Monday, March 24, 2008

Solars: Cowen & Co positive (ENER, ESLR, FSLR, HOKU, SPWR, STP, and TSL.)

The bet being on the subsidies.
From Notable Calls:

Cowen & Co is out with a positive call on Solars saying most of the U.S. solar names look undervalued relative to growth and earnings, in teir view, reflecting four areas of investor concern: uncertainty about the next phase of subsidies in Spain, Germany and the U.S.; and the tension between silicon supply/cost and module ASP/demand. Each of these is likely to be clarified in the next two to six months, underpinning a group rally....
...- Cowen believes a bill to extend tax credits for renewables may be introduced in the Senate on Earth Day, April 22nd. Details must still be worked out. However, they see improved chance of passage.

- Followed By Spain, Then Germany. Zapatero's Socialist Party retained control in the recent election, so support for renewable energy should continue. With new feed-in-tariff rates due to take effect in October, they believe legislation should be settled by July. And, the final bill is likely to be more favorable than the last draft, with a higher FIT (33-35c vs. 31c) and increased cap (perhaps 2GW vs. 1.2GW). While the new German FITs are likely to be in line with expectations...MORE