That’s still true, but that doesn’t mean that the companies were suddenly going to turn huge profits. LED makers, including SemiLEDs Corp. (NASDAQ: LEDS), Rubicon Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: RBCN), Cree Inc. (NASDAQ: CREE), Veeco Instruments Inc. (NASDAQ: VECO), and Aixtron SE (NASDAQ: AIXG), still have a ways to go to turn future prospects into current profit. Smaller players like Nexxus Lighting, Inc. (NASDAQ: NEXS) and Energy Focus, Inc. (NASDAQ: EFOI) probably have even further to go.

SemiLEDs reported a larger-than-expected loss this morning, and the shares are giving back about half the 20% gain they made last Friday. The company reported an adjusted EPS loss of -$0.49 on revenue of $5.3 million. In its fourth fiscal quarter of 2010, the company reported an adjusted EPS loss of -$0.18 on $11.5 million in revenue. The consensus estimate for the quarter was an EPS loss of -$0.21 on $5.72 million in revenue.

Rubicon reports earnings after markets close today, and is expected to post EPS of $0.26 on $31.2 million in revenue. Veeco reported better-than-expected EPS in late October, but revised its guidance significantly downward. Aixtron just broke even in the last quarter, while EPS expectations called for $0.23/share.

The near-term outlook for the LED makers doesn’t improve for the last calendar quarter of 2011, and only Veeco, which makes the manufacturing equipment used to make the LEDs, is expected to post solid earnings in the current fiscal year. And even Veeco’s projections are weak for the 2012 fiscal year, with earnings and revenues set at about half this year’s estimates.

LED lighting is probably still too expensive for wide adoption in a shrinking global economy. A light that costs $25, even though it might last for 10 years or more, is not a casual purchase — it’s an investment. Incandescent bulbs costing a buck or so are still affordable. That’s one reason why the US Congress is re-visiting the Bush-era phase-out schedule for incandescent lighting.

It’s unlikely that China’s citizens will take to the streets over the new mandate, likely because the government will in some way subsidize the LED lights. Those subsidies, though, may be limited to LEDs from domestic Chinese makers, or perhaps a favored Taiwanese company, in which case SemiLEDs could have an inside track. The Chinese mandate is a game-changer, but exactly how the game will be changed depends on what the new rules are.

SemiLEDs’ stock is down less than -3% about an hour after the market open, after dipping by -10% earlier this morning. Shares are trading at $3.80, in a 52-week range of $2.60-$32.12. Rubicon’s shares are off more than -5%, at $11.59, in a 52-week range of $9.25-$29.79. Investors at least know the extent of the damage at SemiLEDs, but still fear the worst for Rubicon.

Paul Ausick

Veeco Instruments Inc. (NASDAQ: VECO) was up 8.8% at $28.85 mid-day and closed up 10.15% at $29.20 against a 52-week range of $23.06 to $57.67.  Cree, Inc. (NASDAQ: CREE) was up 6.5% at $29.69 and shares closed up 9.65% at $30.57 against a 52-week range of $23.03 to $31.34.  Aixtron SE (NASDAQ: AIXG) was up 10.9% at $16.59 but shares closed up 9.97% at $16.43 versus a 52-week range of $12.49 to $44.96.

Rubicon Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: RBCN) was up 12.1% at $11.20 and shares closed up 18% at $11.80 against a 52-week range of $9.25 to $29.75. Its new market cap is about $271 million.  SemiLEDs Corporation (NASDAQ: LEDS) was up 20% at $3.57 but shares closed up 31.4% at $3.89 against a 52-week range of $2.60 to $32.12.  Its adjusted market cap is still only $106 million.

Then there are two very small players: Nexxus Lighting, Inc. (NASDAQ: NEXS) was initially up 3% at $1.658 but closed down 0.6% at $1.60 against a 52-week range of $1.07 to $4.36.  Then there is Energy Focus, Inc. (NASDAQ: EFOI) which was up 16% at $0.35 but closed up 13.3% at $0.34 against a 52-week range of $0.25 to $1.35.

As far as just how big this opportunity is, production of incandescent light bulbs in 2010 totaled 3.85 billion units and domestic sales stood at 1.07 billion units.  After looking at the strength that remained in these, it appears as though the market is going to judge this move as a true game-changing event rather than a one-time pop.  Some of the gains may look too good to be true, but this may have helped establish those lower prices in recent months as a more solid floor.

JON C. OGG

Puget Sound Energy, a subsidiary of Puget Energy (NYSE:PSD), is deepening its mark in renewable energy, with the utility and its customers now boasting more than 1,200 kilowatts (kW) of combined solar-power generating capacity or enough to serve the total power needs of 125 homes.  As Puget Energy serves 1 million electric customers and 721,000 natural gas customers, there is still quite ways to go.

