Trina Solar Limited (TSL) is having a little trouble this session getting a bid. Actually, it's having a lot of trouble. At the time of this writing, the company's American Depository Shares (ADSs) were down 7% to $22.21. Significant volume accompanied the sell-off.

Earlier today, the maker of solar photovoltaic items reported results for the third quarter. According to Reuters, sales went up over 100% to $508 million. Net income of $1.08 per ADS beat the consensus estimate by 21 pennies. The gross margin experienced an improvement on a year-over-year basis. Seems like a data set that should be bought, right?

Continue reading Trina Solar Under Pressure After Earnings Report

Trina Solar Under Pressure After Earnings Report originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Shares of MEMC Electronic Materials (WFR) turned higher right out of the gate Thursday morning, surging roughly 4% with the sound of the opening bell. For the catalyst behind this bullish gap, we need look no further than peripatetic CNBC analyst Jim Cramer.

On Wednesday, the Mad Money host cited MEMC as his top pick within the solar sector. To back up his bullish opinion, Cramer cited three key factors: the recent $380 million sale of subsidiary SunEdison's Italian property, lowball earnings estimates from analysts, and heavy insider buying by company execs in recent months.

Continue reading MEMC Electronic Materials Catches a Cramer Lift

MEMC Electronic Materials Catches a Cramer Lift originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This morning, JA Solar Holdings (JASO) announced that it has signed multiple supply agreements with "several customers" to provide solar cells in 2011. The company will supply the solar cells from January 2011 through December 2011, but they are accompanied with prepayments or the delivery.

The company's CEO Dr. Peng Fang stated, "We are seeing very strong demand for our technologically advanced, high-quality products from our diverse global customer base ... Our customers view JA Solar as a reliable supplier partner and rely on JA to provide them with their 2011 product requirements."

Continue reading JA Solar Lands Solar Cell Supply Agreements

JA Solar Lands Solar Cell Supply Agreements originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Trina Solar (TSL) has had a rough couple of years. After a $10 IPO in 2006, it flew up to peak at $35 in 2007 only to bottom out under $4 at the end of 2008. It was partially the broader market that held back Trina, but also speculation over the viability of solar power as oil prices softened.

Trina Solar nearly became a bear market statistic. But the company has fought back from less than $3 a share to its current $25 price, and there are a lot of reasons to think that Trina Solar is making a comeback. In fact, it's one of my favorite small-cap stocks to buy this earnings season -- and here are five reasons why:

Continue reading Five Reasons to Buy Trina Solar

Five Reasons to Buy Trina Solar originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Bronte Capital recently expressed a bit of negative sentiment regarding First Solar (FSLR). Well, if there's anything I find more fun than assessing a company's strengths and weaknesses, it's analyzing the statements issued by stock analysts. Now, let's have some fun.

First, understand that Bronte Capital has issued its statement from an openly declared short position. In essence that means Bronte will tell you what it needs to in order to cover said position. Can you say biased opinion? Bronte Capital can.

Continue reading Bronte Capital Takes a Shot at First Solar

Bronte Capital Takes a Shot at First Solar originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 17 Apr 2010 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A stock with room to rise, such is the current condition of First Solar Inc. (FSLR). On the one hand we have an analyst consensus of hold, due to the loss of subsidies in the company's primary market and remarkably low natural gas prices. On the other hand, we have overt optimism about the company from none other than Dow Jones, and brokerage price targets that go as high as $200. In cases such as this, I like to take a step back to look at the big picture.

FSLR is just beginning to rise from a 52-week low. The company's balance sheet is rock solid, its reputation is gleaming, and the market for its goods is strong. Estimates indicate that the global volume of solar installations slated for 2010 will be nearly double the 2009 level of 6.4 gigawatts.

Continue reading First Solar: A Stock with Room to Rise

First Solar: A Stock with Room to Rise originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading JA Solar Ups Forecast, Receives Upgrade

JA Solar Ups Forecast, Receives Upgrade originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading First Solar: For High-Risk Investors Only

First Solar: For High-Risk Investors Only originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Earnings, Dollar and China Make Bearish Trifecta (WFC, BAC, SIRI, FSLR, CREE, COH)

Closing Bell: Earnings, Dollar and China Make Bearish Trifecta (WFC, BAC, SIRI, FSLR, CREE, COH) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The U.S. Department of Energy is becoming a major venture capital player. The government agency is shooting to dish out -- through loans and grants -- more than $40 billion to companies in the clean technology space. The DOE is looking to fund a wide range of businesses in this space from solar panels to electric cars. In the first three quarters of this year, the department pushed out $13 billion under this model, far ahead of the $2.68 billion that venture capital funds pumped into the sector.

So far, more than 40 companies involved in the auto industry have pursued DOE cash. They have their collective eye on the $25 billion in federal low interest loans that have been allocated to the sector.

