SunPower (SPWRA) saw an increase of more than 10% in its stock price on March 15. This trend was seen across almost all companies in the solar industry, including SunPower's competitors FirstSolar (FSLR), SuntechPower (STP), and Yingli Green Energy (YGE).

Our price estimate for SunPower's stock is at $14.41, about 10% below its current market price.

Despite the negative threat of the January Barometer, the markets rallied and rallied sharply today. A strong ISM release rose above more debt concerns globally. Even a $1.6 trillion deficit being locked in for 2011 had no negative impacts on stocks.

Here were today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 10,185.53 +118.20 (1.17%)
S&P 500 1,089.18 +15.31 (1.43%)
Nasdaq 2,171.20 +23.85 (1.11%)

Top Analyst Upgrades/Downgrades
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Unlike France, the United States did not build nearly enough nuclear power plants in the last two decades of the 20th century to accommodate its power needs, and it will spend the next two decades playing catch-up, which is why I'm reiterating my buy rating for Entergy Corp. (ETR), first recommended on May 12, 2009, at a price of $74.31.

Entergy, the second largest nuclear power generator in the U.S. (30,000 megawatts) will be a part of that mix, with its regulated utilities likely to register average earnings per share growth of 5% to 7% over the next three years. Meanwhile, the planned spin-off of its non-utility-regulated nuclear business, called Enexus, holds the promise of even stronger revenue and earnings growth. The First Call FY2009/FY2010 EPS estimates for ETR are $6.37 to $6.70.

We all got used to hearing about peak oil, especially after a whistleblower recently alleged that the International Energy Agency has downplayed a looming oil shortage to appease the U.S. and prevent panic buying. What we haven't heard much about is the looming uranium shortage. Last week, Michael Dittmar, from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, said that the world is running out of uranium and nobody seems to have noticed.

The International Atomic Energy Agency forecast last year said that power generated from nuclear plants could double by 2030 as governments look to alternative energy sources. So while there is great investment in nuclear power, uranium is not plentiful.

Today was a dud from the start as profit takers were in there unloading gains as the impatient buyers try to gradually build positions in stocks they feel they have missed. For an earnings season trading day, this was a low-impact day. There was some negative consumer confidence data, but the Case-Shiller data showed signs that home prices are stabilizing.

Here are today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 9,096.42 -12.09 (-0.13%)
S&P 500 979.60 -2.58 (-0.26%)
Nasdaq 1,975.51 +7.62 (0.39%)

Top Upgrades and Downgrades

General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) is having a strong week, up today 21 cents and 0.59% to end at $35.71. Yesterday Prudential said that it believed GE was poised to improved 'indefinitely' due to its profits and diversified industries. Renewed confidence in NBC also played a part in GE confidence.

GE is also celebrating its 50th year as a nuclear energy business. GE entered in 1956, and in 2003 began to prepare for a renaissance in western markets. It has since invested $78 million in a new facility in Wilmington, North Carolina, and is building an advanced reactor technology design center. GE clearly sees this as a forward-looking investment in a world that will need alternative energy sources.