Energy

Short Interest in Solar, Alt Energy Stocks Can't Find a Direction

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Short interest moves among solar and alternative energy stocks were mixed during the two-week reporting period that ended on October 13. Of the companies we watch, short interest fell on two of three solar stocks and on two of four alternative energy stocks.

First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) saw short interest rise by 3% to 5.75 million shares, which represents about 7.5% of the company’s float. Days to cover rose from one to four. In the two-week short interest period, the stock’s share price rose by about 3.2%. The stock’s 52-week range is $25.56 to $53.00, and it closed at $48.61 on Tuesday, down about 0.6% for the day.

SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) short interest decreased by 1.3% to 13.48 million shares, or 22.8% of the company’s float. In the two weeks to October 13, the share price fell by about 3.9%. The stock’s 52-week range is $5.84 to $11.70, and it closed at $6.92 on Tuesday, up about 0.7% for the day. Days to cover rose from four to eight.

Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) saw a decrease of 1.6% in short interest during the two-week period. Some 11% of the total float, or 4.9 million shares, were short, and days to cover rose from three to seven. The company’s share price fell by about 3.3% between the settlement dates, and shares closed Tuesday at $16.68, up about 1.6% for the day, in a 52-week range of $10.25 to $18.12.

FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) posted an increase of 11.3% in short interest during the period. Some 7.08 million shares were short as of October 13. The stock closed at $2.20 on Tuesday, up about 0.9% for the day, in a 52-week range of $0.80 to $5.25. Shares traded up more than 26% in the short interest period, and days to cover fell from three to two.

Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) saw short interest rise by 9.8% to 33.5 million shares. Days to cover rose from three to four, and about 14.9% of the company’s shares were short. In the two weeks to October 13, the share price rose by about 6.9%. The stock’s 52-week range is $0.83 to $3.07, and shares closed Tuesday at $2.71, up about 1.9% for the day.

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE) saw a decrease of about 3.6% in short interest to 8.49 million shares. About 6.6% of the company’s float was short, and days to cover rose from 11 to 12. The share price fell by more than 5% in the two-week period. The stock closed at $2.36 on Tuesday, up about 0.4% on the day, in a 52-week range of $2.18 to $4.44.

Pacific Ethanol Inc. (NASDAQ: PEIX) saw short interest fall by 4.2% in the first two weeks of this month to 1.38 million shares, about 3.2% of the company’s float. Days to cover rose from three to four. The stock price dropped about 7.2% by mid-month. Shares closed at $4.80 on Tuesday, down about 1% on the day, in a 52-week range of $4.15 to $10.95.

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