Posts for Ticker ‘ENER’

Top Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades, Initiations (ADBE, CETV, ENER, SOLR, KR, RL, RAX, SQNM)

These are this morning’s top analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen early this Tuesday morning from Wall Street research calls:

Adobe Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: ADBE) Raised to Buy at Janney Montgomery Scott.
Central Euro Media Enterprises Ltd. (NASDAQ: CETV) Raised to Buy at Goldman Sachs.
Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENER) Cut to Sell at Citigroup; Cut to Neutral at JPMorgan; Cut to Hold at Lazard.
GT Solar International, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOLR) Cut to Underweight at Piper Jaffray.
Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) Raised to Conviction Buy List at Goldman Sachs.
Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. (NYSE: RL) Raised to Conviction Buy List at Goldman Sachs.
Rackspace Hosting, Inc. (NYSE: RAX) Raised to Outperform at Oppenheimer; Raised to Buy at Kaufman
Sequenom Inc. (NASDAQ: SQNM) Maintained Sell and $3 target at Auriga.

You can join our open email distribution list to get updates on top analyst upgrades and downgrades, top day trader alerts, IPO’s, secondary offerings, Warren Buffett and other guru activity, M&A and more.

JON C. OGG

Top 10 Earnings on Deck This Week (ERTS, ENER, PCLN, SQNM, TYC, AMAT, M, JWN, WMT, DIS)

bull-and-bear-image2Earnings season has wound down now with over 85% of the S&P 500 Index having reported.  Still, there are some key companies posting their quarterly results and some companies were screened out of this list which are still actively traded or widely held stocks.  Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENER), Priceline.com Inc. (NASDAQ: PCLN) and Sequenom Inc. (NASDAQ: SQNM) are on deck Monday. Also this week are earnings from Tyco International Ltd. (NYSE: TYC), Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT), Macy’s, Inc. (NYSE: M), are Nordstrom Inc. (NYSE: JWN). Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) are our two DJIA components reporting this week.

We have included Thomson Reuters consensus estimates and included performance and other important color where applicable.  We have shown the share performance since the March 9 close that traders mark as the official end date of the bloody bear market.  One issue to consider is that we used the performance since June 30 to keep consistency for our prior previews even though some of the quarter-ends this coming week are technically August 31.
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First Solar Earnings Get Valuation Check (FSLR, TAN, KWT, ENER)

Solar Roof ImageWe have long said that this Q3 period was likely to separate the men from the boys in the solar sector.  Unfortunately, none of the men looked stronger than the boys.  Tonight’s earnings report out of First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) only reiterates the notion that solar power companies are in many ways just leveraged bets on the price of oil.  First Solar posted $1.79 EPS on $480.9 million in revenues (excluding the Sarnia project with $58 million not recognized in Q3).  Thomson Reuters had estimates pegged at $1.74 EPS and $528.78 million in revenues.  The company noted a cost per watt drop of 2.3%, but the gross margin dropped faster by 5.8%.  And there are other reasons to be cautious here.

First Solar is roughly 11% of the key solar ETF in the Claymore/MAC Global Solar Energy (NYSE: TAN), and that is down 3.7% at $8.32 in the after-hours session.  The Market Vectors Solar Energy ETF (NYSE: KWT) is much thinner in trading volume and is indicated lower without much volume, but First Solar is about 8.6% of its weighting.  Many have hoped for a recovery in Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENER), but that is down almost 4% at $11.02 in the after-hours session and that is on the heels of a 4.5% drop during the normal trading session.
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Stocks That Missed the Rally (ABT, MO, AWK, BKC, ENER, GENZ, KR, ORB, WMT, LEAP, PCS)

Here we are going into yet another earnings season.  We saw Monday how the market has rallied significantly from the March lows and the major indexes are even up in positive territory for the 2009 calendar.  The DJIA is up 51% from its absolute lows of March, and the S&P 500 has rallied more than 61% from its absolute lows in March.  If you look at the December 31, 2008 closing bell levels, the DJIA is now up about 12.75% and the S&P 500 is now up more than 19% year-to-date.

