Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Pickens, Pelosi Spanked: "Clean Energy posts wider-than-expected Q3 losa" (CLNE)

The Speaker is an investor in CLNE. The stock is down over 7% today. From Reuters:

(Corrects paragraph 6 to show the company posted an adjusted profit, not an adjusted loss)

* Q3 loss $0.31/shr vs est. loss $0.30/shr * Rev falls 8 pct

* Shares down 4 pct after-market

Nov 9 (Reuters) - Natural gas provider Clean Energy Fuels Corp (CLNE.O) reported a wider-than-expected quarterly loss, as a fall in natural gas prices weighed on revenue.

However, gasoline gallon equivalents delivered during the quarter rose 58 percent over last year. For the third quarter, the company reported a loss of $18.5 million, or 31 cents a share, compared with a loss of $12.1 million, or 27 cents a share, last year.

Revenue at the Seal Beach, California-based company fell 8 percent to $31.2 million....MORE

Nasdaq had an interesting post this morning:

Show of support in Clean Energy Fuels-11/10/2009

Clean Energy Fuels reported earnings after the bell yesterday, and at least one investor sold puts before the news.

optionMONSTER's tracking system detected the sale of 3,000 December 12.50 puts for $0.85 against open interest of 901 contracts. The trade will earn a profit as long as the natural-gas infrastructure stock closes above $11.65 by expiration.

CLNE ChartCLNE rose 3.3 percent to $12.84 in normal trading. It was quoted at $12.32 after hours, when its third-quarter earnings release was issued. Non-GAAP earnings were $0.01 and the net loss was $0.31. It's not clear which number should be compared with analysts' forecasts of a $0.30 loss, though revenue missed consensus by about 11 percent.

By selling the puts, the trader agreed to purchase the shares at the strike in return for accepting the premium. The strategy also took advantage of CLNE's 64 percent implied volatility reading, up from 57 percent in late October. If volatility reverses lower for the stock, it will reduce the value of the puts sold short.

Volatility usually declines after earnings are announced.

Other investors also sold the November 12.50 puts for $0.55. Volume totaled 1,165 contracts compared with open interest of 974....

Previously:

T. Boone Pickens: Greenwashing and Rentseeking (CLNE)

Nancy Pelosi, Al Gore and T. Boone Pickens Walk Into a Bar (CLNE)

Jim Cramer, Nancy Pelosi and T. Boone Pickens Walk Into a Bar (CLNE)