Solar, Alt Energy Short Interest Dwindles

Energy

Published: December 26, 2019 8:00 am

Last Updated: January 30, 2020 11:49 am

Short interest moves among solar and alternative energy stocks were generally to the downside during the two-week reporting period that ended on December 13. Of the companies we watch, short interest decreased on two of three solar stocks and on three of five alternative energy stocks.

Last week, we posted our list of 10 undervalued energy stocks as a new year and a new decade begins.

First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) saw short interest fall by 2% to 11.64 million shares, which represents about 15.4% of the company’s float. Days to cover remained at nine. In the two-week short interest period, the stock’s share price decreased by about 1%. Its 52-week range is $40.30 to $69.24, and it closed at $57.98 on Tuesday, up about 0.2% for the day.

SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) short interest fell by 4% to 18.45 million shares, or 19.8% of the company’s float. In the two weeks to December 13, the share price slipped by about 0.2%. Its 52-week range is $4.60 to $16.04, and it closed at $8.04 on Tuesday, up by about 2% for the day. Days to cover remained at five.

Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) saw short interest rise by 9% during the two-week period. Some 8.6% of the total float, or 3.95 million shares, were short, and days to cover remained unchanged at four. The company’s shares soared by 22% over the period, and they closed Tuesday at $22.15, up by about 1.6% for the day, in a 52-week range of $13.76 to $25.89.

Bloom Energy Corp. (NYSE: BE) short interest decreased by 5% in the first two weeks of December. Some 15.15 million shares were short, representing about 21.7% of the company’s total float. Days to cover slipped from six to five, and the stock price fell by about 2% during the period. Shares closed Tuesday at $6.61, up about 1.2% for the day, in a 52-week range of $2.44 to $16.63.

FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) posted a drop of 20% in short interest during the period. Some 16.5 million shares were short as of December 13, about 13% of the total float. The stock closed at $0.82 on Tuesday, down about 2.5% for the day, in a 52-week range of $0.13 to $11.28. Days to cover remained at one.

Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) saw short interest fall by 8% to 46.65 million shares. Days to cover remained at six, and about 20% of the company’s shares were short. In the two weeks to December 13, the share price plunged by almost 20%. The stock’s 52-week range is $1.22 to $4.04, and shares closed Tuesday at $3.11, up by about 5% for the day. The company priced a secondary offering of 40 million shares at $2.75 a share during the first week of December.

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE) saw a rise of 10% in short interest to 1.55 million shares. About 1% of the company’s float was short, and days to cover remained at two. The share price rose by about 1.5% in the short interest period. The stock closed at $2.35 on Tuesday, up about 1.3% for the day, in a 52-week range of $1.65 to $3.47.

Pacific Ethanol Inc. (NASDAQ: PEIX) saw short interest dip by 4% in the two weeks to 594,700 shares, about 1.3% of the company’s float. Days to cover remained at two. The stock price dropped by 1.2% in the initial half of December. Shares closed at $0.87 on Tuesday, up about 3.6% on the day, in a 52-week range of $0.39 to $1.67.