But almost as always, there are still some key very large and/or very active stocks which have not recovered anywhere close to the same amounts with the overall stock markets.  Some of these lagging stocks are Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT), Altria Group Inc. (NYSE: MO), American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE: AWK), Burger King Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BKC), Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENER), Genzyme Corp. (NASDAQ: GENZ), Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), Orbital Sciences Corp. (NYSE: ORB) and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT).  Two similar situation stocks that are Leap Wireless International Inc. (NASDAQ: LEAP) and MetroPCS Communications Inc. (NYSE: PCS).  We wanted to explore the forward values and relative performance, and the consensus estimates based upon Thomson Reuters data.  Only two of these stocks have market capitalization rates under $1 billion, and almost all are very actively traded and well known in their sectors.
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Alternative Energy Shares Troubled (YGE, SPWRA, TSL, ENER, AONE, CRTP)

oilThis morning’s report on unemployment has cooled enthusiasm for shares across the board. Solar stocks are, for the most part, no exception. Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. Ltd. (YGE) is down nearly 3%, SunPower Corp. (SPWRA) is off more about 2.25%, Trina Solar Ltd. is down about 3.5%, and Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ENER) is off more than 3%. Two stocks, A123 Systems Inc. (AONE) and China Ritar Power Corp. (CRTP) are flying against the headwinds. A123 is up more than 7% and Ritar is up about 2% in early trading. Read More »

Uncle Sam’s Boost for Solar (ASTI, FSLR, ENER)

solar-panel-picAscent Solar Technologies (NASDAQ: ASTI) may have a significant win under its belt in the new Army solar pact.  The maker of thin-film solar modules has a new contract from the government that could beget more contracts from the government. We have been hearing more of pacts being struck with the armed forces and other critical government infrastructure facilities for localized on-site and mobile alternative energy now that there is so much concern about the safety of infrastructure after cyberwarfare attacks and the threat of such attacks.   Ascent announced on Friday that it is partnering up with Energy Technologies to create PV-based products for the military.
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Still Too Many Mixed Solar Signals (FSLR, ENER, AMAT, CSIQ, VECO, ED, WFR)

Solar Roof ImageThere are many things that help solar power and orders for the sector, but arguably higher energy prices and tax incentives or subsidies probably dwarf the overall economic situation.  There seems to be a steady series of ups followed by more downs, and you can blame part on the economy and on energy prices.  First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR), Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENER), Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT), Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ), Veeco Instruments Inc. (NASDAQ: VECO), Consolidated Edison Inc. (NYSE: ED), and MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. (NYSE: WFR) have all been in solar light with news.
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Top Day Trader Alerts (AIG, BA, C, HGSI, IMMU, ENER, VG)

These are this Thursday morning’s top day trader and active trader alerts with links through to each story with more detailed price and volume analysis over at VSInvestor.com:

American International Group (NYSE: AIG) is trading up over 10% on pay package approval and on possible help from Hank Greenberg.

Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) is up huge for a DJIA component after announcing ist Dreamliner’s maiden voage would be before thee end of the year.

Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) is trading higher on word of a John Paulson stake being taken this morning, although it is not up as much as you might think..

Human Genome Sciences Inc. (HGSI) is trading down as the hopes of a merger may be dimming at least some….

Immunomedics Inc. (NASDAQ: IMMU) is surging massively on lupus results.

Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENER) is trading down about 4% after bumbling its earnings.

Vonage Holdings Corporation (NYSE: VG) may be petering out, but we gave some pivot points to watch today.

We apologize if any of these links are slow to load or if the links time out.  We are upgrading the servers for this after strong demand and this should be resolved momentarily.  If you wish to be notified by email when the top day trader alerts hit, along with news of IPO’s, key offerings, guru investor data on Buffett and others, mergers, and more, you can join our open email distribution list which goes out several times per week.

-The 24/7 Wall Street Team

Top Analyst Downgrades (ASH, CSIQ, CMM, VALE, ENER, SPWRA)

These are the early analyst upgrades and downgrades seen from Wall Street analysts early this Tuesday morning:

Ashland (ASH) Cut to Neutral at Susquehanna.
Canadian Solar (CSIQ) Cut to Neutral at Macquarie.
China MAss Media (CMM) Cut to Neutral at B of A Merrill Lynch.
Companhia Vale do Rio (VALE) Cut to Underperform at HSBC.
Energy Conversion (ENER) Cut to Underperform at Macquarie.
SunPower (SPWRA) Cut to Underperform at Macquarie.

JON C. OGG

Analysts Duel Over Solar Stocks (ASTI, CSUN, ENER, ESLR, FSLR, SFUN, STP, SPWRA, YGE)

solar-panel-picJefferies has made some key downgrades in the solar sector this morning.  There are few other calls that were upgrades from rival firms, but the downgrade seems to be more front and center as it was a sector call.

