Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ) develops, manufactures and markets solar module products for the conversion of sunlight into electrical energy. Offerings include solar panels for residential and industrial use, plus customized modules that customers incorporate into their own products. The modules power such special-purpose devices as bus stop lighting systems and vehicle battery chargers. Canadian Solar is incorporated in Ontario, but conducts all of its manufacturing operations through six subsidiaries in China. The firm is actively involved in government projects to bring solar power to rural Chinese communities. Clients are distributors, systems integrators and manufacturers in North America, Asia and Europe.

The company pleased investors last week, when it reported Q1 EPS of 61 cents and revenues of $171.2 million. Analysts had been looking for 31 cents and $151.9 million. The CEO cited robust market demand, strong pricing and effective management of foreign exchange exposure for the successful quarter. Management also guided Q2 revenues to $185-$190 million, versus consensus of $167.62 million.

Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ) is recently up $1.02 to $45.92 in pre-open trading as shares rally on alternate energy

CSIQ designs, manufactures and sells solar cell and module products that convert sunlight to electricity.

CSIQ overall option implied volatility of 77 is below its 26-week average of 93 according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price risk.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Anadigics, Crystal River Capital and Canadian Solar were today's noteworthy downgrades:

• Oppenheimer downgraded shares of Anadigics (NASDAQ: ANAD) to Perform from Outperform on valuation following the recent run-up.
  
• Wachovia downgraded Crystal River Capital (NYSE: CRZ) to Market Perform from Outperform citing the uncertain near-term strategic outlook.
  
• Broadpoint downgraded shares of Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ) to Buy from Strong Buy on valuation following yesterday's rally but raised their target to $45 from $29.

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

• UBS cut Sunstone Hotel Investors (NYSE: SHO) to Neutral from Buy.
  
• KeyBanc downgraded Wabtec (NYSE: WAB) to Hold from Buy.
  
• Goldman downgraded Fiserv (NASDAQ: FISV) to Neutral from Buy.
  
• Suntrust downgraded Spectrum Brands (NYSE: SPC) to Neutral from Buy.

VISICU, Inc. (NASDAQ: EICU): Philips Electronics is buying the company. The stock moved up to $11.76 from a 52-week low of $6.57.

Canadian Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ): Thanks to a big rally in renewable energy stocks, shares are up to $27.15 from a 52-week low of $6.50.

EMCORE Corporation (NASDAQ: EMKR): This company is buying a piece of Intel Coporation (NASDAQ: INTC)'s telecom assets. It traded up to $14.11 from 52-week low of $3.84.

Hess Corp. (NYSE: HES): The market is still bullish on oil prices and Hess moved to $90.57 from 52-week low of $45.96.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

Several stocks made new 52-week highs today on large volume.

Adams Respiratory Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARXT): Personal care products maker Reckitt Benckiser made a buy-out offer. Shares moved up to $59.30 against a 52-week low of $27.25.

MGI Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: MOGN): Japanese pharmaceutical maker Eisai will buy the company. Shares rose to $40.23 compared to 52-week low of $16.98.

Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: MLNM): This company's late stage cancer drug shows promise. The company hit $16.62, well up from 52-week low of $9.49.

Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ): A new contract for peer LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (NYSE: LDK) pulled the entire sector higher. Canadian Solar hit $24.83 against a 52-week low of $6.50.

DynCorp International Inc. (NYSE: DCP): A new Army contract boosted shares to $25.97, compared with a 52-week low of $13.51.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

John McNay, portfolio manager of Essex Investment Management, provided some good investment ideas on the evolving high-tech power business in this weekend's Barron's Magazine (subscription required). A few of these we blogged about in the past, but they're worth noting again.

• Sunpower Corporation (NASDAQ: SPWR), the Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE: CY) spin off, makes semiconductors for solar cells and solar panels
• MEMC Electronic Materials Inc (NYSE: WFR) makes the polysilicon that is needed to manufacture the solar cells and panels based on semiconductor technology
• Suntech Power Holdings (NYSE: STP), First Solar Inc (NASDAQ: FSLR), Canadian Solar Inc (NASDAQ: CSIQ) and Trina Solar (NYSE: TSL) were other stocks mentioned.

Sunpower and MEMC we have blogged about and know the companies reasonably well. The others you have to do your homework on, as these are new ideas to this Fly.

TJ Rodgers, Cypress Semiconductor's CEO, referred to Sunpower as Intel during the 1970s. That is a big statement. This is an important industry that will get a lot of investors' attention during the next five years. Solar energy utilizing semiconductor technology is an investment theme that is still in its very early stages.