Short Sellers Pulling Out of Solar, Alternative Energy Stocks

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

First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) saw short interest increase by 1.2% to 17.83 million shares, which represents about 23.3% of the company’s float. Days to cover rose from four to five. In the two-week short interest period through April 13, the stock’s share price added about 0.3%. The stock’s 52-week range is $25.56 to $62.14, and it closed at $27.54 on Tuesday, up about 1.7% for the day.

SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) short interest decreased by 0.2% to 20.27 million shares, or 34.8% of the company’s float. In the short interest period, the share price jumped by 12.8%. The stock’s 52-week range is $5.84 to $22.35, and it closed at $6.87 on Tuesday, up nearly 2%. Days to cover remained unchanged at six.

Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) saw a drop of 6.3% in short interest during the two weeks to April 13. Some 14.8% of the total float, or 6.54 million shares, were short, and days to cover rose from three to nine. The company’s share price rose by nearly 18% over the period, and shares closed Tuesday at $13.93, up about 1.8% for the day, in a 52-week range of $10.25 to $19.65.

FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) posted a decrease of 4.5% in short interest during the period. Some 4.34 million shares were short as of April 13. The stock closed at $1.60 on Tuesday, up nearly 5% for the day, in a 52-week range of $1.25 to $8.88. Shares added 12.3% in the short interest period, and days to cover fell from seven to three.

Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) saw short interest drop by 1.7% to 33.03 million shares. Days to cover fell from five to one, and about 17.5% of the company’s shares were short. In the two weeks to April 13, the share price soared by 58%. The stock’s 52-week range is $0.83 to $2.70, and shares closed Tuesday at $2.31, up about 6.5% for the day.

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE) saw an increase of about 1.9% in short interest to 7.22 million shares. About 5.6% of the company’s float was short, and days to cover rose from five to six. The share price fell by about 5.8% between the settlement dates. The stock closed at $2.46 on Tuesday, up about 0.8%, in a 52-week range of $2.38 to $4.80.

Pacific Ethanol Inc. (NASDAQ: PEIX) saw short interest dip by 0.9% in the period to 1.15 million shares, which is about 3% of the company’s float. Days to cover doubled to two. The stock price shed about 0.7% in the first two weeks of April. Shares closed at $6.70 on Tuesday, down about 1.5% on the day, in a 52-week range of $3.74 to $10.95.