Posts for Ticker ‘SOLR’

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

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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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

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

JA Solar, Another Big Solar Miss (JASO, SOLR, SPWRA)

Solar Panel PicJA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ:JASO) reported first quarter 2009 results this morning, and the news was not so hot. The company posted an EPS loss of -$0.18 on revenue of $33.9 million. In the year-ago quarter, JA Solar posted revenue of $164.2 million and a EPS of $0.99. Estimates averaged an EPS loss of -$0.05 on revenue of $107.89. JA Solar’s results stunk.
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GT Solar Misses By a Mile (SOLR, SPWRA, WFR, AMAT)

Solar Panel PicGT Solar International, Inc. (NASDAQ:SOLR) makes the equipment that other companies use to manufacture photovoltaic solar panels. Thus, when the solar panel makers are suffering, so is GT Solar.  The company is suffering and expects to keep suffering.
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And Suddenly, Solar Back To Bonkers (FSLR, LDK, SPWRA, TAN, SOLR, STP)

solar-panel-pic22The sudden strength in the stock market and the rise in the price of oil is suddenly making the key solar sector stocks rise.   Solar shares also appear to be benefiting from China’s support of a subsidy program. DigiTimes noted that while the government supports the development of solar energy, no time line for any subsidy has been give.  Unfortunately, DigiTimes.com website was not connecting, so no link can be offered.  We have seen reports on this throughout the week noting the possible “assistance” on huge solar projects in China, but this is taking shares of First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR), LDK Solar Co. (NYSE: LDK), SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ: SPWRA), Claymore/MAC Global Solar Energy (NYSE: TAN), GT Solar International, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOLR), and Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. (NYSE: STP) are all rallying sharply.  These are just some of the screaming gainers in the sector, but you will see double-digit gains, sometimes huge double-digit gains, across the board:
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Short Sellers Double Down Against Green & Alternative Energy (CSIQ, CPST, CLNE, ENER, ESLR, FSLR, FCEL, SOLR, JASO, LDK, SFUN, SPWRA, STP)

There was what appears to be a massive increase in short selling for the period report ending March 13, 2009.  The short selling increases in companies like First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR), Suntech Power Holdings Co. (NYSE: STP), SunPower Corp. (SPWRA) and others were well into double digits.  Of our main go-to alternative or green stocks we cover, only one of them saw a decrease in short selling.

COMPANY NAME (TICKER)……….. MARCH 13.. Change
Canadian Solar Inc. (CSIQ)………… 3,506,879   -2.35%
Capstone Turbine Corp. (CPST)…… 16,385,245 +2.68%
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE)…. 4,204,801  +0.5%
Energy Conversion Devices (ENER) 14,117,686 +4.5%
Evergreen Solar, Inc. (ESLR)………. 23,355,600 +6.7%
First Solar, Inc. (FSLR)………………. 10,918,475 +32.1%
FuelCell Energy, Inc. (FCEL)……….. 6,918,766  +11.6%
GT Solar International (SOLR)…….. 2,043,429  +9.8%
JA Solar Holdings, Co. (JASO)…….. 7,233,429  +14.4%
LDK Solar Co. Inc. (LDK)……………. 11,831,376 +3.2%
Solarfun Power Holdings Co. (SFUN)  2,660,846  +11.3%
SunPower Corp. (SPWRA)……………. 9,483,348  +12.8%
Suntech Power Holdings Co. (STP)… 9,955,282  +28.2%

JON C. OGG
March 25, 2009

Short Sellers Active In Green Energy Stocks (CSIQ, CPST, CLNE, ENER, ESLR, FSLR, FCEL, SOLR, JASO, LDK, SFUN, SPWRA, STP)

solar-panel-pic6 There were some really large increases in the short interest from alternative energy companies such as Energy Conversion Devices (NASDAQ: ENER), JA Solar Holdings (NASDAQ: JASO), and LDK Solar Co. Inc. (NYSE: LDK).  What is interesting is that First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) posted disappointing earnings, yet the short interest actually decreased there.
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Coming Clean With Solar Woes (AMAT, JASO, SPWRA, SOLR, STP, FSLR, TAN)

"Future, Or Fracture?"

"Future, Or Fracture?"

Last year was the year that alternative energy  was  set to take the world over.  High energy prices and election promises made green energy look like it had unlimited growth.  Then came the massive drop in energy prices. Then came the recession. Then came the lack of credit.  Combine all that with lower stock valuations and this is looking like solar companies will get hit with a wave of rolling blackouts.

Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT) gave us the impression that what we are setting up for is the third wave of negatives for the sector.  What we saw out of JA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: JASO) only adds fuel to that fire.   SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWRA) and GT Solar International Inc. (NASDAQ: SOLR) are both up since their earnings, but these might not be representative of the whole group. Investors’ negative bias toward te will effect  earnings expectations for Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP) next week and  First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) the following week.
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Top Pre-Market Analyst Downgrades (MDRX, AAUK, EBAY, HNZ, SOLR, ITG, NVO, SI, SCR, PCU, STP, VISN)

Burning_money_pic_3These are most of the general analyst calls we have seen with downgrades or negative implications this Wednesday morning in the early pre-market trading hours:

  • Allscripts-Misys (NASDAQ: MDRX) Cut to Neutral at UBS.
  • Anglo American (NASDAQ: AAUK) Cut to Hold at Citigroup.
  • eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) Started as Sell at Collins Stewart.
  • HJ Heinz (NYSE: HNZ) Cut to Market Perform at Bernstein.
  • GT Solar (NASDAQ: SOLR) Started as Buy at Kaufman Brothers.
  • Investment Tech (NYSE: ITG) Cut to Sell at Goldman Sachs.
  • Novo-Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) Cut to Sell at Citigroup.
  • Siemens (NYSE: SI) Cut to Neutral at Merrill Lynch.
  • Simcere Pharmaceutical Group. (NYSE: SCR) Cut to Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
  • Southern Copper (NYSE: PCU) Cut to Sell at UBS.
  • Suntech Power (NYSE: STP) Cut to Underperform at FBR.
  • VisionChina Media (NASDAQ: VISN) Cut to Perform at Oppenheimer.

There were also many financial downgrades and some downgrades specific to the oil patch this morning as well.  As you can see by the few upgrades noted earlier, the pace of downgrades is still greatly exceeding upgrades.

Jon C. Ogg
January 14, 2009

Alternative Energy Short Selling Decreases (CSIQ, CPST, CLNE, ENER, ESLR, FSLR, FCEL, SOLR, HOKU, JASO, SFUN, SPWRA, SPWRB)

Short selling is not always just used as a bet against a stock, but that is what Wall Street evaluates short interest for.  We did note a drop in short selling on NASDAQ from mid-December to December 31.  But it is odd that short selling in alternative energy stocks has come down too.  this is despite how weak some of the alternative energy stocks have been and how the industry is being gutted by sudden cheap energy prices again.

Stock (Ticker)                                    Dec. 31      Dec. 15     Change
Canadian Solar Inc. (CSIQ)                2,221,041    2,535,153   -12.39%
Capstone Turbine Corp. (CPST)         15,238,501  15,982,879   -4.66%
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE)      3,766,746    3,363,349   +11.99%
Energy Conversion Devices (ENER)   10,903,594   11,784,508  -7.48%
Evergreen Solar, Inc. (ESLR)             23,030,783   24,041,949  -4.21%
First Solar, Inc.    (FSLR)                  7,586,475     7,725,457   -1.80%
FuelCell Energy, Inc. (FCEL)             5,844,014     6,821,520   -14.33%
GT Solar International (SOLR)           2,588,190     2,585,455    +0.11%
Hoku Scientific, Inc. (HOKU)             1,912,737     2,012,192    -4.94%
JA Solar Holdings, Co. (JASO)          14,182,231   15,976,615  -11.23%
Solarfun Power Holdings Co. (SFUN)  3,027,631     3,948,622   -23.32%
SunPower Corp. (A) (SPWRA)           9,418,472     9,619,152   -2.09%
SunPower Corp. (B) (SPWRB)           2,521,597     2,618,116   -3.69%

Jon C. Ogg
January 13, 2009

Ominous Solar News: Job Cuts (SOLR)

Solar_panel_picIt was not that long ago when traders and investors were making a fortune investing in the new endless growth instrument: blazing hot solar stocks.  If you have followed this sector, you have seen how many of these stocks have fallen 60%, 70% and some by even 90%.  But today, GT Solar International, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOLR) did something worse than the other companies facing slowing orders. It cut jobs.

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Short Seller Surprise, Alternative Energy Mixed Bag (CSIQ, CPST, CLNE, ENER, ESLR, FSLR, FCEL, SOLR, HOKU, JASO, SFUN, SPWRA, SPWRB)

Solar_panel_picWith oil tanking, many alternative energy stocks and solar stocks have been paying for it.  They were the leveraged winners when oil was running up and now they are paying the price on the way down.  You will see some major increases in the short selling in some of the key stocks, but it is amazing just how mixed the bets are with some seeing real drops in the short interest.  Maybe the notion is out that with suddenly super-low P/E ratios and with many off 75% or more that the worst is behind:

