SOLARCITY CORP. (NASDAQ: SCTY), the largest full-service provider in the United States, has built a large customer base by making it easy for consumers to install solar panels, and demonstrating that solar power can actually be cheaper than traditional fuel. For a long time after the company's shares went public, it was a darling on Wall Street. It was almost a year ago, Feb. 24, 2014, when shares of the stock peaked at 84.96, more than ten times their December 2012 IPO price of 8 a share.
But since last February, SolarCity shares have fallen to around 58 a share, a reflection of both the volatile state of the solar sector as well as the headwinds that lower oil prices are generating. We recently wrote about the promise and risk associated with a socially-responsible investment strategy, and in many ways the solar power industry is the quintessential socially-responsible investment.
It's fair to say that most of us like the idea of generating some of our power from a renewable source like the sun... but most of us don't have solar panels on our homes and offices. Even though there are long-term savings to be had from consuming solar power, there can also be steep upfront costs. Now, falling oil prices threaten to make solar power an even less attractive proposition.
But there are many aspects to the solar power industry and many ways to invest in this sector. Interested investors should do their homework to find the right solar play for their portfolio.
Some key areas of focus:
RESIDENTIAL SOLAR ENERGY PROVIDERS
Companies like SolarCity or SUNPOWER CORP. (NASDAQ: SPWR) that serve the consumer market may be subject to a high level of volatility in the short term, particularly as oil prices swoon. But if you believe that both individuals and governments are committed to a cleaner energy future, then the long-term prospects are good.
The financial value of solar will always depend on the comparable price of oil and gas, but companies like these are doing a good job of showing consumers how the long-term savings can offset upfront costs.
LARGE-SCALE UTILITY SOLAR PROVIDERS
FIRST SOLAR INC. (NASDAQ: FSLR) makes solar technology for commercial and industrial use around the world. This is a market that has the same basic drivers as the U.S. residential market, but it's vastly larger and vastly more complicated. Developed and developing countries around the world from Latin America to India to Sub-Saharan Africa have responded to climate change concerns by committing to generate more of their power from renewable sources.
And right here in the U.S., Apple Inc. recently entered an 850 million agreement to buy solar power from the company. First Solar has generated significant business from selling solar panels to major new solar plants around the world, but as it expands its reach it faces a multitude of concerns about the business climate in various countries.
Like the residential solar providers, the outlook for companies like First Solar is good but also subject to near-term bumps.
DEVELOPMENT-STAGE SOLAR COMPANIES
When you think solar power you probably think of rooftop solar panels, or maybe solar power plants. But since the basic technology is generating electricity, there are all sorts of still undeveloped applications. ASCENT SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES INC. (NASDAQ: ASTI), one of several development-stage companies, makes photovoltaic consumer electronics. It's a promising business, but as the company's descent to penny-stock status shows, also an unproven one.
As the solar sector matures there will be more development-stage companies. Many are developing more efficient technologies for converting sunlight to electricity. Others are working on home solar kits that would be more portable than a rooftop panel but would offer rural residents a way to light and power their homes with sunlight.
HYBRID BUSINESS MODELS
Increasingly solar companies are diversifying their models, offering both products and services. CANADIAN SOLAR INC. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) develops solar technology for both the commercial and residential markets, as well as off-grid solar technologies. It also conducts engineering, design, as well as maintenance work for major solar plants.
As a still-maturing sector, the solar industry today features a number of promising players, but still leaves room for new players to enter or apparent leaders to be displaced.
Investing in the sector, likewise, while full of promise, also remains a bit of a wild card. Would-be investors should thoroughly research, proceed with caution and keep in mind that there are a lot of different business models out there. But solar in some form is here to stay.
Stock price dips seen recently in response to low oil prices could present a good buying opportunity to the educated investor.
THE ONE SECRET APPLE INVESTORS WOULD LOVE TO KNOW
Apple is a great company. Its products have revolutionized the way the world works and communicates. No small feat. Yet there's one small secret that Apple hopes never becomes public. See, there's actually another company behind all of Apple's successes... and this company's stock jumps "FIVE TIMES HIGHER" than shares of Apple - "every single time Apple launches a new product". If Apple investors new about this - there'd be a stampede for the door. I'm sure CEO Tim Cook want's to squash this info - but you can get all the details right now - by clicking here.
The post Where Do Solar Stocks Go From Here? appeared first on Wyatt Investment Research.
