Tag Archives: Barrons

Rubicon Technology (RBCN) Plummets Again, This Time On Sterne Agee Sell Rating

It’s been a mighty rough go for Rubicon Technology (RBCN) shareholders in recent months.  Since I posted about the CEO and CFO liquidating their entire positions in the company on June 23rd, the stock is down about 50%.  Selling near the top saved the CEO nearly $2.5 million.  You have to wonder now when they plan to buy back the stock.  If their market timing prowess at the top is any indication, it may be … Read the rest

Barrons Savitz On Solar: Supply Glut To Continue, More Firms To Fail (ESLR, ENER)

In a weekend piece over at Barron’s, Eric Savitz sees a rough road ahead for the solar industry as capacity continues to outpace demand for years to come.  He highlights the fact that while demand has picked up ahead of the German solar subsidy cuts in a few months, capacity still outpaces demand and the situation will only worsen as the German subsidy cuts take place, putting some solar laggards out of business. 

Its … Read the rest

Wedbush Morgan Defends First Solar Too; "Negative Barrons Article Unwarranted"

Last night I posted about Jefferies analyst Paul Clegg defending First Solar (FSLR) following the negative piece on the company in Barrons.  This morning, Wedbush Morgan is out defending the company as well, assuming coverage at an Outperform with a price target of $190.

Hat tip to StreetInsider.com for the following analyst comment:

“Negative article in Barron’s is unwarranted, in our opinion. Investor concerns over the rebate program in Germany are overdone. in our opinion. … Read the rest

Jefferies Analyst Defends First Solar (FSLR) Following Negative Barrons Article

Over the weekend, Barron’s wrote up a piece on First Solar (FSLR) highlighting the company’s negative free cash flow and goes so far as to say the revenue beat was a figment of bookkeeping for a project in Berlin in which the company recognized $84 in revenue.  The author also questions the OptiSolar transaction and the way the company booked the value of a PG&E contract.  All in all, it didn’t help the stock much … Read the rest

Barrons: First Solar’s (FSLR) Largest Customer (Phoenix Solar) Warns, Stock Plunges Further And Headed to 150

According to Barron’s, First Solar’s (FSLR) largest customer Phoenix Solar (according to Hapoalim Securities analyst Gordon Johnson), has issued a warning, saying not to rely on previous earnings estimates due to a continued decline in pricing for solar modules, customer buying resistance and increased devaluation requirement for current inventories.  The company will only issue guidance once prices have stabilized but they do expect positive EBIT for the year. 

Based on this, Gordon Johnson issued a … Read the rest

Barrons Green Energy Dream Team: ABB, FPL, WMI, JEC, ETN

In Barrons magazine this weekend they highlighted some green energy stock plays across a variety of industries, focusing on those companies that are well established, diversified and financially healthy.  They c all ABB, Waste Management (WMI), FPL Group (FPL), Jacobs Engineering (JEC) and Eaton (ETN) their green dream team.

ABB (ABB): large Switzerland company is one of world’s largest builders of electricity grids and was called the GE of Europe by Barrons several months ago.  … Read the rest

Sunpower (SPWRA, SPWRB) Rallies On Bullish Barrons Article

Solars and Sunpower (SPWRA, SPWRB) are rallying today following a headline Barrons piece, calling Sunpower (SPWRA) a best of breed solar company “starting to see a new dawn” that can survive and grow despite an extremely difficult economic environment.

The article points out that SunPower has an advantage in estimating demand because of its large network of dealers, will benefit from the upcoming utility tax credits for renewable energies and features the most efficient solar … Read the rest

A Boost For Solar Stocks: The Weakening Dollar

Many of the downgrades and earnings misses in the solar names over the past several months have come in part due to the strengthening dollar as much of the sales for these companies are denominated in Euros.  Barron’s is reporting that Barclay’s Capital analyst Vishal Shah says First Solar (FSLR), SunPower (SPWRA/SPWRB) and the Chinese solar companies stand to benefit the most.  A continued weakening of the dollar along with an Obama presidency certainly could … Read the rest

Wedge Partners Says China Solar Companies Slowing Production

According to Barrons, Wedge Partners was out with a research note this morning saying that the China based solar companies are slowing production in anticipation of falling demand and prices.

Some highlights:

– Suntech (STP) is laying off about 10% of its employees, idled half its production lines and shelved plans to expand to 1.2GW by the end of the year

– JA Solar (JASO) is seeing customer orders down drastically and half of its … Read the rest

Akeena Solar (AKNS) Quality Issues With Andalay Line

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

Read the rest

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