 4.7% in the two-week period. The stock closed at $1.69 on Monday, up about 4.3% for the day, in a 52-week range of $1.31 to $3.05.

Pacific Ethanol Inc. (NASDAQ: PEIX) saw short interest fall by 27.6% in the two-week period to 1.94 million shares, about 4.6% of the company’s float. Days to cover fell from nine to three. The stock price dropped by 13.1% in the first two weeks of March. Shares closed at $3.20 on Monday, down about 5.9% on the day, in a 52-week range of $3.05 to $7.50. The low was posted Monday.

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