Hat tip to Street Insider for the following analyst comments on FSLR following earnings:
Citi: 09 guidance cut due primarily to decision to vendor finance a portion of 09 shipments. Citi is concerned about compressing margins and increasing inventories. Maintains Hold rating but is cutting estimates and price target goes from 170 to 160
Deutsche Bank: believes FSLR may still be best positioned solar company but is cautious due to customer, industry and macro … Read the rest
First Solar (FSLR), the best of breed thin film solar producer, smashed estimates after the bell today reporting an EPS of $1.61. That was well ahead of estimates of $1.30 and more than double over the year ago quarter. Revenues also more than doubled over the year ago quarter with the company posting 4Q revenues of $433.7. Indeed, a very impressive quarter but wall st doesn’t care about what you did lately, they care about … Read the rest
Kaydon (KDN) which makes specialty ball bearings for wind turbines posted a 27% quarter over quarter profit drop from last year but beat analyst estimates of .41/share by posting .45/share excluding one time losses. Revenues increased over the year ago just a bit by 7%. Too bad its wind turbine business doesn’t make up more of the total revenue. That segment rose 78% over the year ago quarter making it by far its best performing … Read the rest
LDK Solar (LDK) is hitting new all time lows this morning, gapping down 14% after cutting guidance after the bell yesterday. The company warned it would slow expansion and lose $135 – $145 million in the 4th quarter which would represent the first loss in company history. It’s revised revenue outlook for the 4th quarter has fallen to $415 – $435 vs the analyst estimate of $432 million. … Read the rest
.. and that’s the positive. Trinity Industries (TRN) reported awful earnings after the bell today but you wouldn’t know it by looking at the press release headline: Trinity Reports Solid 4th Quarter Results. You wouldn’t know it by reading the comments of the CEO either: “Our fourth quarter results demonstrated the positive aspects of the diversification of our portfolio of businesses during a tough economy.” Oh yeah?
Here are the facts:
The company matched analyst … Read the rest
Itron (ITRI), the “Microsoft of smart metering” is likely to be a big winner in the coming years as the Obama administration pushes for greater efficiencies but for now growth continues to deteriorate. After years of significant growth in ’05, ’06, ’07 and most of ’08, the company appears headed for a year of flat to negative growth here in 2009. I personally think that just creates an outstanding opportunity once the correction in the … Read the rest
Suntech Power (STP) reported a large loss of .27/share last quarter which matched estimates but beat revenue expectations with $414 million in revenue, a small bump up from the year ago quarter.
“We believe that we are now in a position to service all avenues of solar demand globally, including residential roof-top, commercial roof-top, ground mounted and utility scale. In particular, our continued investment in the U.S.should position us for strong growth in that key … Read the rest
Rubicon Technology (RBCN), which makes components for LED lighting is off about 4% in after hours trading after missing analyst estimates with a wider loss than expected last quarter. The company reported a loss of .09/share vs estimates of .06/share. Revenues came in at 4 million vs the expectation of 4.82 million. After growing rapidly over the past few years and producing its first profitable year last year, this is a company going backwards in … Read the rest
Vestas Wind Systems (VWSYF) is the largest wind energy company in the world so its earnings reports provide a good barometer of the state of the sector. The Danish company posted big revenue and earnings growth in 2008, but as always the market places the most importance on the future. The company didn’t disappoint there either, maintaining estimates for this year but did acknowledge that job cuts aren’t out of the question if the global … Read the rest
Applied Materials (AMAT) is trading down after hours after reporting no profits which was in line with analyst estimates on revenues of 1.33 billion, a touch below estimates. That compares with a .25/share profit in the year ago quarter.
“We acted early and decisively to reduce costs in line with economic conditions that have resulted in an unprecedented decline in demand,” said Mike Splinter, president and CEO. “With our leading technology and strong balance sheet, … Read the rest