Chart Review: First Solar and SunPower Confirm Bearish Patterns

It only took a day or two for First Solar (FSLR) and SunPower Corporation (SPWR) to confirm the bearish pattern I pointed out after the recent post-earnings celebration for SPWR. The charts below show rapid follow-through from the big fades that followed huge up days in each stock. Source: FreeStockCharts.com Note well that the bears … 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

Profiting from Physical Assets in a Resource-Constrained World – Rules and Picks (Part 2 of 2)

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha. Click here to read the entire piece.) {snip} This piece is a follow-up post to “Preparing for Profits in a Resource-Constrained World” (Part 1) in which I discussed the implications of Jeremy Grantham’s fundamental thesis of a new world where resources are … Read more

Solar’s Debt-to-Equity Ratios Remain OK but Shorts Ramp as Disappointing Earnings Mount

(This is an excerpt from an EXTENSIVE article I published on Seeking Alpha. Click here to read the entire piece.) Just when you thought solar earnings could not disappoint the market any further…{snip}…LDK provided a pre-announcement that contained the news that the company canceled a debt offering because interest rates are higher than expected. This … Read more

Solar Swings: Sept Soaring to Oct Peaking to Nov Selling

After the stock market’s sharp rally off the March, 2009 lows, most solar stocks stopped appreciating by that summer. For the remainder of the year, they experienced wild swings up and down in price in quick succession. In the summer of 2010, it appeared prospects had finally turned around for the better for solar stocks … Read more

Trading Volume Soars for Solar Stocks But Leaves Prices Behind

Prices soared for solar stocks in September. In October, volume has soared…but prices have swung sharply downward after a very strong start to the month. In most cases, solar stocks have lost all their gains for the month and then some. This trading action is creating buying opportunities, especially where uptrends and/or critical technical support … Read more

J.P. Morgan Expands Its Investment In Solar Energy

Today I learned for the first time that J.P. Morgan (JPM) has a sizeable portfolio of alternative energy investments. Through J.P. Morgan’s Energy Investments group the company has grown a 6 gigawatt portfolio over the last 7 years. This multi-billion dollar portfolio is co-owned with 13 energy firms and is mainly focused on wind energy. … Read more

MEMC Experiences Volume Pressures In Solar, Sustainability Questioned

MEMC Electronic Materials (WFR) manufactures silicon wafer solutions for the semiconductor and solar industries. WFR fell 19% on Friday in response to earnings despite the company’s reassurances that it is on track to meet full-year guidance targets (click here for the transcript from Seeking Alpha): “In the first quarter, revenue was ahead of our internal … Read more

Trading Range on Solar Stocks Looks Ready to Break Down

Nowhere is a destination for the average solar stock these days. For example, TAN, the Claymore/MAC Global Solar Energy ETF, has been stuck in a trading range since May of last year. 16 months ago, TAN was selling at the current price of $8.33/share. This dramatic under-performance (for example, relative to the S&P 500) will … Read more

Solar Stocks Break Down (Yet Again)

Speculative stocks typically get hit the hardest during corrections in the stock market, and solar stocks definitely qualify for a beating. In the past 4 days of selling, TAN, the Claymore/MAC Global Solar Energy Index, is already down 10%. Solar stocks have been big laggards this year as TAN is now back to even on … Read more