Short Interest Moves in Solar Stocks

Short interest data is out from the July 13 settlement date. There were a few big changes with some key solar stocks over the June 29 settlement date.

We have taken a look at most of the major solar PV makers, including First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR), SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR), JA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: JASO), Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ), Hanwha SolarOne Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: HSOL), LDK Solar Co. Ltd. (NYSE: LDK), Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL), Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. (NYSE: STP), ReneSola Ltd. (NYSE: SOL), JinkoSolar Holding Co. Ltd. (NYSE: JKS) and Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. Ltd. (NYSE: YGE).

First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) got an increase of 3.2% in short interest to 28.02 million shares, the highest number ever for the top U.S. solar maker. Last month’s total was 21.14 million shares short.

SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) saw short interest fall by 0.7% to 4.07 million shares from 4.1 million shares on June 29th. A year ago, short interest reached nearly 9.5 million shares, so this is a big improvement for SunPower.

JA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: JASO) saw a decline of 7.6% in short interest, from 11.27 million shares to 10.41 million shares. Short interest has declined steadily from a recent peak of about 13.8 million shares on March 15.

Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) saw a decline of 4.1% in short interest, from 4.17 million shares to 4 million shares. In the past 12 months, short interest peaked at 6.27 million shares on September 15, 2011.

Hanwha SolarOne Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: HSOL) also saw a drop of 5.3% in short interest, from 1.45 million shares to 1.38 million. Short interest peaked at 3.26 million shares last November.

LDK Solar Co. Ltd. (NYSE: LDK) saw short interest rise 1.5%, from 10.32 million shares to 10.47 million shares. Days to cover is 18.

Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL) saw short interest rise 2.7%, from 12.77 million shares to 13.12 million shares. Days to cover is 10.

Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. (NYSE: STP) saw short interest jump 7.9% from 17.5 million shares to 18.9 million shares. Days to cover is 18 and some 10.5% of the company’s float is now short.

ReneSola Ltd. (NYSE: SOL) got a 15.2% drop in short interest, from 6.8 million shares to 5.77 million shares. Days to cover fell to 11.

JinkoSolar Holding Co. Ltd. (NYSE: JKS) saw a drop of 1.4% in short interest, from 2.24 million shares to 2.21 million shares, but days to cover is still a very high 26.

Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. Ltd. (NYSE: YGE) saw a drop of 1.8% in short interest, from 6.45 million shares to 6.34 million shares. Days to cover is 5.

Paul Ausick