Green Stocks for Earth Day Tomorrow

It was twenty years ago, on April 22, 1970, when U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson founded Earth Day, for environmental awareness and appreciation of the Earth. Earth Day, which is celebrated in over 175 countries every year, has inspired many countries to become environmentally conscious and to develop and produce alternative sources of energy, other than the polluting oil and coal fuels.

Many of the alternative energy stocks have suffered in price during the last year, primarily due to reduced subsidies, higher costs, and increased competition. However, this may have created a buying opportunity, especially for investors who are look for green stocks for the long term.

There are numerous solar energy stocks to pick from, but very few large solar companies. The one with the greatest market cap and considered a leader in its field is First Solar (FSLR), which differentiates itself from other solar companies in that it is the major producer of cadmium telluride solar panels, as opposed to the more common silicon panels. The company, which is the largest manufacturer of thin-film cells in the world, has a market capitalization of $11.4 billion.

Quarter: First Solar will announce its latest quarter earnings on April 28. However, for the previous quarter, the fourth-quarter profit was up 6.7%, amounting to $7.53 per share, as revenue grew 47.9%. The company holds a substantial $784 million of cash and $176 million of debt.

Stock: It has drop 4.1% in the past year, grossly underperforming the S&P 500 which was up over 43%. It trades at a forward price-to-projected-earnings ratio of 18.2, a price-to-sales ratio of 5.5 and a very favorable price-earnings-growth ratio of 0.89.

Consensus: Of the analysts covering the stock, 21, or 47%, advise purchasing its shares with either a Strong Buy or a Buy recommendations, 17 recommend holding the shares, and six give it a Sell or Underperform rating. The analysts' mean price target for the stock is 135.86.

Some of the top windmill companies are based in Europe, and unfortunately are available for trading on the Pink Sheets. However, American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC), a $1.35 billion market cap company, markets electrical systems used in wind turbines, electronic power products that regulate wind farm voltage, proprietary wind energy system designs to wind farm manufacturers, and consulting services to the wind farm industry. The company just received another follow-on order for 30 sets of wind turbine power electronic components from the world’s largest shipbuilder, Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.

Quarter: Record revenues were reported for the latest quarter ending December 31, jumping 95.1%. The company also reported $0.11 per diluted share for the quarter, versus a loss for the same quarter last year.

Stock: The stock has been on a tear this year, rising 42.8%, slightly outperforming the S&P 500. It carries a 25.7 forward PE ratio and a PEG ratio which unfortunately is a bit on the high side at 2.22.

Consensus: Deutche Bank recently upgraded the stock to a Buy, believing that the shares could double. In the last year, the stock has received Buy upgrades from Jefferies, Needham, Kaufman Bros., and Piper Jaffray.

The leading geothermal company is Ormat Technologies Inc. (ORA). In addition to generating electricity from their own geothermal wells, they also make and market equipment for geothermal and recovered energy-based electricity generation. Ormat ios currently subject to a class action lawsuit relating to the reporting of earnings.

Quarter: The company will announce its first quarter 2010 earnings on Wednesday, May 5, 2010. Previous quarter's earnings were a 168% increase on a slight drop in revenues.

Stock: The stock was down about 2% for the last twelve months. It sports a forward PE of 21.9, and a PEG ratio of 2.27.

Consensus: Ormat was just upgraded by Avondale from Market Perform to Market Outperform. Five out of 16 analysts believe that it is a Buy or a Strong Buy, ten think it is a Hold, and one ranks it an Underperform.

If you like green stocks, you can find several free downloadable Excel databases of various green stocks at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Wind Power Stocks are Spinning

Do you know when the first use of a windmill was recorded? It was first utilized in the 1st Century AD. Can you guess what it was used for? It was used to power an organ.

Some facts about wind power:
1. Wind power generation went up over 300% between 2000 and 2006.
2. It provides 20% of electricity in Denmark.
3. It provides 9% of electricity in Spain.
4. It provides 7% of electricity in Germany.

The following stocks are a list of the pure plays and semi-pure plays in the wind energy field. Many utilities and conglomerates are involved in wind energy. However, companies that have a very small portion of their business in wind were excluded in this report, such as General Electric (GE), FPL Group Inc. (FPL), Hawaiian Electric (HE), and TXU Corp. (TXU).

American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) has an AMSC Power Systems division which markets electrical systems used in wind turbines, electronic power products that regulate wind farm voltage, proprietary wind energy system designs to wind farm manufacturers, and consulting services to the wind farm industry.

Ameron (AMN) is a Pasadena, California based company that makes and markets engineered products primarily in water pipeline systems but they also make large-diameter wind towers.

Brookfield Asset Management (BAM) is a Canadian based asset management holding company, which has a division that develops wind power throughout Canada, along with the operation of hydroelectric power facilities, interconnections, and transmission facilities throughout North America.

Broadwind Energy, Inc. (BWEN) is a Naperville, Illinois company, which manufactures wind energy products including steel fabricated towers, internal tower components, and other large fabricated components.

Clipper Windpower (CRPWF.PK) is the British manufacturer and marketer of wind turbines, and develops wind power electrical generating projects in North and South America and Europe. Queen Elizabeth II of England recently purchased the world’s largest wind turbine from the company, which is 492 feet high and will produce 7.5 megawatts a year.

Energias de Portugal (EDPFY.PK) is a Portugal based company, which is one of Europe's largest electricity providers and the fourth largest wind power producer in the world. One of its newest divisions is Horizon Wind Energy.

Gamesa Corp. (GCTAF.PK) is based in Spain, with 18% of the world's share of the wind turbine market.

Iberdrola (IBDRY.PK) bought Scottish Power, so it is the world's largest provider of wind power, and the second largest electric utility in Spain.

Kaydon (KDN) is an Ann Arbor, Michigan based company which makes parts such as custom bearings for windmills. In 2008, they built a state-of-the- art facility in Monterrey, Mexico devoted to servicing the wind energy industry.

MasTec (MTZ) is a Coral Gables, Florida based specialty contractor which builds, installs, and maintains utility and communications infrastructures and builds wind farms.

Nordex (NRDXF.PK) is a German based wind turbine company.

Otter Tail Corp. (OTTR) is a Fergus Falls, Minnesota based electric utility, founded in 1907, which also manufacturers and markets wind towers. They distribute electricity in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Owens Corning (OC) produces glass fiber reinforced composite materials used in wind energy, transportation, electronics, and the marine industry. Their WindStrand™ product for windmills is longer, lighter, and less costly than other blades, according to the company.

Thomas & Betts (TNB) is a Memphis, Tennessee based electrical component manufacturer, which provides structural solutions for wind generation.

Trinity Industries Inc. (TRN) is a Dallas, Texas based company which has an energy equipment division which manufactures structural wind towers.

Vestas Wind Systems (VWSYF.PK) is a Denmark based company, which is the world's largest manufacturer of wind turbines.

Woodward Governor (WGOV) is a Fort Collins, Colorado based manufacturer of electrical power system equipment, which provides wind turbines and switchgear equipment.

Zoltek Companies (ZOLT) is a St. Louis, Missouri based supplier of carbon fiber for windmill blades to major wind energy companies, including DeWind and Vestas.

If you like green stocks, there are several lists of alternative energy stocks available at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author owns OTTR.

By Stockerblog.com