Tuesday, December 22, 2009

First Solar is Top Growth Stock for 2010

First Solar, Inc. (FSLR) has been selected by thestockmasters.com has one of the top growth stocks for 2010:

First Solar (FSLR)
NFY (Next Fiscal Year) Revenue Growth: 32.78%
I have nothing new to add to the Solar Energy argument. However, I will say that FSLR is a well run company and Wall Street expects Revenue to grow 32.78% in 2010. That’s pretty big for a company that already generates $1.86B on an annual basis. Just looks at the fundamentals on FSLR, Profit Margins are generous, Revenue and Earnings are growing like nobody’s business. First Solar is the kingpin and best of breed of Solar Stocks. This week they released news of a major capacity expansion. With such a strong financial profile, it's no surprise that First Solar is comfortable expanding its current capacity by nearly 50%.


www.thestockmasters.com

Labels: , , , ,

Monday, December 21, 2009

China ADRS

Some comments on JASO Solar, Canadian Solar, and others on chinavestor.com
We have been bullish on Simcere Pharma (NYDSE:SCR) as late as Friday saying that " because a strong market day is likely to help SCR to keep going on Friday." But SCR is getting overbought and is ready to take a breather on Monday, according to the overbought indicator below. Stocks that look good are those with a strong but not an excessive gains - such as China Sky One Medical Inc. (NASDAQ:CSKI) and Vision China Media (NASDAQ:VISN). Chinese solar stocks have been strong lately with some of them on fire. JA Solar (NASDAQ:JASO) has been strong but looks to have more upside left, just as is for Canadian Solar 9NASDAQ:CSIQ) and Suntech Power (NASDAQ:CSUN). LDK Solar (NYSE:LDK) lost 20% in the last two trading sessions on news that the company is selling equity to raise cash, but that sudden drop makes a case for a possible comeback. Solar companies reported strong Q3 numbers with sweetened Q4 outlook. That should help LDK Solar in the near term and regain most of those losses by mid. January.

Source

Labels: , , , ,

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: FSLR, STP, SOL

First Solar Inc. (FSLR) has become the first photovoltaic (PV) company to manufacture and ship more than 1GW of its PV solar modules in fiscal 2009. As the world’s largest solar module manufacturer, First Solar has increased its manufacturing capacity from approximately 75MW per year at the beginning of 2007 to more than 1GW.

Earlier also First Solar has consistently lowered the cost of manufacturing solar modules. It was the first solar company to break the $1 per watt barrier in early 2009.
...


First Solar enjoys a distinct cost advantage over its peers due its reliance on low cost thin-film cells. However, the advantage is ebbing fast due to falling polysilicon prices. First Solar’s growth potential and that of the solar industry in the aggregate requires a prudent long-term focus on technological enhancements, capacity build-out and cost minimization. Balancing all the three aspects would be an uphill task.

Competition in the field is becoming tougher by the day for U.S. solar players such as First Solar, who have a huge German exposure in their top line compared to Chinese counterparts such as Suntech Power Holdings Company Ltd (STP) and ReneSola Ltd (SOL), both of whom mainly thrive in their domestic market. Solar subsidies in Germany are falling fast, and First Solar is actively scouting for new markets for its products. We maintain our market Neutral recommendation on the shares.
...

Source

Labels: , , , , , ,

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

First Solar: 1 billion watts served

First Solar has produced and shipped 1 gigawatt's worth of photovoltaic solar systems for 2009, the company announced Wednesday.
Hitting the gigawatt mark--the equivalent of 1,000 megawatts or 1 billion watts--is significant as it shows a drastic rise in production and consumer interest. First Solar, which makes cadmium telluride solar cells and panels, produced only about 75 megawatts in 2007, and between 420 megawatts and 460 megawatts in 2008, according to the company's own statistics.
But the leap shouldn't be a surprise: the solar company has been signing massive deals with municipalities over the last year. In March, First Solar announced that it had acquired the rights to complete about 1,300 megawatts worth of utility-scale projects that its rival OptiSolar was unable to finish. Then in August, First Solar signed a deal with Southern California Edison to supply solar modules for a 250-megawatt solar power installation for Desert Center in Riverside County and a 300-megawatt installation in San Bernardino County.
CNET Full Article

Labels: , , ,

Friday, December 11, 2009

First Solar Guidance

First Solar will host its 2010 Guidance Webcast on Wednesday, December 16.
Investors may access a live audio webcast of this event in the Investor Calendar section of the company's Web site at http://investor.firstsolar.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=201491&p=irol-calendar.

Presentations by First Solar's management team are scheduled to begin at 4:15 PM EST and conclude by 6:15 PM EST.

A replay of the webcast will be available on the Investor Calendar section on the company's Web site at http://investor.firstsolar.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=201491&p=irol-calendarPast approximately two hours after the conclusion of the event.

First Solar manufactures solar modules with an advanced semiconductor technology and provides comprehensive photovoltaic (PV) system solutions.

Labels: , , ,

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Key Developments For Suntech Power Holdings Co, Ltd

Suntech Power Headlines in Reuters.com:

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. Signs 17 MW Deal With Ontario Installer-Reuters
Tuesday, 1 Dec 2009 06:08pm EST
Reuters reported that Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. has landed a 17 megawatt supply deal for 2010 with Canada's Pure energies, the Company said. Under the deal, Toronto-based Pure energies, which installs, leases and operates solar power systems, will market and use Suntech's panels for residential solar systems in Ontario. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The companies said in a statement their memorandum of understanding continues through 2011.

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. Tie Up In 115 MW Sales Deal-Reuters
Tuesday, 3 Nov 2009 07:51pm EST
Reuters reported that Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. will sell 115 megawatts worth of solar panels in 2010 to EDF Energies Nouvelles. The panels will head to enXco's projects in the United States and Canada for rooftop and utility-scale projects, enXco in a statement.

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. Collaborates With AEDB To Deliver Solar To Pakistan
Thursday, 15 Oct 2009 06:30am EDT
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. announced that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Pakistan's Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) to work towards the widespread use of solar energy technologies to meet the energy shortage in Pakistan. The objective of the MOU is to facilitate cooperation between Suntech and the public sector and private companies in Pakistan to help implement solar programs including the AEDB's Rural Electrification Program; the development of Solar Power Pumping Systems with the AEDB and the World Bank; and Solar Power Telecom Projects in collaboration with Pakistani telecom companies. The MOU sets forth the agreement in principle of the parties concerning the project and related activities. Final agreement between the parties is subject to the negotiation and execution of definitive agreements among the parties.

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. Launches 60 Cell Module For Residential and Commercial Rooftop Systems
Monday, 21 Sep 2009 02:00am EDT
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. announced the introduction of a 60 cell multi crystalline PV module to be marketed under the product name Wd. The new Wd module series features positive peak power tolerance of 0/+5 watts, which will assure that all Wd modules will produce at, or outperform, the nominal power rating.
Full Article

Labels: , , , , ,

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Egypt eyes solar power exports, costs too high now

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt, which plans to start its first solar power unit in 2010, said on Tuesday it wanted to expand solar power production for export but that costs of the technology would need to fall first to make it feasible.

The North African country, a gas and oil producer, aims to generate 20 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. It already has installed wind capacity of 430 megawatts and is adding 120 megawatts by mid 2010.

Wind farms are expected to meet 12 percent of Egypt's power needs by 2020 but solar power projects have lagged.

"Solar energy is four times as expensive as energy generated from combined cycles so when this figure starts going down to three or two times as much, this is when we will see developing countries go heavily into the business," Electricity and Energy Minister Hassan Younes told Reuters.

Source: Reuters

Labels: , ,