Solar Stocks Surge like it's 2007
All solar stocks are up today with heavy gains across the board.
From upgrades to decent earning results, Solar Stocks had a very Bullish week remembering the good old times of 2007 before the Solar Tech downfall.
SPWR +9.18%
CSIQ +6.81%
FSLR +6.40%
STP +14.40%
SCTY +11.01%
SolarCity has been on the media radars quite often and the trend seems very steady:
Labels: Bullish, CSIQ, First Solar Inc, FSLR, SCTY, Solar Stocks, SolarCity Corp, SPWR, STP
First Solar, Inc. Earnings
First Solar reported net sales of $755 million, a 52 percent increase year over year. Earnings were reported to be 66 cents per share.
Full-year 2013 guidance maintained.
FSLR is down 9% at the moment:
Labels: Earnings, First Solar Inc, FSLR, Solar Stocks
First Solar, Inc.
First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) went up 35% last week after providing optimistic guidance until 2015.
Fiscal 2013 guidance estimates revenue to come in between $3.8 billion and $4 billion, far above the consensus estimate of $3.15 billion.
2013 EPS guidance from $4.00 to $4.50, above the last estimates.
Expect the earnings on April 29 for the Q1 2013
And here is the chart of the last bearish 2 years:
Labels: Charts, First Solar Inc, FSLR, solarstocks
Solar market drops, but will recover
American thin film manufacturer First Solar ‒ top international producer of PV cells for 6 consecutive quarters ‒ lost ground in the third quarter of 2010, increasing capacity by just 2% and moving into third position behind Chinese companies Suntech and JA Solar.
Revealing this development in its latest analysis, IMS Research is predicting that even though demand will weaken in 2011, First Solar will gain market share when it increases production capacity through new production facilities that are expected to start up over the next two years.
First Solar recently announced that it would be expanding capacity by opening two additional four-line plants in the United States and Vietnam in 2012, in addition to previously announced expansions in France, Germany and Malaysia.
Renewableenergyworld.com reports that these expansions would suggest that the thin film supplier’s production capacity will reach over 2.7 GW by the end of 2012 at current line run rates. However, given its history of improving throughput, IMS Research estimates that its capacity could in fact reach over 3 GW by then.
IMS PV research analyst Sam Wilkinson commented: “While much of the industry has indicated uncertainty and a possible reduction in demand in 2011, with Germany’s small commercial segment likely to decrease the most in MW terms, First Solar is expecting an increase in demand for its products and a need to accelerate capacity expansions.”
Full articleLabels: First Solar Inc, FSLR, Solar Energy, Solar Stocks
Barron's: Dark Clouds Over First Solar
Barron's Daily Stock Alert Newsletter came out with a bearish piece on First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) today, which suggests that the stock could be setting up for a 30% fall. During today's trading session, FSLR has gained 0.21% to $138.70. Year-to-date, the shares have gained 2.38% and 30% in just the last three months.
First Solar manufactures thin-flim panels, which it sells to solar project developers and system integrators, primarily in Europe. Last year, Germany accounted for 64% of the company's revenue. Much of the demand for the thin-film panels has been driven by government incentives in Europe, which are now being slashed.
Germany has eliminated incentives for ground-based systems; Spain cut incentives by 45%; Italy has proposed cuts of 25%-27%. The ratcheting down of these incentives could hurt revenues going forward.
SourceLabels: First Solar Inc, FSLR, solarstocks
First Solar Earnings
First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) will report financial results for the second quarter ended June 26, 2010, after market close on Thursday, July 29, 2010. The Company will hold its quarterly conference call to discuss these results and outlook for the remainder of fiscal 2010 at 4:30 p.m. EDT. Investors may access a live webcast of this conference call by visiting http://investor.firstsolar.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=201491&p=irol-calendar.
An audio replay of the conference call will also be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call. The audio replay will remain available until Tuesday, August 3, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. EDT and can be accessed by dialing 888-203-1112 if you are calling from within the United States or 719-457-0820 if you are calling from outside the United States and entering the replay pass code 7770641. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Investor section on the Company’s web site approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call and remain available for approximately 90 calendar days.
Labels: Earnings, First Solar Inc, FSLR, Solar Stocks
First Solar Swing Up
First Solar Inc. (FSLR) has made an impressive swing up, gaining more than 10% in only 3 sessions.
Most solar stocks are now bullish on the short-term, but expect some resistance to new highs on the next days.
If the bullish move continues we could see a new mid-term up trend starting.
Labels: First Solar Inc, FSLR, Solar Stocks, Solar Technology, Solar Trading
Goldman Sachs Says Go Long Solar Stocks
For all the perceived evil, you have to give them credit....
Goldman Sachs knows how to make money — lots of it.
