GT Advanced Systems A Likely Loser in Looming Solar Trade War

This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on December 15, 2011. Click here to read the entire piece.) On December 2nd, the U.S. and China got another step closer to a trade war over solar energy. In “China Rejects U.S. Panel Ruling That Solar Imports Harm Industry“, Bloomberg reported … Read more

Cabot Microelectronics Squeezes Shorts to Pay Shareholders

This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on December 14, 2011. Click here to read the entire piece.) In a day when debt has become a four-letter word and leverage has become a noose, it may seem odd that Cabot Microelectronics Corporation (CCMP), a supplier of chemical mechanical planarization … Read more

From Efficiency and Job Destruction to Innovation and Job Creation at Hertz

This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on December 13, 2011. Click here to read the entire piece.) In a healthy economy, job creation often accompanies job destruction. Resources freed in one economic activity get redirected to new sources of economic growth. This can happen when consumers take the … Read more

Using Debt-to-Equity Ratios to Identify Potential Survivors of the Solar Downturn

This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on November 28, 2011. Click here to read the entire piece.) In “5 stocks for the solar surge“, Jim Jubiak at MSN Money lays out some interesting groundrules for taking advantage of the downturn in solar to buy companies on the cheap. … Read more

Molycorp Loses Big Despite Reporting Strong Earnings

This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on November 13, 2011. Click here to read the entire piece.) On Thursday evening, November 10, 2011, rare earth miner and producer Molycorp (MCP) reported strong earnings. There were no surprises given the strong guidance CEO Mark Smith delivered the previous week. … Read more

Molycorp Delivers Strong Guidance Ahead of Earnings This Week

This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on October 30, 2011. Click here to read the entire piece.) Mark Smith, CEO of rare earth miner and producer Molycorp (MCP), appeared on CNBC again to discuss his company’s business and conditions in the industry. Smith provided an interesting “sneak peak” … Read more

Turnaround Potential Materializing Again for Lender Processing Services

This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on October 30, 2011. Click here to read the entire piece.) {snip} Today, I am going to try again to make the case that LPS is potentially turning around. Here are the main points and observations: Short interest is down 34% from … Read more

CEO Hastings Wins Big Even As NFLX Continues Erasing Its Multi-Year Rally

This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha. Click here to read the entire piece.) December 10, 2010 Netflix (NFLX) closed at $194.63. CEO Reed Hastings scolds famous investor Whitley Tilson for shorting Netflix stock in “Netflix CEO Reed Hastings Responds to Whitney Tilson: Cover Your Short Position. Now.“: {snip} … Read more

Solar Warnings Season Begins

This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha. Click here to read the entire piece.) Solar stocks have been in freefall since last peaking in the Spring. There was some lingering hope that demand would pick up in the fourth quarter as companies rushed to take advantage of fading subsidies, … Read more