Continue reading DOE drives clean-tech venture capital market

DOE drives clean-tech venture capital market originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading LDK Solar posts stronger-than-expected, third-quarter earnings

LDK Solar posts stronger-than-expected, third-quarter earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Energy Conversion Devices (NASDAQ: ENER) tumbled to a new 52-week low today as investors panned the company's earnings report. This morning, ENER confessed to a fourth-quarter loss of $15.8 million, or 37 cents per share, more than reversing its year-ago profit of 24 cents per share. Revenue for the period tumbled 38% to $51.4 million. Both figures fell short of analysts' consensus estimates, which called for a loss of 8 cents per share on $55 million in revenue.

"Demand for solar products in our target markets weakened further from the third quarter into the fourth quarter as commercial construction declined, building owners deferred reroofing projects and project financing constraints continued," explained Chief Executive Mark Morelli.

Continue reading Energy Conversion Devices plunges to five-year low post-earnings

Energy Conversion Devices plunges to five-year low post-earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

After the closing bell sounds this afternoon, LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK) will report quarterly earnings. Expectations are pegged at a loss of 91 cents per share for the solar firm, so what can you expect in the wake of the report? Let's take a look at LDK's technical prospects and what an earnings miss or stronger-than-expected earnings could do for the company.

First things first, LDK manufactures and sells solar wafers to other solar manufacturers, both in China (the company's home) and across the globe. The company performed well in the past, when the new global conscience had companies and individuals looking for cleaner forms of energy. Unfortunately, this little thing called a recession occurred, pulling many customers away from LDK and hurting the company on the bottom line.

Continue reading LDK Solar set to report quarterly earnings after today's closing bell

LDK Solar set to report quarterly earnings after today's closing bell originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: A barely positive day for month-end (FSLR, LVS, LVLT, MOT)

Closing Bell: A barely positive day for month-end (FSLR, LVS, LVLT, MOT) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) and solar technology company SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ: SPWRA) teamed up today with an agreement for Wells to finance up to $100 million in new solar energy systems. SunPower will create agreements with end power users and handle operational issues, and Wells will finance and retain ownership of the systems, according to a pair of press releases from the two companies.

The Business Insider says that a research note from FBR Capital says this amount will allow SunPower to add about 20-25 MW of capacity, and that pricing for the solar power will be at competitive rates of under $0.15/kwh. The overall effect on earnings is expected to be immaterial. The average estimate for EPS for the 2009 fiscal year is $1.07, but with a wide range of $0.03 to $1.48. EPS last year was $2.28.

Continue reading Wells Fargo to finance up to $100 million in new SunPower plants

Wells Fargo to finance up to $100 million in new SunPower plants originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We're still in the early stages of this trend, but it's pretty clear that the green energy sector is fast becoming a venture capital darling. Today, for example, five deals were announced in one publication alone (three VC, two acquisitions). The three investments account for $47.4 million in VC investment. And only yesterday, Solazyme picked up another $57 million in its Series C round.

In what remains a capital-constrained market, the cash is still flowing. In the private equity space, investments in clean technologies have remained steady from 2007 to 2008, despite broader economic calamity. Such commitment this early in the game may hint at what the next bubble will be.

Continue reading Green VC deals continue to mount, next bubble?

Green VC deals continue to mount, next bubble? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post was written by Minyanville contributor Smita Sadana.

A trade doesn't simply have an initiation and finale - the most important part of a trade is its evolution and constant re-assessment if the original thesis that the trade was initiated with, still holds true.

On that note, let's look at First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR). I started a short position in it on 6/1 when instead of participating in the market advance, it lagged (due to a LA Times story that FSLR's acquisition of "strategic land rights" is under scrutiny). Recall, it came on the heels of a cautious mention in Barron's on May 26th. So, both times, FSLR reacted negatively to negative news and volume picked up on both those instances.

Today, Pacific Crest Securities reiterated its buy rating on FSLR and called the recent weakness a "buying opportunity."

I

Continue reading Evolution of a trade in First Solar

Evolution of a trade in First Solar originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Using photovoltaic arrays made of polysilicon isn't the only, or even the most efficient, way to turn the power of the sun into electricity. A rising form of heliocentric electrical generation is called Concentrated Solar Power (CSP).

The basic concept is simple. Use mirrors to focus heat from the Sun's rays on a small area that contains water or some other liquid. The heat is transferred to the liquid, which then turns a generator and creates electricity. Sort of like cooking a hot dog over one of those backyard solar oven kits but writ very, very large.

Continue reading Concentrated Solar: Hot water, hot opportunities

Concentrated Solar: Hot water, hot opportunities originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 14 May 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

After being down 25% for the year in early March, the NASDAQ is back to even for 2009. It is an extraordinary rally which shows that tech can still dig the market out of a funk. The fact that shares in companies like Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) and Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) are up for the year helps.

For the day:

Dow 7,908.55 +158.74 (2.05%)
S&P 500 832.72 +18.84 (2.31%)
Nasdaq 1,587.00 +58.05 (3.80%)

Continue reading Closing bell: another rally and Nasdaq gets back its 2009 losses (AAPL, INTC, C, WPO, NYT, JASO)

Closing bell: another rally and Nasdaq gets back its 2009 losses (AAPL, INTC, C, WPO, NYT, JASO) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading First Solar (FSLR) reports stronger-than-expected earnings; shares tank

First Solar (FSLR) reports stronger-than-expected earnings; shares tank originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.