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.

Continue reading SunPower's Outlook Brightens as Concerns on Nuclear Rise

SunPower's Outlook Brightens as Concerns on Nuclear Rise originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: The Comeback Day (URA, GE, EWJ, AAPL, FSLR, NFLX)

Closing Bell: The Comeback Day (URA, GE, EWJ, AAPL, FSLR, NFLX) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Utility and nuclear power generator Entergy Corporation (ETR), first discussed here on May 12, 2009, at a price of $74.31, is displaying a stock pattern that undoubtedly is frustrating to some investors.

The stock slid in bear hug-fashion from $80 to about $68, then rose to $75 before retreating back to about $70. The minor recovery could be interpreted as short covering in a long-term bearish pattern, or, if ETR holds support near the aforementioned $68, which is a short-term double-bottom, a bullish pattern. The view from here argues it's the latter, hence the trade remains in play.

Continue reading Entergy Is Trying Investors' Patience

Entergy Is Trying Investors' Patience originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Russia Gains Foothold in U.S. Uranium Production

Russia Gains Foothold in U.S. Uranium Production originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Entergy: Well-Positioned for Power-Hungry U.S.

Entergy: Well-Positioned for Power-Hungry U.S. originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 07 May 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading U.S. Takes First Step in Nuclear Power's New Era

U.S. Takes First Step in Nuclear Power's New Era originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Obama Administration to Triple Loan Guarantees for Nuclear Plant Construction

Obama Administration to Triple Loan Guarantees for Nuclear Plant Construction originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Nuclear power is on the comeback trail

Nuclear power is on the comeback trail originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Look for U.S. to play catch-up regarding nuclear power in the decade ahead

Look for U.S. to play catch-up regarding nuclear power in the decade ahead originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading U.S. electricity, brought to you from ... the Soviet Union

U.S. electricity, brought to you from ... the Soviet Union originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Entergy will be ready for the next power surge

Entergy will be ready for the next power surge originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The market giveth and the market taketh away -- all in the same day. I was looking at how Shaw Group (NYSE: SGR) performed on Thursday. The company, an engineering firm that provides services relating to the energy and environmental industry for both the government and the private sector, was up 5.6% at the close of trading yesterday, powered by superb volume. But, in the after-hours session, it went down nearly 6.4%.

And, yes, the sell-off was on the back of an earnings report. For the third quarter, Shaw Group made 57 cents per share, excluding its acquisition of Westinghouse. The company made 67 cents per share in last year's similar quarter, also adjusted for the acquisition. Net sales were essentially flat.

Continue reading Shaw Group reports flat sales in Q3, misses estimates

Shaw Group reports flat sales in Q3, misses estimates originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

	Nuclear power: Potential growth engine for U.S. economy
	Six companies bucking the dividend cuts trend
	McDonald's juggernaut continues as consumers trade down
	Buffett on CNBC: Economy fell off a cliff but will recover

DailyFinance today: Nuclear power a potential growth engine, companies bucking the dividend trend, Buffett on the economy originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a series in which TheStockAdvisors.com asked financial experts to name their top stock pick if McCain or if Obama wins the election.

"John McCain has said that nuclear power must be part of a plan to address climate change and reduce our dependence on foreign oil; to benefit from this plan, buy Shaw Group (NYSE: SGR), which constructs and maintains nuclear power plants," says Paul Tracy in his Street Authority Market Advisor.

"Today, nearly half of U.S. electricity is created via conventional coal-fired plants. This made sense for us for decades -- coal is so cheap and plentiful here that the United States is often referred to as the Saudi Arabia of coal.

"However, in the past few years, the tide of public sentiment has shifted against the energy source. Primarily this is due to the emissions created by burning coal for electricity.

"In addition to the well known release of carbon dioxide, coal emissions also contain traces of mercury. On top of that, the rise of China and other emerging markets has led to higher costs for coal.

"So with a public that is increasingly interested in alternative sources of electricity and a president who is committed to increasing nuclear power usage, the companies that build and maintain nuclear plants sit in the perfect position to benefit.

"In particular, I think Louisiana-based Shaw Group is a stock to watch. SGR's largest end market is the construction and maintenance of power plants, including both plants fired by fossil fuels and nuclear facilities.

"The company also owns a 20% stake in Westinghouse Electric, one of the world's leading designers and builders of nuclear power plants.

Continue reading McCain stock: Shaw Group (SGR) goes nuclear

McCain stock: Shaw Group (SGR) goes nuclear originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a series in which TheStockAdvisors.com asked financial experts to name their top stock pick if McCain or if Obama wins the election.

"If McCain is elected, we would suggest USEC (NYSE: USU); after slumbering for over 20 years, nuclear power is quickly emerging from hibernation and will be satisfying a much larger percentage of the nation's energy-hungry appetite during McCain administration," says value investor Nathan Slaughter, editor of Half-Priced Stocks.

"Currently, there are 104 nuclear plants in operation nationwide, which combined, account for 20% of the country's electricity. But both of those totals are set to rise markedly. Current forecasts suggest nuclear facilities could double their share and ultimately account for 40% of power in the U.S.

"There are several factors underpinning this resurgence in nuclear energy, not the least of which is $100 per barrel oil and elevated prices for natural gas and coal.

"Believe it or not, one kilogram of uranium-235 has the stored energy equivalent of 1,500 tons of coal. And while up-front construction expenses can be high, ongoing operating costs for nuclear reactors are running just $15-20 per megawatt hour, far cheaper than traditional plants.

