Short Sellers Seek Direction in Solar, Alt Energy Stocks 

Photo of Paul Ausick
By Paul Ausick Updated Published
This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.
Short Sellers Seek Direction in Solar, 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 31. Of the companies we watch, short interest decreased on one of three solar stocks and on three of five alternative energy stocks.

We previewed alt energy stocks in our list of 10 undervalued energy stocks for 2020.

First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR | FSLR Price Prediction) saw short interest remain virtually unchanged at 11.61 million shares, which represents about 15.4% of the company’s float. Days to cover rose from nine to 10. In the two-week short interest period, the stock’s share price increased by about 2.8%. The 52-week trading range is $45.77 to $69.24, and shares closed at $56.50 on Friday, down about 0.4% for the day.

SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) short interest rose by 6% to 18.57 million shares, or 21.1% of the company’s float. In the two weeks to December 31, the share price rose by 3.5%. Days to cover remained at five. The stock’s 52-week range is $5.06 to $16.04, and it closed at $7.74 on Friday, down by 1.9% for the day.

Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) saw short interest drop by 15% during the latter half of December. Some 7.35% of the total float, or 3.37 million shares, were short, and days to cover remained unchanged at four. The company’s shares jumped by more than 8% over the two-week period, and shares closed Friday at $22.55, down by about 1.5% for the day, in a 52-week range of $14.50 to $25.89.

[nativounit]

Bloom Energy Corp. (NYSE: BE) short interest increased by 2% in the two weeks. Some 15.5 million shares were short, representing about 22.2% of the company’s total float. Days to cover remained unchanged at five, and the stock price fell by about 4.3% during the period. Shares closed Friday at $9.13, up about 5.4% for the day, in a 52-week range of $2.44 to $16.63.

FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) posted a rise of 21% in short interest during the period. Some 20.03 million shares were short as of December 31, about 15.9% of the total float. The stock closed at $2.22 on Friday, up about 1.4% 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 2% to 45.57 million shares. Days to cover fell from six to four, and about 19.8% of the company’s shares were short. In the two weeks to December 31, the share price slipped by about 0.5%. The stock’s 52-week range is $1.31 to $4.20, and shares closed Friday at $4.14, up by about 2.2% for the day.

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE) saw no change in short interest, with 1.55 million shares in the hands of short sellers. About 1% of the company’s float was short, and days to cover remained at two. The share price rose by about 11.6% in the two weeks to December 31. The stock closed at $2.67 on Friday, down about 0.7% for the day, in a 52-week range of $1.71 to $3.47.

Pacific Ethanol Inc. (NASDAQ: PEIX) saw short interest tumble by 21% in the two-week period to 467,000 shares, about 1% of the company’s float. Days to cover fell from two to one. The stock price soared by almost 66% in the final two weeks of last month. Shares closed at $0.66 on Friday, down about 5.3% on the day, in a 52-week range of $0.39 to $1.67.

[recirclink id=629150]
[wallst_email_signup]

Photo of Paul Ausick
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.

Featured Reads

Our top personal finance-related articles today. Your wallet will thank you later.

Continue Reading

Top Gaining Stocks

CBOE Vol: 1,568,143
PSKY Vol: 12,285,993
STX Vol: 7,378,346
ORCL Vol: 26,317,675
DDOG Vol: 6,247,779

Top Losing Stocks

LKQ
LKQ Vol: 4,367,433
CLX Vol: 13,260,523
SYK Vol: 4,519,455
MHK Vol: 1,859,865
AMGN Vol: 3,818,618