Posts for Ticker ‘WFR’

Top 10 Analyst Upgrades, Downgrades, Initiations (COH, ITG, K, LYG, WFR, STI, TWX, TOL, VMW, ZUMZ)

These are this Friday mornings top ten analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations of coverage from Wall Street firms:

Coach Inc. (NYSE: COH) Raised to Buy at Jefferies.
Investment Technology Group (NYSE: ITG) Cut to Neutral at JPMorgan.
Kellogg Company (NYSE: K) Raised to Buy at Citigroup.
Lloyds Banking Group (NYSE: LYG) ADR upgraded at both BNP Paribas and Credit Suisse.
MEMC Electronics (NYSE: WFR) Raised to Buy at Soleil.
SunTrust Banks (NYSE: STI) Raised to Equal-Weight at Morgan Stanley.
Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX) Raised to Outperform at Credit Suisse.
Toll Brothers (NYSE: TOL) Raised to Buy at Citigroup.
VVMware (NYSE: VMW) Cut to Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
Zumiez (NYSE: ZUMZ) Raised to Buy at Jefferies.

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JON C. OGG

Posted on: October 30, 2009 – 8:09 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

Some Shade Falls Over Solar Shares (WFR, C, AMAT, AONE, FSLR)

Shares in MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. (NYSE:WFR) have been downgraded from ‘Buy’ to ‘Hold’ by Citigroup (NYSE:C). MEMC makes crystalline polysilicon wafers used in some photovoltaic solar cells, and the market appears to be oversupplied for both this year and next.

Prices for polysilicon could fall by as much as 50%, which would really squeeze MEMC’s revenues and margins.

Another wafer maker, Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT), got an upgrade from Citigroup, from ‘Hold’ to ‘Buy’. Applied also makes crystalline polysilicon wafers, but its thin-film products could easily pick up the slack if the market for polysilicon takes the expected tumble.

And while alternative energy shares were hot last week, primarily due to the IPO of A123 Systems Inc. (NYSE:AONE), things have cooled a bit today. Even A123 is down nearly 3% in early trading today.

Nearly all the solar players are moving downward this morning. MEMC is off about 3.5% to around $16.69, and First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) is off nearly 3.75% to $149.15. The big winner so far is Applied Materials, which is up more than 3.25% to $13.53.

Paul Ausick

Posted on: September 28, 2009 – 11:13 am in Alternative Energy, Green Biz, , , , ,

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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Posted on: September 9, 2009 – 10:25 am in Alternative Energy, Green Biz, Utilities, , , , , , ,

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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Posted on: July 21, 2009 – 5:09 pm in ADR, Alternative Energy, China, Green Biz, Politics, , , , , , , , , , ,

Top Analyst Upgrades (MT, BBT, EVVV, GHL, WFR, NZ, PBR, SY, STI)

Money Stack ImageThese are the top pre-market analyst upgrades and positive research calls we have seen early this Friday morning with more than two hours until the market opens for trading:

Arcelor Mittal (MT) Raised to Hold at Citigroup.
BB&T Corp. (BBT) Raised to Market Perform at FBR.
ev3 Inc. (EVVV) Started as Outperform at Baird.
Greenhill (GHL) Started as Outperform at William Blair.
MEMC Electronics (WFR) Raised to Buy at Citigroup.
Netezza (NZ) Started as Outperform at William Blair.
Petrobras Brasileiro (PBR) Raised to Buy at UBS.
Sybase (SY) Started as Outperform at Oppenheimer.
SunTrust (STI) Raised to Market Perform at FBR.