In fact, they are so good at making money — for themselves and their clients — that for years they've been referred to in financial circles as 'Golden Slacks'.
It's rumored that they won't talk to you unless you've got $5 million to invest. And they only lend their name to the most exclusive high-end deals and initial public offerings. (They underwrote yesterday's Tesla IPO.)
Point is, Goldman is the best of breed of Wall Street banks. When they speak... the world listens.
And this week, they came out bullish on the solar sector.
Goldman's solar calls
Attached to the Goldman client note was a list of solar stocks and their analysts' opinion of each.
Here are the stocks they initiated coverage on, along with ratings and price targets:
First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR): Buy rating and $150 price target
SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWRA): Neutral rating, $15 price target.
MEMC (NYSE: WFR): Sell rating, $9 price target.
JA Solar (NASDAQ: JASO): Buy rating, added to Conviction List. $7.50 target price.
Suntech (NYSE: STP): Sell. Target price: $8.40.
SourceLabels: Bullish, First Solar Inc, FSLR, Goldman Sachs, JASO, Solar Stocks, SPWRA, STP, Suntech Power
First Solar to Invest $81 Million Building Factory in France
First Solar Inc. is investing 66 million euros ($81 million) to build a factory near Bordeaux in France to produce solar panels, La Tribune reported, without saying where it got the information.
Half the cost will be funded by the renewable energies unit of French power company Electricite de France SA, the newspaper said.
Source: Bloomberg
Labels: First Solar Inc, FSLR, Solar News, Solar Projects, Solar Stocks
First Solar Looks Past Success To Even Brighter Future
First Solar Inc. (FSLR) is the world's largest solar-panel maker. Now, it wants to compete with fossil-fuel power generators.
In addition to making flat, glass panels that convert sunlight into electricity, First Solar has built some of the largest solar farms in the U.S. including a 21-megawatt facility in Blythe, Calif., owned by NRG Energy Inc. (NRG) and a 10-megawatt plant in Boulder City, Nev., owned by Sempra Energy (SRE).
First Solar plans to build several more solar farms with a project-development business assembled over the last year through its acquisitions of NextLight Renewable Power LLC in April, a unit of Edison International (EIX), in January and part of privately held OptiSolar last year.
The move is a risky one for the Tempe, Ariz.-based company. First Solar hopes it can leverage its expertise in solar panels to build solar farms capable of taking on gas-fired power plants. The goal: to greatly expand solar power's share of the U.S. power market.
With 2,200 megawatts of solar farms under development, First Solar hopes it can demonstrate that solar power is a reliable, reasonably priced source of valuable daytime electricity. For investors, the company aims to prove that solar farms can be lucrative.
...
Source:
WSJLabels: First Solar Inc, FSLR, solar panels, Solar Stocks
Top 10 Best-Rated Solar Stocks
Below are the top 10 best-rated Solar stocks, based on the number of positive ratings by brokerage analysts. Six Chinese companies (TSL, STP, YGE, JASO, SOLF, SOL) are on the list.
First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) is the 1st best-rated stock in this segment of the market. It is rated positively by 24 brokerage analysts. It is covered by 41 brokerage analysts. Trina Solar Limited (ADR) (NYSE:TSL) is the 2nd best-rated stock in this segment of the market. It is rated positively by 17 brokerage analysts. It is covered by 20 brokerage analysts. Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (ADR) (NYSE:STP) is the 3rd best-rated stock in this segment of the market. It is rated positively by 12 brokerage analysts. It is covered by 37 brokerage analysts. Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (ADR) (NYSE:YGE) is the 4th best-rated stock in this segment of the market. It is rated positively by 11 brokerage analysts. It is covered by 20 brokerage analysts. SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWRA) is the 5th best-rated stock in this segment of the market. It is rated positively by 11 brokerage analysts. It is covered by 36 brokerage analysts.
MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. (NYSE:WFR) is the 6th best-rated stock in this segment of the market. It is rated positively by 10 brokerage analysts. It is covered by 23 brokerage analysts. GT Solar International, Inc. (NASDAQ:SOLR) is the 7th best-rated stock in this segment of the market. It is rated positively by 8 brokerage analysts. It is covered by 10 brokerage analysts. JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. (ADR) (NASDAQ:JASO) is the 8th best-rated stock in this segment of the market. It is rated positively by 8 brokerage analysts. It is covered by 17 brokerage analysts. Solarfun Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (ADR) (NASDAQ:SOLF) is the 9th best-rated stock in this segment of the market. It is rated positively by 6 brokerage analysts. It is covered by 12 brokerage analysts. ReneSola Ltd. (ADR) (NYSE:SOL) is the 10th best-rated stock in this segment of the market. It is rated positively by 5 brokerage analysts. It is covered by 7 brokerage analysts.