Stock (Ticker)                                      NOV. 28      NOV. 14   CHANGE
Canadian Solar Inc. (CSIQ)                  2,427,370    3,368,857   -27.95%
Capstone Turbine Corp. (CPST)           17,560,127   18,493,021  -5.04%
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE)         3,410,178    3,278,222   +4.03%
Energy Conversion Devices (ENER)     12,318,601   11,092,675  +11.05%
Evergreen Solar, Inc. (ESLR)               24,902,180   25,732,337   -3.23%
First Solar, Inc.    (FSLR)                      9,307,012    7,074,475   +31.56%
FuelCell Energy, Inc. (FCEL)                 9,091,358    9,447,180   -3.77%
GT Solar International (SOLR)                2,614,025    2,092,142   +24.94%
Hoku Scientific, Inc. (HOKU)                 2,040,200    2,442,894   -16.48%
JA Solar Holdings, Co. (JASO)            18,283,207   16,661,472  +9.73%
Solarfun Power Holdings Co. (SFUN)     5,003,987    5,249,784   -4.68%
SunPower Corp. (A) (SPWRA)            11,114,809   12,210,305   -8.97%
SunPower Corp. (B) (SPWRB)              3,230,046    1,990,460   +62.28%

Jon C. Ogg
December 10, 2008

Top 10 Pre-Market Analyst Upgrades & Downgrades (MO, STZ, LVS, LYV, RF, AXP, CMS, DELL, SOLR, TIBX)

These are the top ten early bird upgrades and downgrades we have seen this Thursday morning with about two hours until the open:

  • Altria (MO) Raised to Neutral from Sell at Banc of America.
  • Constellation Brands (STZ) Raised to Buy at UBS.
  • Las Vegas Sands (LVS) Raised to Neutral from Sell at Banc of America.
  • Live Nation (LYV) Raised to Strong Buy at S&P Equity Research.
  • Regions Financial (RF) Raised to Buy at Ladenburg Thalman.
  • American Express (AXP) Started as Underperform at Jefferies.
  • Comerica (CMA) Cutto Hold at Deutsche Bank.
  • Dell (DELL) added to Goldman Sachs Conviction Sell List.
  • GT Solar (SOLR) Cut to Underperform at Jefferies.
  • TIBCO Software (TIBX) Cut to Underperform at Jefferies.

Jon C. Ogg
November 13, 2008

GT Solar Finds Redemption (SOLR)

Gtsolar_logoGT Solar International, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOLR) posted strong earnings and mixed guidance, but shares are recovering handily after the report since its stock has been beaten down so much since coming public this summer.  Net income was $27.9 million, or $0.19 EPS; Revenues were $140 million, which was up 71% year-over-year.  Thomson Reuters (First Call) had estimates of $0.14 EPS and $127.33 million in revenues.

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First Solar Saves The Solar Power Sector (FSLR, SPWRA, STP, LDK, CSIQ, SOLR, ESLR)

First_solar_logo_2First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) has finally given its guidance from the conference call, and it looks like this and additional supply contracts will be good news for the entire solar sector and may even spill over into other alternative energy stocks.

The company announced a 525 megawatt long-term module supply pact with Sorgenia Solar for solar power plants in Italy and extended pacts with existing customers allowing for an additional $800 million spread from 2009 to 2013.

First Solar shares were floating around the break-even mark in theafter-hours session before its guidance and before its supply pactannouncement.  But now shares are up 10% at $127.50.Below is the rest of the data:

As you will see below, this is causing a major rally in almost all of the other solar power stocks:

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First Solar Earnings To Set Alt. Energy Stock Trends For Weeks (FSLR, SPWRA, STP, LDK, CSIQ, SOLR)

First_solar_logoToday is going to be a very interesting day for shareholders of First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) and holders of any other solar energy and alternative energy players.  The solar leader is set to report earnings after the close.  The good news is the same as the bad news.  This may set the pace and opinion of many solar stocks and many alternative energy stocks for the next few weeks.

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UBS Ditches Solar Stocks (ENER, ESLR, SOLR, SPWRA)

Solar_panel_picUBS is issuing a downgrade on many of the solar stocks this morning.  While this call may be late, it does echo some of the issues brought up recently which signals that some of the solar orders could get cut ahead from utilities now that energy is suddenly cheaper and is deemed to stay cheaper for the time being.

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Government Wakes Up & Endorses Solar Tax Credits (FSLR, SPWR, STP, ESLR, ENER, SOLR)

Solar_panel_pic_2For months we have been under the potential disaster scenario where solar tax credits were going to expire and end at the end of 2008.  Despite the calls for energy independence and a move away from foreign oil, many believed that Congress would not renew the tax credits that are helping to foster domestic use of solar power.  It seems that Congress may have realized how silly this expiration would have been and how much answering they might have had to come up with if it happened. The Senate has passed a bill that provides more than $17 billion in renewable tax incentives. Under the bill, the incentives would go through 2016.  Below are the stocks showing major gains as a result:

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