Ascent Solar (NASDAQ:ASTI) Cut to Underperform at Jefferies.
China Sunergy (NASDAQ:CSUN) Cut to Underperform at Jefferies.
Energy Conversion (NASDAQ:ENER) Cut to Underperform at Jefferies.
Evergreen Solar (NASDAQ: ESLR) Cut to Underperform at Jefferies.
First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) Cut to Hold at Jefferies.
SolarFun Power (NASDAQ: SFUN) Cut to Underperform at Jefferies.
SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWRA) Raised to Buy at Merriman Curhan Ford; Cut to Hold at Jefferies.
Suntech Power (NYSE: STP) Cut to Underperform at Jefferies; Cut to Neutral at Cowen.
Yingli Green Energy (NYSE: YGE) Raised to Overweight at HSBC.

JON C. OGG
AUGUST 21, 2009

SunPower Surprise Leads Solar Shares Higher (SPWRA, FSLR, STP, ENER)

Solar Panel PicSunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWRA) has managed to do what many were not expecting.  It blew the doors off of estimates.  Non-GAAP operating income for the quarter was $26.8 million, or $0.24 EPS.  Its revenues came in at $298 million, up from $214 million in Q1 but down from $383 million a year ago.  We had estimates pegged from Thomson Reuters at $0.14 EPS and $263.25 million in revenues.  It is also giving some solid guidance.  This is going to give a good hard boost for other larger solar players like First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR), Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. (STP), and Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENER)

Will China Subsidies Save Solar Stocks? (LDK, STP, TSL, CSUN, JASO, FSLR, WFR, SPWRA, ENER, SOLR, CSIQ)

Solar Panel PicIf you saw how solar power stocks ran up today, you might think it was tied to higher energy prices from last week.  But the news that that ran shares is that the Chinese government plans to offer what appears to be some rather high subsidies for solar projects.  Due to the sizes and location of the Chinese companies and the desire for China to help Chinese companies, it seems that LDK Solar Co. Ltd. (NYSE: LDK), Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. (NYSE: STP), Trina Solar Ltd. (NYSE: TSL), China Sunergy Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: CSUN), and JA Solar Holdings, Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: JASO) would be the largest beneficiaries.   Today is proof that many others can win outside of earnings news during earnings season.
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JPMorgan Solar Picks and Pans (ENER, ESLR, FSLR, ASTI, SPWRA)

Solar Panel PicJPMorgan has decided to make some key solar ratings changes this morning.  The firm is cautious on the valuation of some in the position of a declining market trend right now, but there are some key takeaways here that are up as well.  Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENER) and Evergreen Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: ESLR) are up, while shares of First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) are getting slapped on this call today.
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Short Sellers Pile Harder Into Large Solar Stocks (FSLR, STP, LDK, SPWRA, ENER, SOLR, JASO)

Solar Panel PicShort Selling looked higher in some of the key solar and alternative energy stocks.  Of the top 7 solar stock plays we track by market cap, six of the seven saw increased short selling for June 15 from May 29:

  • First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) 7,659,466 shares short, a gain of 9.5% from 6,995,776.
  • Suntech Power Holdings Co. (NYSE: STP) 9,772,350 shares short, a drop of 8.7% from 10,706,960.
  • LDK Solar Co. Inc. (NYSE: LDK) 15,863,243 shares short, a gain of 15.6% from 13,719,877.
  • SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ: SPWRA) 14,181,909 shares short, a 2% gain from 13,885,421.
  • Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENER) 12,780,664 shares short, a gain of 1.04% from 12,649,722.
  • GT Solar International, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOLR) 6,163,075 shares short, a gain of 10.9% from 5,558,018.
  • JA Solar Holdings, Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: JASO) 9,871,347 shares short, a gain of 48% from 6,652,651.

Jon C. Ogg
June 25, 2009

Solar Players Looking Again Like Leveraged Oil Trades (FSLR, STP, SPWRA, LDK, ENER, TAN, PBW, CSIQ)

