Bloom Energy Puts Popular on Short Seller Report

Hindenburg Research called BE an "obvious bankruptcy candidate"

Bloom Energy Corp (NYSE:BE) stock is spiraling today, after Hindenburg Research issued a scathing report on the solid oxide fuel cell specialist. The short seller called BE an "obvious bankruptcy candidate," and said the firm will likely "wind up in the history books alongside failed companies like Theranos or Solyndra."

In its note, Hindenburg Research highlighted out roughly $2.2 billion in "undisclosed servicing liabilities that the market has missed," and labeled the company's operations as "an emissions-spewing hazardous waste-creating, uneconomical product." In a statement released today, Bloom Energy said it "strongly disagree[s] with the conclusions drawn."

The damage is done, though, with BE stock down 20% at $3.35, earlier hitting a record low of $3.10. And with the equity on the short-sale restricted list, options traders are in overdrive, with 4,500 calls and 3,400 puts on the tape -- seven times what's typically seen at this point in the day, and volume pacing in the 100th annual percentile.

The September 4 put is most active, and it looks like speculators may be buying to close these now in-the-money options. New positions are being initiated at the October 3 put, though it's not clear if they're being bought or sold. Put buyers expect BE to extend its slide into record-low territory through October options expiration, while put writers are betting on the $3 to serve as short-term support.