All posts by Tate Dwinnell

Trina Solar (TSL) Beats On EPS, Says "Market Confidence Returning To PV Sector"

Trina Solar (TSL) is trading a bit higher after the bell today after the company beat EPS estimates on revenues that were about inline.  Taking out one time write offs and gains, the company reported an EPS of .42/share which beat analyst estimates of .32/share but represents a significant hair cut from the year ago quarter when it posted 1.01/share.  Still, it’s an improvement over last quarter’s .33/share.  Revenues came in at $150 million which … Read the rest

Uranerz (URZ) Announces Sales Contract

Uranerz just announced a new uranium sales contract with an unnamed US utility company. Although the buyer is not specified, the Uranerz press release indicates that they are one of the largest stateside nuclear power plant operators. The contract is a long-term, 5 year contract and the pricing structure is based on market referenced prices, with combined spot and long term indicators. The contract also protects both parties against market fluctuation with floor and ceiling … Read the rest

Hoku Materials’ (HOKU) Idaho Plant Granted Foreign Trade Zone Status

Hoku Materials just announced that its Pocatello, Idaho plant has been granted foreign trade zone status. This news means that Hoku will be except from paying duties on all supplies it imports from other countries, as long as the products produced are intended for export. Since approximately 80% of Hoku’s expected polysilicon capacity has already been sold to Chinese companies, at least 80% of its raw materials should be duty-free.

In a press release, … Read the rest

Greenhunter Energy (GRH) Quarter Not As Good As Headlines Would Have You Believe

I’ve written about this so many times before and this is perhaps one of the worst examples of a misleading headline.  Do a search for GRH and you’ll see one headline saying that GreenHunter Energy (GRH) turns to a profit.  Perhaps (I haven’t located the benefit of the one time events the company refers to in its press release) but take a look at the revenue number.  They reported $1.7 million in revenue which is … Read the rest

Suntech Products (STP) To Be Available in More Stores In Japan

According to JLM Pacific Epoch, Suntech products will soon be available in more stores in Japan. Yamada Denki, a Japanese retail store that distributes Suntech products, is expected to expand the number of its locations that carry Suntech products from 50 to 450. This should help Suntech meet its goal of expanding to take 10% of the Japanese market in 2009. … Read the rest

Barrons: Barclays Warns Of Trouble Ahead In Solar Industry

According to Barrons, Barclays Vishal Shah came out with a warning today saying trouble in the solar sector is far from over and cut the sector to Neutral.  Solar stocks are under pressure today on the warning, but the report out of LDK Solar last night isn’t helping either.  Both of the solar ETFs (tickers TAN, KWT) are breaking back below their 50 day moving averages with heavy volume today.

The warning was issued due … Read the rest

A Roundup Of Reactions To the Chevy Volt

A couple days ago, GM made some pretty gigantic waves in the auto industry when it announced that it expects its upcoming hybrid model, the much anticipated Chevy Volt, to get an astonishing 230 miles to the gallon. And that’s for city driving. Sound incredible? The mixed reviews are sure to straighten out in the days and weeks to come, but for now, there are quite a few decided opinions on the Volt.

Over at … Read the rest

BP (BP) To Work With Martek BioSciences On Biofuels Project

BP just announced that it will be collaborating with Martek Biosciences Corp to develop technologies that use microbial oils to convert sugars into biodiesel, according to UPI.com. Currently, most biodiesel is made from some type of natural fat or oil, whether it is animal or vegetable in origin. Sugars are usually fermented to produce ethanol. The process that BP and Martek are working on would use sugars to create biodiesel, a process that is … Read the rest