JON C. OGG

Posted on: July 10, 2009 – 6:24 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , ,

Top 10 Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades (ADTN, ADS, BA, LFC, DB, EMC, FCX, FSYS, WFR, RVBD)

These are the top ten analyst calls of upgrades, downgrades, and initiations we have seen from Wall Street early this Wednesday morning with more than two hours until the market opens:

  • ADTRAN (ADTN) Started as Buy at Auriga.
  • Alliance Data (ADS) Cut to Neutral at JPMorgan.
  • Boeing (BA) Cut to Underperform at Oppenheimer.
  • China Life Insurance Co. Ltd. (LFC) Cut to Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
  • Deutsche Bank (DB) Raised to Hold from Sell at Citigroup.
  • EMC Corp. (EMC) Raised to Overweight at Barclays.
  • Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX) Raised to Outperform at FBR.
  • Fuel Systems Solutions (FSYS) Raised to Buy at Janney Montgomery Scott.
  • MEMC (WFR) Cut to Underweight at JPMorgan.
  • Riverbed Technology (RVBD) Started as Market Perform at FBR.

Jon C. Ogg
June 24, 2009

Posted on: June 24, 2009 – 6:25 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

Analysts Changing Semiconductor Ratings (ALTR, AMCC, ASML, BRCM, LSCC, MRVL, WFR, MU, PMCS, STM, XLNX)

We have seen many semiconductor and circuit calls this morning with upgrades and downgrades from Wall Street analysts.  Here are some of these upgrades and downgrades:

Altera (ALTR) Cut to Underweight at Morgan Stanley.
Applied Micro Circuits (AMCC) Cut to Underweight at Morgan Stanley.
ASML (ASML) Cut to Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
Broadcom (BRCM) Raised to Overweight at Morgan Stanley.
Lattice Semiconductor (LSCC) Cut to Underweight at Morgan Stanley.
Marvell Tech (MRVL) Raised to Overweight at Morgan Stanley.
MEMC (WFR) Raised to Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.
Micron Technology (MU) Raised to Overweight at Morgan Stanley.
PMC-Sierra (PMCS) Cut to Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.
STMicroelectronics (STM) Raised to Buy at Goldman Sachs.
Xilinx (XLNX) Cut to Underweight at Morgan Stanley.

JON C. OGG

Posted on: May 18, 2009 – 6:45 am in Analyst Calls, Semiconductor, , , , , , , , , , ,

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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Posted on: May 13, 2009 – 8:36 am in Alternative Energy, Earnings, Earnings Warning, Green Biz, , , ,

SunPower In the Shade (SPWRA, WFR, FSLR, LDK)

solar-panel-pic8One of the stalwarts of the solar business, SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWRA), has reported an EPS loss of -$0.06 on revenues of $214 million for the 2009 first quarter. Analysts had expected EPS of $0.24 and revenue of $269 million. Even the low estimate on EPS was higher than SunPower’s earnings.

Another solar-oriented company (and chip materials maker), MEMC Electronics Materials Inc. (NYSE:WFR), reported a net non-GAAP EPS loss  of -$0.05 yesterday, on weak sales. MEMC also lost a 10-year supply contract with a German solar company earlier this week.
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Posted on: April 24, 2009 – 8:22 am in Alternative Energy, Earnings, Green Biz, , , ,

MEMC, The Meltdown Continues (WFR)

dram-imageA long weekend is always a good time to send bad news over the wires, hoping that either nobody will see it or that they’ll forget they saw it by the next business day. MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. (NYSE: WFR) tried it by announcing preliminary results for its first quarter 2009.  Traders did not exactly let it go unnoticed.
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Posted on: April 13, 2009 – 7:57 am in Earnings Warning, Semiconductor,

Top Analyst Downgrades (GLW, ETN, EBAY, GMCR, INTU, WFR, VDSI, WFC, WYNN)

These are most of the top pre-market analyst downgrades and cautious research notes we have seen from Wall Street analysts this Monday morning:

Corning (GLW) Cut to Perform at Oppenheimer.
Eaton (ETN) Cut to Neutral at UBS.
eBay (EBAY) Cut to Sell at Collins Stewart.
Green Mountain Coffee (GMCR) Cut to Neutral at Sun Trust Robinson Humphrey.
Intuit (INTU) Cut to Neutral at UBS.
MEMC Electronic Material (WFR) Cut to Neutral at Piper Jaffray.
VASCO Data Security (VDSI) Cut to Neutral at FBR.
Wells Fargo (WFC) Cut to Market Perform at KBW.
Wynn Resorts (WYNN) Cut to Underperform at Oppenhemer.

