Solaredge Technologies Inc (SEDG) Meltdown Prompts Bearish Betting

Alternative energy specialist Solaredge Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:SEDG) is melting down this morning, following the bearish lead of SolarCity Corp (NASDAQ:SCTY) -- to which it supplies inverters. At last check, SEDG has plummeted 10.1% to trade at $18.34, and at its intraday low, was within $1 of its late-August all-time bottom of $15.60. As it currently stands, the stock is on the short-sale restricted list -- helping send put volume to 16 times the average late-morning rate.

Digging deeper, SEDG's most active option is the November 15 put, which is seeing buy-to-open activity. In other words, these speculators think the shares will plummet below the $15 level -- and into record-low territory -- by the close on Friday, Nov. 20, when front-month options expire.

This marks a change of pace for the stock, which has seen pronounced call buying of late. At the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), SEDG has amassed a 10-day call/put volume ratio of 24.47. In other words, over 24 calls have been bought to open for each put during the last two weeks.

However, the motive of these buyers is obscured by the equity's high levels of short interest. Specifically, short interest ballooned almost 72% during the last two reporting periods, and now makes up over 11% of SEDG's total float. Put simply, the recent trend toward call buying may have been powered by short sellers hedging against an unexpected bounce in the stock.

While it's not clear what options traders think of Solaredge Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:SEDG), the same cannot be said of the brokerage crowd. Five of six analysts rate the equity a "buy" or better, versus one "hold" and not a single "sell." Plus, the consensus 12-month price target of $37.31 more than doubles SEDG's current perch. From a contrarian perspective, the stock could be vulnerable to future downgrades and/or price-target reductions.