Source: China Analyst cnanalyst.com
Labels: First Solar Inc, FSLR, Solar Ratings, Solar Stocks, Solar Technology, STP, Suntech Power, Trina Solar, TSL
First Solar Rallies As Credit Suisses Turns Bullish; $150 Target
First Solar (FSLR) shares are on the rise this morning after Credit Suisse analyst Satya Kumar upped his rating on the stock to Neutral from Outperform, with a new price target of $150, up from $110. He contends that upside in pricing for Q2 and Q3 is not yet reflected in the stock.
Kumar offers a four-part thesis for his upgrade of the solar company’s shares:
He sees upside to estimates, and today raised his 2010 demand estimate to 13 GW from 12.7 GW, and says strong demand should reduce price erosion.
Risks to long-term margins are diminishing, he contends. Easy cost reductions for rival silicon-based solar companies - in particular lower poly prices, outsourcing to China and vertical integration - have mostly been accomplished.
Long-term growth prospects remain intact; he says 2011 might not be as bad as feared, particularly in Germany; he thinks U.S. demand could surprise positively.
FSLR’s panel efficiencies should “inflect meaningfully higher” by Q4 of this year or Q1 of next year, he contends.
Kumar raises his 2010 EPS estimate to $7.53, from $6.79; the Street consensus is $6.93. For 2011, he goes to $8.32, from $7.34.
First Solar Chart for today:
Labels: Bullish, First Solar Inc, FSLR, solar charts, Solar Stocks
Auriga Upgrades First Solar
Auriga upgrades First Solar (Nasdaq: FSLR) from Hold to Buy, saying the recent sell-off creates an attractive entry point.
The firm said even with their reduced reduced estimates, they forecast 21% upside to their current price target of $138.
Analyst Mark Bachman said, "We attribute the recent decline in share price to the depreciation of the Euro relative to the Dollar, and not because of fundamental change with regard to supply/demand within the solar industry. With the recent announcement of FSLR pushing project business into 2011, our model recognizes that more module sales will be denominated in Euros in 2010. That said, we also recognize and credit FSLR's aggressive currency hedging activities and ~15% natural hedge from manufacturing in Germany to buffer the effect of a weakened Euro. Our new price target of $138 is 20X our 2011 EPS estimate of $6.89."
Source: StreetInsider
Labels: First Solar Inc, FSLR, solar analysis, Solar Stocks
First Solar, Inc Earnings
FSLR is up 15% after the Earnings Release:
First Solar, Inc. announced that for fiscal 2010, it expects net sales of $2.6-$2.7 billion, reflecting reallocation of module capacity from its systems business to meet stronger module demand by its European customers. Earnings per fully diluted share (EPS) are projected in the range of $6.80 to $7.30 and include $0.09-0.10 per share dilution for the pending acquisition of NextLight Renewable Power, LLC. According to Reuters Estimates, analysts on an average are expecting the Company to report revenues of $2.7 billion and EPS of $6.29 for fiscal 2010. The First Solar Board of Directors has approved an additional four line manufacturing plant with an annual capacity of over 220 MW at the first quarter 2010 line run-rate. The plant is expected to begin production in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Labels: Earnings, First Solar Inc, FSLR, Solar Stocks
First Solar To Buy NextLight Renewable
First Solar To Buy NextLight Renewable For $285 Mln
First Solar Inc. (FSLR) said it will buy NextLight Renewable Power LLC for about $285 million, adding to its project pipeline and bolstering its position in the U.S. utility-scale renewable power market.
NextLight develops utility-scale solar projects in the southwestern U.S. With the purchase, the maker of low-cost photovoltaic modules reels in a 1,100-megawatt project pipeline made up of 570 megawatts under signed purchase agreements with Western utilities and 530 megawatts of additional photovoltaic projects in various stages of development.
"NextLight has assembled a project pipeline that very much complements First Solar's project portfolio," said First Solar Chief Executive Rob Gillette. "We are looking forward to having the highly experienced NextLight team join First Solar."
The deal is expected to be completed in the third quarter.
First Solar lately has been shuffling its assets, in November selling one of its California solar farms to independent power producer NRG Energy Inc. (NRG) and buying a solar project development pipeline from Edison Mission Group in January.
In February, First Solar said its fourth-quarter profit climbed due to better-than-expected revenue growth that more than offset lower margins. First-quarter results are due after the bell Wednesday.
Shares of First Solar closed at $128.36 on Tuesday and were inactive premarket. The stock has fallen 5.2% so far this year.
Source: Wall Street Journal
Labels: Aquisitions, First Solar Inc, FSLR, Solar Stocks
First Solar Bullish Run
An interesting article about being in the wrong side of the market. In this case, Shorting First Solar in the current bullish market.