JON C. OGG

Posted on: April 13, 2009 – 6:50 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , ,

KLA-Tencor Follows Chips-To-Solar Move (KLAC, FSLR, WFR, AMAT)

solar-panel-pic6As long as silicon chips continue to pack more power into less space, the industry will need improved inspection devices to assist with quality control. Or at least that’s what KLA-Tencor Corporation (NASDAQ:KLAC) is counting on.  And now it appears that KLA expects solar and photovoltaic to be a new engine of growth.
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Posted on: March 4, 2009 – 9:53 am in Alternative Energy, Green Biz, Semiconductor, , , ,

Top Pre-Market Analyst Upgrades (ASML, ATMI, WFR, PALM, PFCB, PRAA, RAH, TXN, WOOF, XEL)

These are some of the top pre-market analyst calls we have seen this Friday morning…. Friday the 13th:

  • ASML (ASML) Raised to Buy at Deutsche Bank.
  • ATMI (ATMI) Raised to Buy at UBS.
  • MEMC Electronics (WFR) Raised to Buy at UBS.
  • Palm (PALM) Started as Outperform at Credit Suisse.
  • PF Chang’s (PFCB) Raised to Outperform at William Blair.
  • Portfolio Recovery Associates (PRAA) Raised to Market Perform at KBW.
  • Ralcorp Holdings (RAH) Raised to Buy at UBS.
  • Texas Instruments (TXN) Raised to Buy at UBS.
  • VCA Antech (WOOF) Raised to Hold at Jefferies.
  • Xcel Energy (XEL) Started as Outperform at Wachovia.

Jon C. Ogg
February 13, 2009

Posted on: February 13, 2009 – 7:45 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Top Pre-Market Analyst Downgrades (AINV, BHI, BAC, WFR, MBT, OZM, SPWRA, STP, VIP, WMT)

Burning_money_picThese are some of the top pre-market analyst downgrades or cautious calls we are seeing from Wall Street this Wednesday morning:

  • Apollo Investment (AINV) Cut to Neutral from Overweight at JPMorgan.
  • Baker Hughes (BHI) Cut to Underweight at from Overweight at Morgan Stanley.
  • Bank of America (BAC) Cut to Neutral at Baird.
  • MEMC Electronics (WFR) Cut to Hold at Citigroup.
  • Mobile TeleSystems (MBT) Cut to Underperform at credit Suisse.
  • Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC (OZM) Cut to Market Perform at KBW.
  • Sunpower (SPWRA) Started as Neutral at Merriman Curhan Ford.
  • Suntech Power (STP) Started as Sell at Merriman Curhan Ford.
  • Vimpel Com (VIP) Cut to Neutral from Outperform at Credit Suisse.
  • Wal-Mart (WMT) Cut to Neutral from Outperform at Credit Suisse.

Jon C. Ogg
January 21, 2009

Posted on: January 21, 2009 – 7:40 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , , ,

MEMC Lowers Guidance, Blames Lack of Credit (WFR)

Burning_money_picCiting unavailability of credit to "some solar customers," MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. (NYSE:WFR) lowered its fourth quarter 2008 revenue guidance from $500 million to $400-$425 million. The company also projects that gross margins will fall about 2 percentage points, from 48% to around 46%.