Solar Panel PicOffshore Rig PicInvesting in solar and alternative energy stocks comes with many risks.  We have often referred to many of these companies as being essentially nothing more than very leveraged speculative oil investments because when energy prices are low most forms of alternative energy are not competitive on a cost structure.  The drop of $2.62 per barrel to $66.93 in NYMEX WTI Crude is causing havoc in some of the mid-cap and speculative oils stocks.  It is also hitting shares of First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR), Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. (NYSE: STP), SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ: SPWRA), LDK Solar Co.Ltd. (NYSE: LDK), and Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENER).  This is also seen directly in the ETFs of Claymore/MAC Global Solar Energy (NYSE: TAN) and PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy (NYSE: PBW).  Speculative stocks like Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) look even worse.
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Short Sellers Confused in Alternative Energy Bets (CSIQ, CPST, CLNE, ENER, ESLR, FSLR, FCEL, SOLR, JASO, LDK, SFUN, SPWRA, STP)

Solar Panel PicWe have seen the new short interest data out of the NASDAQ and NYSE for the end of May reports.  There are many mixed bets in the alternative energy sector.  While some of these are large bets on the surface, overall there was a very small change in the latest short interest data compared to months past.

COMPANY NAME (TICKER)……….. MAY 29… Change from May 15
Canadian Solar Inc. (CSIQ)…………2,549,840   -4.3%
Capstone Turbine Corp. (CPST)…… 17,568,058   +5.8%
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE)….3,919,108   -0.1%
Energy Conversion Devices (ENER) 12,649,722  +3.7%
Evergreen Solar, Inc. (ESLR)………. 20,225,435  +0.5%
First Solar, Inc. (FSLR)………………  6,995,776    -2.4%
FuelCell Energy, Inc. (FCEL)………. 5,861,532   +1.7%
GT Solar International (SOLR)……. 5,558,018   -9.7%
JA Solar Holdings, Co. (JASO)……. 6,652,651   +10.4%
LDK Solar Co. Inc. (LDK)……………  13,719,877   +4.1%
Solarfun Power Holdings Co. (SFUN)  1,337,324 -7.1%
SunPower Corp. (SPWRA)……………. 13,885,421   +9.7%
Suntech Power Holdings Co. (STP)… 10,706,960  +8.1%

Usually you see a clear trend or direction in the alternative energy sector.  That does not appear to be the case.  As oil has risen steadily, the downside of betting against these may be to steep and managers telling their clients they bet against the rally after all the pain seen already is probably more than a tough sell.

JON C. OGG
JUNE 10, 2009

Why the Sunshine in Solar Stocks? (STP, CSIQ, YGE, ENER, USO, BTU)

solar-panel-picSuntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE:STP) closed its follow-on offering of 23 million ADSs on May 28th. The price per ADS was $12.50, and the company raised net proceeds of about $277 million.

Suntech shares hit a high of more than $16/ADS yesterday before closing at $15.44, nearly $3 more than the follow-on offering price. And virtually all solar stocks have risen nicely in the past week. Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:CSIQ) and Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Ltd. (NYSE:YGE) are up nearly 20%, and Suntech and Energy Conversion Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:ENER) are up more than 5%.
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Canadian Solar, When Bad Is Good (CSIQ, ENER, YGE)

solar-panel-picThe first quarter report from Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:CSIQ) was a little better than expected on the earnings front but weak on the top-line, posting a net EPS loss of -$0.13 on revenue of $49.5 million. Analysts had forecast a net EPS loss of -$0.26 on revenue of $54.08 million.
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Top Analyst Downgrades (AXP, BKE, CIEN, ENER, IP, LINTA, RBS, STO, TSM, TIN, VSAT)

These are some of the top analyst downgrades and cautious research calls we have seen from Wall Street early this Tuesday morning:

American Express (AXP) Started as Underperform at RBC.
Buckle (BKE) Cut to Underweight at KeyBanc.
Ciena (CIEN) Cut to Underperform at JMP Securities.
Energy Conversion Devices (ENER) Cut to Hold at Citi; Cut to Neutral at Credit Suisse.
International Paper (IP) Cut to Hold at Deutsche Bank.
Liberty Media (LINTA) Cut to Sell at Citi.
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Cut to Underperform at Credit Suisse.
StatoilHydro (STO) Cut to Hold at Societe Generale.
Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM) Cut To Market Perform at FBR.
Temple-Inland (TIN) Cut to Hold at Deutsche Bank.
ViaSat (VSAT) Cut to Hold at Collins Stewart.

JON C. OGG

Energy Conversion Devices Almost Clears Low Bar (ENER)

The third fiscal quarter report from Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENER) showed EPS of $0.03, down from $0.17 in the same period a year ago and $0.33 sequentially, but above analysts’ estimates of $0.02. Revenue reached $66 million for the quarter, down from $70 million a year ago and $103.1 from last quarter. Analysts had been anticipating $68.88 million.
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