One of the biggest benefits I get from writing this blog is that sometimes some very smart people disagree with me. In the investing business you will be wrong often. The earlier you realize that you are wrong the smaller (on average) your losses will be. I don’t think the blog can move markets through talking my book. (I disclosed a good argument for shorting First Solar and the stock went up!) But I do think that kick-back from smart people can help reduce my losses when I am wrong. Believe me that is often enough!
Source: Favstocks
Continue
readingLabels: First Solar Inc, FSLR, Solar Stocks
Thin Film 2010: Market Outlook to 2015
From only 17 megawatts in 2002 to nearly 1 gigawatt in 2008 (a compounded annualized growth rate of 96%), thin film’s rise over the last decade has been remarkable indeed. The search for alternative technologies to traditional crystalline silicon PV has led to a tidal wave of investment and entrepreneurial activity in thin film, with 170 active companies and over $2 billion in VC investment in the space. However, as of 2010, only two thin film companies have produced in excess of 100 MW annually.
Full ArticleLabels: CIGS, First Solar Inc, FSLR, Solar Energy, Solar Stocks, Solar Technology, Thin film solar cells
First Solar Upgrade
First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) is up more than 3% after this upgrade:
Earlier this morning Battle Road Research upgraded shares of First Solar (FSLR) to Buy from Hold and set a $150 price target.
In its note, Battle Road says negative catalysts are in the past and “expectations are too low for 2010.” (First Solar stock is down 9% over the last 12 months, compared with a 49% gain for the Nasdaq.) The stock has been under pressure over concerns about subsidy cuts in Germany, First Solar’s primary market.
Thanks to a process that avoids polysilicon, First Solar continues to have gross margins near 50%. “The company continued to improve its cost per watt and efficiency in the fourth quarter, cementing its cost advantage,” Battle Road says.
Uncertainty related to the European subsidies known as feed-in-tariffs “have been fully absorbed by the stocks.”
Despite concerns, volumes for the first three and half months of 2010 have exceeded expectations. Battle Road notes that industry estimates call for worldwide installations totalling eight to 13 gigawatts in 2010, up from 6.4 gigawatts in 2009.
Shares of First Solar are up 3.8%, or $4.75, today to $128.84.
source: Barrons Blogs
Labels: First Solar Inc, FSLR, solar analysis, Solar Stocks
Barclays Bullish On Solar
Barclays Raises Price Targets On SOLF, FSLR, SOL, CSIQ, TSL, YGEMost Solar Stocks closed higher today, thanks to the Barclays upgrade, with some solar stocks like SOLF, CSIQ or JASO finishing the day up, more than 8%
First Solar (FSLR) from $100 to $125
ReneSola (SOL) from $5 to $7
Canadian Solar (CSIQ) from $21 to $25
Trina Solar (TSL) from $23 to $25
Yingli Green Energy (YGE) from $10 to $14
All of these are maintained at Equalweight by Barclays.
Labels: Bullish, CSIQ, First Solar Inc, FSLR, JA Solar Holdings Co., JASO, Solar Stocks, Solarfun, SOLF, TSL
Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights
First Solar Inc., Southern Company, Suntech Power Holdings Company Ltd., SunPower Corporation and ReneSola LtdFirst Solar Sells Project
First Solar Inc. (FSLR - Analyst Report) has sold a 30 megawatt (AC) photovoltaic solar power project to Southern Company (SO - Analyst Report) and Turner Renewable Energy.
The Cimarron I photovoltaic solar power project is adjacent to the Vermejo Park Ranch in northern New Mexico . First Solar is developing the project and is providing engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services.
First Solar will also provide operation and maintenance services under a 25-year contract. The facility will supply power to approximately 9,000 homes, or 18,000 residents, and displace over 45,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year.
Construction of the solar array will begin in March, with completion and commercial operation expected by year-end 2010. It will consist of approximately 0.5 million photovoltaic modules constructed with First Solar's patented thin film semiconductor technology.
Turner Renewable Energy is wholly owned by the media magnate Ted Turner.
...
First Solar enjoys a distinct cost advantage over its peers due to 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 three aspects would be an uphill task.
Competition in the industry is becoming tougher by the day for U.S. solar players such as First Solar, who has a huge German exposure in its top line compared to its counterparts such as Suntech Power Holdings Company Ltd. (STP - Analyst Report), SunPower Corporation (SPWRA - Snapshot Report) and ReneSola Ltd. (SOL - Analyst Report), whose markets are more diversified.
SourceLabels: First Solar Inc, FSLR, ReneSola, SOL, Solar Stocks, SPWRA, STP, SunPower Corp, Suntech Power
