Short Sellers Still Uncertain About Alternative Energy, Solar Stocks

By Paul Ausick Updated Jan 30, 7:45PM EST · Published Jun 12, 8:05AM EDT

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Short Sellers Still Uncertain About Alternative Energy, Solar Stocks — © Sakarin14 / Getty Images

Short interest moves among solar and alternative energy stocks were mixed during the two-week reporting period that ended on May 31. Of the companies we watch, short interest decreased on two of three solar stocks and on one of five alternative energy stocks.

First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR | FSLR Price Prediction) saw short interest rise by 11% to 11.41 million shares, which represents about 11% of the company’s float. Days to cover rose from seven to nine. In the two-week short interest period, the stock’s share price slipped by about 3%. Its 52-week range is $36.51 to $65.28, and it closed at $64.25 on Tuesday, up 1.7% for the day. The high was posted Tuesday.

SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) short interest decreased by 6% to 18.26 million shares, or 29.2% of the company’s float. In the short interest period ended May 31, the share price dipped by 8.1%. The stock’s 52-week range is $4.55 to $8.61, and it closed at $8.46 on Tuesday, up by about 0.7% for the day. Days to cover slipped from 12 to 10. The 52-week high was posted Tuesday.

Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) saw a drop of 33% in short interest during the two weeks. Some 5.8% of the total float, or 2.64 million shares, were short, and days to cover dipped from four to three. The company’s shares traded up by about 5.4% over the period, and shares closed Tuesday at $21.13, down about 0.8% for the day, in a 52-week range of $11.37 to $25.89.

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Bloom Energy Corp. (NYSE: BE) short interest rose by 2% in the latter two weeks of May. Some 8.46 million shares were short, representing 7.9% of the company’s total float. Days to cover remained unchanged at seven, and the stock price plunged by about 21% during the period. Shares closed Tuesday at $10.48, up about 0.4% for the day, in a 52-week range of $8.88 to $38.00.

FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) posted an increase of 41% in short interest during the period. Some 2.18 million shares were short as of May 31, about 20.4% of the total float. The stock closed at $0.40 on Tuesday, down about 8.3% for the day, in a 52-week range of $0.38 to $22.44. The company completed a one-for-12 reverse split in late April. Days to cover remained at about two. In the two weeks to May 31 the stock price dropped by 68%.

Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) saw short interest increase by 9% to 50.12 million shares. Days to cover remained at nine, and about 22% of the company’s shares were short. In the two weeks, the share price rose by about 9.9%. The stock’s 52-week range is $0.99 to $2.87, and shares closed Tuesday at $2.62, down about 1.5% for the day.

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE) saw a drop of 13% in short interest to 2.36 million shares. About 1.9% of the company’s float was short, and days to cover remained unchanged at two. The share price fell by about 5.7% in the two-week period to May 31. The stock closed at $2.54 on Tuesday, down by about 0.8% for the day, in a 52-week range of $1.61 to $4.05.

Pacific Ethanol Inc. (NASDAQ: PEIX) saw short interest rise by 31% in the two-week period to 1.2 million shares, about 2.9% of the company’s float. Days to cover increased from two to three. The stock price dropped by about 17% by the end of the month. Shares closed at $0.83 on Tuesday, down about 2.9% for the day, in a 52-week range of $0.76 to $3.24.
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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.