It’s been a volatile few months for solar stocks which saw a big surge off the bottom late last year only to retest those lows recently. Today, solar stocks get a spark in positive guidance from First Solar (FSLR) which posted much better than expected guidance, but it remains to be seen if they catch fire again. It’s too soon to begin calling another bottom in solar stocks, but today’s buy interest/short squeeze definitely means … Read the rest
Category Archives: Solar Energy
Commerce Department Imposes Tiny Tariffs On China Solar; YGE, STP, TSL Rallying
News broke not too long ago that the US Department of Commerce has in fact agreed that China is unfairly subsidizing China solar companies which is creating unfair competition and hurting US solar companies. The reaction? Tiny tariffs! I mean these duties are negligible and the reason some of these China solar stocks are rallying in particular Yingli Green Energy (YGE) up over 13%, Suntech Power (STP) up over 7% and Trina Solar (TSL) up … Read the rest
Conergy Indicates More Pain Ahead For Solar
Just when you think the news in the solar industry can’t get any worse, the negative headlines continue to flow. Today, several solar stocks were hit again as the big German solar company Conergy indicated that selling prices will continue to fall (below production costs in many cases) as price wars heat up in the face of declining demand and further cuts in German subsidies. These comments really don’t come as a surprise and aren’t … Read the rest
Can It Get Any Worse For First Solar (FSLR)?
I’ve been traveling in Panama, so have some earnings reports to catch up on. First Solar (FSLR) reported after the bell on Tuesday and it wasn’t pretty. The company missed badly on a non GAAP basis in addition to reporting a hefty one time loss which included $125 million for faulty panels produced a few years ago. The company reported a non GAAP EPS of $1.26/share vs the analyst estimate for $1.53 on revenue of … Read the rest
Sunpower (SPWR) Posts Surprise Non GAAP Profit, Shares Soar Then Slide
Sunpower (SPWR), the big US solar power manufacturer and project developer, posted a surprising non GAAP profit after the bell last night and the stock has rocketed higher today on heavy volume. The CEO acknowledged it was a messy quarter of one time adjustments and costs, but on an adjusted basis taking out one time charges, the company posted .16/share in profit which was well ahead of analyst estimates that called for a .05/share loss. … Read the rest
Suntech Power (STP) Posts Better Than Expected Prelim Results
Suntech Power (STP) is out this morning posting preliminary results for Q4 2011 and the results are considerably better than expected. The stock soared at the open up around 20%, but has given much of that back and is currently up around 12% on heavy volume.
The company says it has exceeded previous guidance and will post revenues in the $610 – $630 million range with full year shipments above the previous guidance of 2GW … Read the rest
MEMC Electronic Materials (WFR) Misses, Offers No Guidance, Shares Hold Steady
MEMC Electronic Materials (WFR) reported mixed results last night with a non GAAP EPS loss a bit wider than expected at .09 vs the analyst estimate for a .06/share loss, but on better than expected revenues of $772 million (down 19% over the year ago quarter). Shares were likely trading up pre-market because the non-GAAP loss wasn’t quite as severe as the company has expected about a month ago.
Energy Conversion Devices (ENER) Files For Bankruptcy
It was really just a matter of time for Energy Conversion Devices (ENER). The once promising leader in flexible thin film solar filed for bankruptcy protection this morning, dousing the optimism of recent wins by wholly owned subsidiary United Solar which the company plans to sell. USO landed a deal for integrated rooftop solar in Italy and most recently a deal with SolarFocus to power Amazon’s Kindles through solar. That subsidiary would make a … Read the rest
GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT) Beats, Guidance Remains Mostly Intact
GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT) reported good earnings results yesterday, beating analyst estimates. The company reported an EPS of .12/share on revenues of $153 million vs the expectations for .08/share on revenues of $146 million. However, it’s still well below the year ago quarter when the company posted $263 million in revenue as the solar market continues to struggle. There are some positive signs though particularly with the surge in demand in Germany which has helped … Read the rest
Suntech Power (STP) CEO: “Solar Now Competitive Energy Source”
In an article over at CNBC Suntech Solar (STP) CEO Zhengrong Shi said he is upbeat on the solar sector highlighting the fact it is now becoming competitive with traditional energy sources, dropping from $6/watt 10 years ago to nearly $1/watt now.
While upbeat in the longer term, he did acknowledge the difficulty short term as over supply continues to be an issue.
“Right now, there is an oversupply situation, manufacturing capacity is expanding faster … Read the rest