ENSR is providing environmental permitting and licensing support for four major solar energy projects in southern California. ENSR, part of AECOM (NYSE: ACM), is a leading global environmental services firm.

ICP Solar Technologies Inc. (OTCBB: ICPR), a developer, manufacturerand marketer of solar cells and products, today announced that it hasre-acquired Cabela’s (NYSE:CAB) as a distribution partner for itssuperior range of Coleman® branded solar chargers at Calela’s outdoorsporting stores.

The law firm of Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLPannounced that a class action has been commenced in the United StatesDistrict Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of aclass consisting of all persons who purchased the common stock of ChinaSunergy Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ:CSUN) traceable to the initial public offeringon or about May 17, 2007, seeking to pursue remedies under theSecurities Act of 1933.

Fuel Tech, Inc. (Nasdaq: FTEK) has announced receipt of a FUEL CHEM®demonstration order from a new industrial customer in the Upper Midwestto be conducted on a small, Powder River Basin coal-fired boiler usedto generate steam and electricity for a sugar beet processing plant.Chemical feed for the program is scheduled to commence later thisquarter.

Energy Focus, Inc. (Nasdaq: EFOI), in energy-efficient lightingtechnologies, today announced that W Hotels has signed contracts toinstall Energy Focus, Inc.’s energy efficient EFO(R) lighting systemsat properties in Chicago and New York City.  W is a Starwood (NYSE:HOT)brand.

Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) and the U.S. Department of Energy’sNational Renewable Energy Laboratory announced today that they haveentered into a collaborative research and development agreement tostudy and advance technology to produce liquid transportation fuelsusing algae.

Over 100 organizations (too many public names to note) and companiesrepresenting every aspect of renewable energy signed a letter senttoday to the President, the Speaker of the House, House MinorityLeader, Senate Majority Leader, and Senate Minority Leader urging fastaction on the extension of federal tax incentives.

Thursday may be a big day for many of these companies in alternativeenetrgy and good old-fashioned brown dirty energy as ExxonMobil is set to post earnings,and the BILLION & BILLION OF DOLLARS in revenues will be a focusregardless of how the stock does.  As many consider Exxon one of theworst environmental companies out there, you can imagine this will be acatalyst for environmentalists.  Goldman Sachs just noted yesterdayabout taking some profits in oil, despite that its Super-Spike band lays out the possibilities of $135/barrel oil and $4.50/gallon gas under extreme circumstances.

Jon C. Ogg
October 31, 2007

As a reminder, whether you prefer the term "Global Warming" or "ClimateChange" is not the issue as far as 24/7 Wall St. covers it. Greenbusiness has become big business, and this affects many publiccompanies today.

Newly released sales figures from R.L. Polk reveal that an increased number of alternative fuel automobiles were sold in the second quarter of 2007. Between April and June of this year, nearly 490,000 AFA’s were sold nationwide, an increase of 27 percent over the same period last year, bringing the total number of AFAs to nearly 11.5 million on American roads.  For more information about Alternative Fuel Automobiles, visit www.DiscoverAlternatives.com.

AES Corporation (NYSE:AES) today announced plans to begin construction of Buffalo Gap 3, a 170 MW expansion of its Buffalo Gap wind farm near Abilene, Texas. Once completed, the project will increase capacity at Buffalo Gap to 524 MW, making it one of the largest operating wind farms in the United States. Commercial operations are expected to begin mid-2008.

Clean Energy (Nasdaq:CLNE) has entered a five-year agreement to supply the Metropolitan Transit District in Santa Cruz, California with clean-burning liquefied natural gas fuel for its growing fleet of natural gas powered buses. Santa Cruz Metro plans, by mid-2008, to operate 63 CNG buses, including 10 currently in service and by replacing 53 older diesel-fueled buses with new or re-powered natural gas models.

Energy Focus, Inc. (NASDAQ: EFOI),formerly Fiberstars, Inc., a player in energy-efficient lighting technologies has received orders from Wal-Mart for installations of Energy Focus’s EFO(R) downlight system in a Wal-Mart Super Center and a Sam’s Club in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

American Superconductor Corp. (NASDAQ: AMSC) announced at the HUSUMwind 2007 trade show in Germany that it has received a follow-on order for approximately $20 million in wind turbine electrical systems from Beijing-based Sinovel Wind Corporation Limited. The order follows a $70 million order received from Sinovel Wind in July 2007.

BioSolar Inc. (OTCBB: BSRC) has been rated “Speculative Buy” with a target price of $.84 by Beacon Equity Research Analyst, Victor Sula, PhD.  The full report is available at http://www.BeaconEquityResearch.com, but be advised that reports of this sort often not exactly what they seem.

Jon C. Ogg
September 18, 2007 

As a reminder, whether you prefer the term "Global Warming" or "Climate Change" is not the issue as far as 24/7 Wall St. covers it.  Green business has become big business, and this affects many public companies today.