Solar Short Interest Heats Up on One Stock

February 27, 2014 by Paul Ausick

Solar Farm Desert
Source: Thinkstock
We continue to track the short interest changes in a number of solar PV and installation companies. The following information is based on data reported on February 14.

Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) saw short interest rise by 27.6% to 1.83 million shares, about 5.6% of the company’s total float. In the two-week short interest period to February 14, shares fell nearly 5.7% and are up about 25% year to date through Wednesday’s close. The stock’s 52-week range is $3.12 to $44.01.

First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) saw short interest fall by 6.1% to 11.2 million shares, which represents 15.4% of the company’s float. In the two-week short interest period to February 14, shares gained 3.3%, but they are down about 8% through Wednesday’s close. The stock’s 52-week range is $24.46 to $65.99.

GT Advanced Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: GTAT) showed an increase of 4.7% in short interest to 32.13 million shares, about 24.5% of the float. In the two-week period, shares added nearly 16%, and they are up almost 60% through Wednesday’s close. The stock’s 52-week range is $2.61 to $14.91, and the high was set Thursday.

SunEdison Inc. (NYSE: SUNE) showed an increase of 3.8% in short interest, to 45 million shares. About 17% of the company’s stock is now short. In the latest two-week short interest period, shares gained just 0.5%, but they are up about more than 33% year-to-date through Wednesday’s close. The stock’s 52-week range is $3.95 to $19.05, and the high was set Thursday.

SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) saw a short interest drop of 1.7% to 14.42 million shares, 34.1% of the total float. In the two-week short interest period to February 14, shares gained 1.2%, and they are up more than 5% year-to-date through Wednesday’s close. The 52-week range is $9.00 to $36.25.

SolarCity Corp. (NASDAQ: SCTY) showed a drop of 2.5% in short interest to 9.11 million shares, or 28.1% of the company’s float. In the two-week short interest period, shares fell 2.25%. They are up more than 42% through Wednesday’s close. The stock’s 52-week range is $15.88 to $88.35.

Short interest remains high in GT Advanced Technologies as the company gears up to begin producing sapphire glass for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) and its next generation of iPhones. Shorts are slowly walking away from SunPower as the company looks like it can hold on the big gains it made last year.

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