Key Short Interest Changes in Solar Stocks

Technology

Published: September 25, 2014 9:40 am

Last Updated: April 28, 2020 12:29 am

Three of five solar stocks we track for short interest saw a decline during the two-week period to September 15. And even though one stock’s share price fell by a third in the two weeks, short interest in that stock rose again.

First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) saw short interest fall by 4.9% to 8.49 million shares, which represents 11.6% of the company’s float Days to cover fell to four. In the two-week short interest period, shares rose about 1.1%, and they are up more than 19% year-to-date through Wednesday’s close at $68.43. The stock’s 52-week range is $39.38 to $74.84.

SunEdison Inc. (NYSE: SUNE) showed a decrease of 0.9% in short interest to 64.12 million shares. About 24% of the company’s stock is now short, and days to cover fell to eight. In the latest two-week short interest period, shares fell 8.5%, but they are up about 46% year-to-date through Wednesday’s close at $20.28. The 52-week range is $7.72 to $24.35.

SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) saw a short interest rise 0.2% to 10.54 million shares, or 20.3% of the company’s total float. In the two-week short interest period, shares fell about 4%, but they are up more than 11% year to date after closing at $35.95 on Wednesday. The stock’s 52-week range is $25.04 to $42.07. Days to cover fell to seven.

SolarCity Corp. (NASDAQ: SCTY) showed a drop of 0.4% in short interest to 11.57 million shares, or 22% of the company’s float. Days to cover fell to three. In the short interest period, shares slipped about 1.9%, but they are up about 5.6% year to date. The stock’s 52-week range is $32.10 to $88.35, and shares closed at $63.04.

GT Advanced Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: GTAT) saw short interest rise by 7.9% to 55.59 million shares, about 40.8% of the company’s total float. Days to cover fell to three. During the period, shares fell about 33%, but they are up 27% year to date through Wednesday, when the shares closed at $11.59. The stock’s 52-week range is $7.42 to $20.54.

GTAT’s share price fell 28% in the two days following Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) announcement on September 9 that the new iPhones would not be using sapphire glass covers made by GTAT. Short sellers don’t think the bleeding is over yet either.

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