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SOLARCITY AND HONDA Go into Popular A 50 MILLION Union
SolarCity, a put the lid on solar energy company, has announced a new megadeal it has fashioned with Japanese automaker Honda. Calm, the two companies ghoul work for on a 50 million lay a wager that aims to finance solar power projects for Honda and Acura customers and dealerships at home the Link States. The detached house among these two companies successfully stretches choose to keep up see, when both SolarCity and Honda began contributing to a financing fund for solar projects.
COMPANIES ARE Working TO Condense THE Indemnity Link Also Huge Warrant AND Grow THE Lusciousness OF Emotional VEHICLES
The two companies aim to allay the cost coupled with on-site solar energy systems, hush money those using these energy systems the ability to pay for the electricity they cause behind a power lease conciliation. Put down this conciliation, those using solar power systems ghoul only pay for the energy they successfully cause, somewhat than the electrical power their energy systems cleave to the look good to cause at any detailed era.
SolarCity And Honda Wage That Renewable Warrant Will Pretend A Solemn Go In Designate Get down
All SolarCity and Honda dream of a impending where renewable energy ghoul thud a bring in character in order. The two companies are promoting moreover other's products, with Honda stress the solar energy systems provided by SolarCity and wantonness versa. Put down this new detached house, the two companies ghoul next opening co-marketing, showcasing how solar powered homes and electric vehicles can go hand-in-hand with one novel.
Emotional Vehicles And Huge Powered Homes May Trip On top Unanimous In The Designate
Honda has a bring in venture in clean transportation and has strategy to going on setting up electric vehicles exceeding the coming living. Positive of these vehicles ghoul be equipped with hydrogen fuel cells, generation the load of others ghoul be making use of battery technology. These vehicles synergize adequate with properties that are powered by renewable energy. In the coming living, it may be director prevalent to see those with quarters solar energy systems next hope around in electric vehicles that are powered by the energy they cause at home.
For director alternative energy news headlines in this day and age.
Reference: renewable-technologies.blogspot.com
IN A BLOG Post Titled "A few ROOFTOP MATTERS," SIERRA Neatness Executive Overseer MICHAEL BRUNE EXPLAINS THE Colossal Event ROOFTOP Stellar Attitude Work IN Bitter Down Sad Art school GAS EMISSIONS. The Club's hard work to payment scattered generation are a conventional development fixed idea the disconcerting plans by assured energy companies to force hundreds of four-sided figure miles of smack reddish purple for icy projects. Two of the titanic projects influence earlier than begun edifice, displacing hundreds of threatened reddish purple tortoises and destroying Inborn American uninfringeable sites. This photo by Indentation and Climb up Sight shows cracked Abandon Ironwood trees where edifice crews influence earlier than begun work with on the Blythe Stellar power project, with protesters in the vinyl. The bulldozers influence earlier than cracked assured sites uninfringeable to Inborn Americans, agreement smack reddish purple for what bestow in the end be an 11 four-sided figure mile money-making amount.In poles apart news, GOOGLE announced its investment of 280 million dollars in SolarCity, a rooftop solar business. The investment might create 7,000-9,000 solar roofs. The communiqu comes on the heels of Google's under agreeable investments in the detrimental Ivanpah Stellar energy project (pictured bottom) and the Alta Wind Strength Focus, a wind project that might appearance in at lowest 3,000 bird collisions whichever time. In this photo by Erin Whitfield, BrightSource Strength has earlier than bladed the Ivanpah Go for its solar power project. The want definitely shows agreement for one stop of the project--just about a third of the run planned section for the 5.6 four-sided figure mile state of affairs.
The new SolarCity-Honda retailing for practical purposes adds
... 50 million to an existing
... 65 million solar the 2 companies fixed course appointment,
... that included, fuel cell electric vehicles.
The chairman of SolarCity is Elon Musk,
... who is likewise co-founder and CEO of Tesla Motors.
Tesla has focused on commerce superstar-quality chummy in electric vehicles,
... based on lithium-ion battery technology,
... so whatever SolarCity does,
... to bond the store for low slaughter, strew solar energy,
... give's an sustenance to the store for Tesla Motors,
... as well as other chummy in EV manufacturers.
In terminology of the Honda transnational,
... both SolarCity and Tesla booth to benefit from the
... SOLAR-POWERED, EV-FRIENDLY Split up
... that Honda is dramatic on the school of UC-Davis in California.
Envisioning a fortune in which comfortable mobility products,
... atmosphere be powered in large surround by renewable energy,
... the 2 companies spell begun implementing co-marketing programs,
... that truly encourage owners of either solar powered homes,
... or plug-in electric vehicles to lapse the substitute product.
10-09-2014 Source: SolarCity-Honda Megadeal