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Posted on: December 18, 2008 – 10:59 am in Alternative Energy, Earnings Warning, Semiconductor,

Top Pre-Market Analyst Downgrades (BRY, BBG, BG, CBST, GSX, KNL, WFR, SIRO, TXCO)

These are the top pre-market downgrades from Wall Street analysts this Friday morning:

  • Berry Petroleum (BRY) Cut to Market Perform at Morgan Keegan.
  • Bill Barrett (BBG) Cut to Market Perform at Morgan Keegan.
  • Bunge (BG) Cut to Underperform at Merrill Lynch.
  • Cubist Pharma (CBST) Cut to Perform at Oppenheimer.
  • Gasco Energy (GSX) Cut to Market Perform at Morgan Keegan.
  • Knoll (KNL) Cut to Sell at Goldman Sachs.
  • MEMC (WFR) Started as Underweight at Morgan Stanley.
  • Sirona Dental (SIRO) Cut to Neutral at Baird.
  • TXCO Resources (TXCO) Cut to Market Perform at Morgan Keegan.

Jon C. Ogg
December 5, 2008

Posted on: December 5, 2008 – 7:32 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , ,

Sun Shines on LDK Solar (LDK, WFR, ENER)

Solar_panel_picBefore the market opened this morning, LDK Solar (NYSE:LDK) reported third quarter earnings. The company earned $88.4 million (diluted EPS of $0.77) on revenues of $541.8 million. Analysts were expecting EPS of $0.71 on revenues $486.7 million. LDK’s revenues topped even the highest estimate.

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Posted on: November 19, 2008 – 9:30 am in Alternative Energy, Earnings, , ,

The 52-Week Low Club 9/10/2008 (LEH)(ASK)(WFR)(ESLR)(FWLT)

Sad_clownLehman (LEH) — Is it still solvent? Drops to $7.64 from 52-week high of $67.73.

AK Steel Holding (AKS) Large stockholder sells part of holdings. Sells down to $33.05 from 52-week high of $73.07.

MEMC Electronic Materials (WFR) Concerns about soft chip demand. Falls to $32.23 from 52-week high of $96.08.

Evergreen Solar (ESLR) Oil price drop hurts shares. Dips to $6.16 from 52-week high of $18.85.

Foster Wheeler (FWLT) No news. Sells down to $33.19 from 52-week high of $85.65.

Douglas A. McIntyre

Posted on: September 9, 2008 – 2:56 pm in HI/LOW, , , , ,

The 52-Week Low Club 7/24/2008 (CDNS)(SVU)(MU)(TIE)(CMG)(WFR)

Sad_clownMEMC Electronic Materials (WFR) Results miss Wall St. forecasts. Falls to $41.58 from 52-week high of $96.08.

Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) Analyst downgrades. Shares off to $67.26 from 52-week high of $155.49.

Titanium Metals (TIE) Airplane customers cutting metal orders.Drops to$10.27 from 52-week high of$36.50.

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Posted on: July 24, 2008 – 2:56 pm in HI/LOW, , , , , ,

Top Pre-Market Analyst Upgrades (APD, C, HBAN, MEOH, WFR, PPDI, SANM, SPG, WBS)

These are some of the top pre-market analyst Upgrades and positive calls we are seeing this Thursday Morning:

  • Air Products (APD) Raised to Overweight at JPMorgan.
  • Citigroup (C’) raised to Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.
  • Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) Raised to Equal-Weight at Morgan Stanley.
  • Methanex (MEOH) Raised to Buy at UBS.
  • MEMC Electronic Materials (WFR) Raised to Overweight at JPMorgan; Raised to Buy at Citigroup.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Development (PPDI) Raised to Outperform at Baird.
  • Sanmina-SCI (SANM) Raised to Outperform at Credit Suisse.
  • Simon Property Group (SPG) Started as Overweight at Lehman.
  • Webster Financial (WBS) Raised to Overweight at Morgan Stanley.

Jon C. Ogg
July 24, 2008

Posted on: July 24, 2008 – 6:38 am in Analyst Calls, , , , , , , , ,