Hoku Scientific has posted its 3rd quarter financial results. Although revenue rose tremendously to $1.87 million, but due to increased expenses,the company’s net loss actually increased slightly. This time last year, the company posted a loss of $1 million dollars, or 6 cents a share. This year, the figure has increased to $1.37 million, or 7 cents a share.
However, Hoku is still making progress on its polysilicon plant in Idaho, and expects to … Read the rest
MEMC Electronics (WFR) is up about 5% in after hours trading following a decent earnings report in which the company posted better than expected revenue numbers and minus a one time charge related to Lehman bonds, posted earnings in line with estimates at .88/share.
The company did however guide lower for next quarter and sees revenue of 540 – 600 million, which is below the consensus of 608 million. It’s blaming the lowered guidance on … Read the rest
Collins Stewart analyst Dan Ries . Ries gave the following reasons for the downgrade:
… Read the restRies notes that the credit crisis has lead to increased borrowing costs for solar projects, putting pressure on solar module prices. Also hurting: a 13% drop in the Euro against the dollar since July. Ries also notes that the stock has been trading at about 9.6x estimated FY ‘09 EPS, a premium to the 3-5x ‘09 multiples carried by most of
The International SEMATECH Manufacturing Initiative (ISMI), an industry group for the semiconductor industry, recognized Tokyo Electron Limited and Applied Materials for their dedication to sustainability. Representatives for both companies were presented with plaques to commemorate the achievement at an industry workshop.
Sandro Pampel, ISMI’s ESH Energy Conservation Program leader, said that the companies received the awards based on the following:
… Read the rest“These companies have implemented effective internal processes to characterize and improve the environmental performance of
LDK Solar announced that its new polysilicon plant in Xinyu City, China will operate using Diamond Wire SR200 Filament Saws. These filament saws have a clear advantage over regular blades in that they are capable of cutting up to 100% more filaments, with lower kerf. This results in more efficient use of materials and enables more polysilicon rods to be manufactured from the same amount of raw materials.
Nick Sarno, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing, … Read the rest
Goldman Sachs is out this morning with several calls on solar stocks:
Upgrades
* Upgraded Applied Materials (AMAT) from Sell to Buy and added to their Conviction Buy List
* Upgrades Yingli Green Energy (YGE) from Neutral to Buy but cut price target from $20 to $9
* Upgrades Trina Solar (TSL) from Sell to Neutral but cuts price target from $24 to $12
Maintain
* Maintains Buy rating on Suntech Power (STP) but cuts … Read the rest
LDK Solar (LDK) announced this morning it has inked a 7 year supply deal with Italian based Helios Technology and will provide 70 MW of multicrystalline solar wafers beginning next year and extending through 2015
“As we continue to experience strong demand for our solar wafers, this particular agreement further expands LDK’s presence in Europe and represents the increasing geographic diversity of our customer base,” said CEO Xiafeng Peng.… Read the rest
The analysts are weighing in on Sunpower (SPWRA) following their earnings report and the analysis is across the board. Citi is downgrading the stock to Sell and believes this is the last good quarter from the company for awhile! Ouch. Merrill Lynch is negative on SPWR as well, downgrading it from Buy to Neutral.
Then there’s Wedbush Morgan, with an against the grain STRONG BUY rating and $100 price target! Are they all looking at … Read the rest
Evergreen Solar (ESLR) is selling off more than 10% today after missing estimates and reporting losses in the latest quarter despite a 21% increase in revenue over the year ago quarter. Analysts were expecting a 10 cent loss in the quarter, but ESLR missed badly reporting an .18/share loss.
Wedbush Morgan downgraded the stock this morning from Buy to Hold and lowered the price target to $5 from $6, due to uncertainty over ESLR achieving … Read the rest
GT Solar (SOLR) announced yesterday that it signed a 46.8 million contract with Taiwan based Top Green Energy. The deal is the first with Top Green and the first with a company in Taiwan.
“Top Green Energy Technologies is an exciting new customer that is helping us enter a new geographic market with our reactors and converters. They are also the first company to purchase our newly available Integrated Gas Feed System and Off Gas … Read the rest