According to Barron’s Tech Trader Daily blog, Pacific Crest analyst Mark Bachman reveals quality problems with Akeenas’ solar panels. Some of the problems he mentions, quoting information revealed by his contacts, involve the frame, not the performance of the modules themselves. Bachman continues: “Akeena touts the aesthetically pleasing nature [of its Andalay line] as a key contributor to charging a premium price. Poor manufacturing quality affecting the looks, coupled with reports from our contacts that
Category Archives: Solar Energy
Canaccord Starts JA Solar (JASO) and Canadian Solar (CSIQ) At BUYS
According to the StreetInsider.com Canaccord Adams initiated both JA Solar (JASO) and Canadian Solar (CSIQ) with buy ratings this morning.
On JASO:
“We are initiating coverage on JA Solar with a BUY rating and $19 price target as we believe that it will continue to benefit from its leading position in the silicon solar cell market and from its low-cost strategy.”
On CSIQ:
“Given the likelihood for raised expectations, the near-term benefit of UMG access, … Read the rest
Short solar?
Jeff from The Option Addict came out with a note showing some short candidates in the Solar Energy space due to their technical weakness. Stocks include CSIQ, LDK, SOL, STP, TAN, WFR, and YGE.… Read the rest
Hoku Scientific (HOKU) Signs $300 Million Polysilicon Deal
Hoku Scientific (HOKU) ramped up 15% today and above the 50 day moving average on news of a big supply deal for solar grade polysilicon. HOKU will supply China based Kinko Energy with solar grade polysilicon over a 10 year period beginning in late 2009 with a value of approximately 300 million. The contract calls for an initial $10 million payment to HOKU and additional prepayments of 20 and 25 million over the next … Read the rest
First Solar (FSLR) Blows Out Estimates, Surges After Hours
First Solar (FSLR) blew away lofty estimates after the bell today and the stock surged nearly 10% after hours. ClusterStock has a great live analysis of the earnings.
EPS came in at .85 vs the estimate of .58 while revenue was equally impressive at 267 million vs estimates that called for 217 million. Gross margins also surged to more than 54%.
I fully anticipate a breakout move in the stock tomorrow, potentially closing in on … Read the rest
Credit Suisse Initiates Energy Conversion (ENER) With Outperform
Credit Suisse has slapped an outperform rating on ENER this morning saying that large commercial roof tops and mid scale free field end markets will grow faster long term, as they best capture distributed renewable aspects that differentiate solar PV among renewables. ENER is the only company making flexible & light weight solar laminates that can be rolled onto rooftops.… Read the rest
Trina Solar (TSL) & Suntech (STP) Sign Deals With Enel of Italy
Trina Solar (TSL) has entered into a sales agreement with Italy’s largest power company, Enel. The two agreement calls for supplying Enel with a total of 17MW. “We are very pleased to have entered into this sales agreement with Enel, a globally recognized power provider who is committed to investments in new power sources from environmentally-friendly technologies,” stated Jifan Gao, Trina Solar’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to building our relationship with … Read the rest
Canadian Solar (CSIQ) Upgraded to Buy
According to StreetInsider.com, Deutsche Bank upgraded Canadian Solar (CSIQ) from HOLD to BUY with a $45 price target due to valuation after the recent sell off.
“We are upgrading CSIQ to Buy (from Hold) following a substantial retracement in the stock, an improved operational outlook (i.e. GM reset to mid-teens, traction in UMG-Si based e-modules, no data to de-rail the UMG-Si argument over the near-term, capital raise and capacity expansion through 2010), and a … Read the rest
GT Solar (SOLR) IPO Begins Trading
GT Solar (SOLR) may be great at getting solar manufacturers up and running but in terms of IPO timing it fails miserably. The stock debuted today and did price in the middle of the expected range at $16, raising $500 million, but did so at a time when solar stocks have been getting crushed. The stock closed down more than 10% to $14.45.… Read the rest
First Solar (FSLR) Building 10MW Plant for Sempra Energy
First Solar (FSLR), the thin film module maker came out with news this morning that it’s building a 10MW solar plant in Nevada for Sempra Energy with construction already under way and expected to be completed by the end of the year. Sempra will own and operate it upon completion.
As the rest of the solar plays get hit today, FSLR is trading up nearly 3% (the only solar stock up today) and continues to … Read the rest