Plenty Of Analyst Chatter On Solar Stocks, Most Of It Negative (TSL, LDK, HSOL, CSIQ, JASO, WFR)

Tickerspy’s Solar Index

SOLAR INVESTING IDEAS

• Popular long ideas: FSLR, STP, LDK
• Popular short ideas: FSLR, JASO, STP
• Top dividend plays: None
• Pro favorites: WFR, EMKR, FSLR

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SOLAR COVERAGE

Companies focused on Solar energy generation and technology

• Small Solar Companies May Experience Hard Landing (SOLR, AMAT, FSLR, SPWRA, JKS, YGE)
• Goldman: First Solar A Better Bet Than SunPower (FSLR, SPWRA, JKS, SOL, YGE, TSL)
• Expect Lower Guidance From First Solar; JA Solar Makes A Deal (FSLR, JASO, STP, TSL, YGE)

SOLAR CHART

SOLAR METRICS

Avg. Market Cap:	$544.1M
Avg. P/E Ratio:	10.9
Avg. Div Yield:	0.0%

Shares of Trina Solar (TSL) are up 1% after HSBC Securities upgraded the stock to “overweight” from “underweight” while boosting its price target to $30 from $22, implying nearly 50% upside from the where the shares currently trade. The upgrade of Trina Solar was one of the more positive headlines for solar stocks as several other solar names were hit by analyst downgrades, though that doesn’t seem to be weighing on the Solar Stocks Index, which is higher by 1.4%.

Shares of LDK Solar Company (LDK) are lower by 1% after HSBC pared its price target on the stock to $5.60 from $9.80. HSBC says current solar market trends favor low-cost and low-debt names and that while falling prices may help support demand, it will not be enough to absorb excess supply.

Shares of Hanwha SolarOne (HSOL) are plunging 5% after Jefferies downgraded the stock to “hold” from “buy” while trimming its price target to $6 from $8, citing a weakening pricing environment. Canadian Solar (CSIQ) is off 2% after Jefferies downgraded the solar name to “hold” from “buy” while reducing its price target on the stock to $11 from $14.

JA Solar Holdings (JASO) is lower by 6% after also being moved to “hold” from “buy” by Jefferies and seeing its price target reduced to $5 from $7. MEMC Electronic Materials (WFR) is fractionally lower after Jefferies lowered its rating on that stock to “underperform” from “hold” while slashing its price target to $7 from $10, implying the stock still has some downside left in it.

Investors can track the Solar Stocks Index for performance trends and a suite of other metrics at tickerspy.com.

Tags: CSIQ, HSOL, JASO, LDK, TSL, WFR