"John McCain is an outspoken champion for the nuclear power movement, outlining ambitious plans to commit $315 billion towards the construction of 45 new reactors over the next two decades.

"Beyond that, he has a clear goal of achieving energy independence by building '100 new plants to power the homes and factories and cities of America.'

"All of this spells plenty of opportunity for USEC, owner of the nation's only uranium enrichment facility. The company is in the business of supplying fuel for commercial reactors around the world -- and competition is sparse.

"The firm also benefits from a longstanding nuclear non-proliferation treaty with Russia. Specifically, USEC participates in the salvaging of old Soviet nuclear warheads under the 'Megatons to Megawatts' program.

"The company has carved out a dominant market share and now supplies about half of the nation's enriched uranium (most of the rest comes from Russia).

Continue reading McCain stock: Mining gains with uranium miner USEC (USU)

McCain stock: Mining gains with uranium miner USEC (USU) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a series in which TheStockAdvisors.com asked financial experts to name their top stock pick if McCain or if Obama wins the election.

"McCain has been a strong supporter of nuclear power and his energy plan calls for building 45 new nuclear power plants in the U.S. by 2030; our pick for a McCain victory is uranium miner Paladin Resources (Toronto: PDN)," says Elliott Gue in The Energy Strategist.

"McCain's plan would represent by far the most significant build-out of nuclear plants in more than three decades. He has an ultimate goal of building 100 new U.S. reactors. America's 104 existing plants account for about 20% of electricity generation.

"The U.S. is not the only country in the world considering a major expansion in nuclear power. Russia, India and China have already committed to a major expansion of their nuclear energy capacity. And nuclear is also enjoying a renaissance in other developed markets such as the U.K. and Italy.

"The main fuel for nuclear plants is uranium. Last year, mined uranium supplies only covered about 64% of global uranium demand; to make up the difference, utilities tapped secondary sources such as stockpiles and reprocessed nuclear warheads.

"But, secondary supplies are expected to decline sharply in coming years and the Megatons to Megawatts program for reprocessing Russian nuclear weapons into power plant fuel ends in 2013. Therefore, mined supply will have to ramp up to meet rapidly growing demand.

Continue reading McCain stock: Nuclear plant build-out heats up Paladin Resources (PDN)

McCain stock: Nuclear plant build-out heats up Paladin Resources (PDN) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"The positive side to any correction is that it brings valuations down to earth for stocks you may have thought were out of your reach," says Genia Turanova.

The contributing editor to Stephen Leeb's The Complete Investor explains, the "Along with the energy sell-off, unregulated utilities have declined even more-to bargain levels." Here's a look at Florida-based FPL Energy (NYSE: FPL).

"FPL is one of our favorite alternative energy holdings. And with the recent selloff, its yield once again qualify the stock as a legitimate full-fledged income plays.

"And as its quarterly results indicate, the unregulated utility is relatively immune to the nation's slowdown, making them among the surest growers in the marketplace today.

"The skies over the Sunshine State have been quite dark because of the housing sector's woes and the subsequent credit crunch. As a result, the Florida-based company's adjusted earnings per share increased 'only' 8% on a year-over-year basis.

Continue reading FPL Energy (FPL): Powered by wind and nuclear

FPL Energy (FPL): Powered by wind and nuclear originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The United States is a nation whose electric power generation system and grid is becoming increasing inadequate, even as the nation grapples with another energy problem -- the $4 per gallon gasoline era.

Moreover, an economic slowdown and a relatively mild summer have to-date reduced the typical electric load electric power generation plants would face, but that respite will end when the U.S. economy starts to expand at a healthy rate again. And when it does, electric power demand will increase.

What's one model the United States could follow to generate more electricity while the same time reducing coal-based pollution and climate change? France.

That's right: France. Nuclear power is experiencing a mild comeback in the United States, with 34 new reactor applications on file at the U.S.'s Nuclear Regulatory Agency. In France, it never left. Further, had the United States followed the French model, the U.S. would be vastly more energy self-sufficient today.

France: liberty, fraternity, equality, fission

Nuclear power never went out of style in France, and for this reason France is decades ahead of the United States -- and much of the world, for that matter -- regarding energy self-sufficiency, The New York Times reported. An astounding 77% of France's electricity comes from its 58 nuclear power plants, and it is a net-exporter of electricity to Europe. The United States has 104 nuclear power plants, which account for only 19.4% of its generated electricity, according to U.S. Department of Energy data, The Times reported.

Continue reading In France, nuclear power has never gone out of style

In France, nuclear power has never gone out of style originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 23 Aug 2008 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading China, India see nuclear energy as essential to electricity plan

China, India see nuclear energy as essential to electricity plan originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In light of oil's rise to triple-digit prices, the United States' inability to pass an energy policy aimed at increased efficiency, renewable energy, and energy independence, represents an opportunity squandered -- on two fronts: transportation and power generation.

True, oil has retreated from the $135 range to the $125-128 range, but the nation now faces record-high gasoline/diesel prices, along with high prices for heating oil, natural gas, and coal. As a result, the broad-based disposable income -- so essential for U.S. economic growth -- has been squeezed, with many economists now arguing adequate GDP growth is not possible, if energy prices remain at current levels.

At minimum, the U.S. faces a period of economic and social adjustment -- corporate, public, personal -- as it copes with the brave new world of $4 gasoline ... and that's if gasoline remains in the $4 per gallon range. A variety of scenarios could quickly send gasoline over $5 per gallon and higher in 2009.

Continue reading U.S. energy policy: An opportunity squandered, a challenge ahead

U.S. energy policy: An opportunity squandered, a challenge ahead originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 07 Jun 2008 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.