August 27, 2009 ndash; LDK Solar (NYSE:LDK) announced an agreement with Yancheng City of Jiangsu Province for the development of a number of PV projects (ground-mount, roof and BIPV) totaling up to 500MW over the next five years. And Canadian Solar (Nasdaq:CSIQ) said it has signed a LOI with the Administration Committee of Baotou National Rare Earth Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, for rights to design, install, operate and maintain a 500MW solar facilitynbsp; in Baotou. The three-phase project is expected to start in September 2009 and run through December 2011 (phase 1: 100MW; phase 2 and 3: 200MW). These announcements mark an important trend in the solar markets and one that we have been commentating on a lot lately ndash; the further move by midstream solar firms to vertically integrate downstream and even moving into operations of solar facilities. Cowenrsquo;s Raj Seth this morning commented on the ...

April 30, 2009 ndash; Analyst Comments ndash; Global Huntersrsquo;s Justin Cable weighed in on Akeenarsquo;s (Nasdaq:AKNS) Q1 results maintaining a NEUTRAL rating on the stock. Akeenarsquo;s Results Akeena (Nasdaq:AKNS) reported a 37% Y/Y decline in Q1 revenue to $7.6 million, gross margins of 29.7% and a net loss of $5.1 million, or $0.17 per share. Commercial sales were $915 thousand and residential sales were $6.7 million. The company installed about 945kW for the quarter compared to 1,587kW in the same quarter last year. Cash and equivalents at March 31, 2009 were $2.9 million, and the companyrsquo;s backlog was about $4.8 million. Management didnrsquo;t provide guidance, but noted that the quarterly EBITDA breakeven is about $15 million. Cablersquo;s Takeaways middot;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Revenues missed estimates of $9.5 million and First Call consensus of $9.2 million middot;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; The new Andalay panels are driving higher gross margins middot;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Cut FY2009 estimates in both revenues and EPS. middot;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Maintain Neutral.nbsp; ...

December 16, 2008 ndash; Analyst Comments ndash; Global Hunterrsquo;s Justin Cable weighed in today on Akeena Solar (Nasdaq:AKNS) a downstream solar company whose stock has been battered in recent months on concerns about widening losses and slowdown in solar project spending in the midst of the current recessionary environment. Cable maintained his NEUTRAL rating, and his previously lowered his price target of $2.50 (Cable had lowered his target on AKNS from $5 to $2.50 back on November 7). Akeena this morning issued revised guidance for FY2008 lowering its estimated Y/Y revenue growth to a range of 25% to 30% from 30% to 40%, citing delays in installations on a few of its larger commercial projects. Cable noted that he had already been assuming 30% growth in his revised estimates, which is the basis for his maintaining existing targets, but also noted that he advises staying on the sideline until the ...

November 7, 2008 – Analyst Notes – Global Hunter’s Justin Cable issued the comments on Akeena Solar (Nasdaq:AKNS), maintaining his NEUTRAL stance and lowering his price target to $2.50 from $5.00 and Altair Nanotechnologies (Nasdaq:ALTI), maintaining his SELL rating and lowing his price target to $1.00 from $1.50. Here are his takeaways: Akeena ·         Q3 revenues beat by 15% ·         Net loss for quarter larger than expected ·         Gross margin was 12.7% vs. estimated 17% ·         Increase in debt ·         Increase in backlog ·         Installed 1,290kw in quarter versus 854 in prior quarter ·         Higher inventory ·         Guidance maintained by management – 30% to 40% revenue growth for FY08 and EBITDAS breakeven in second half of FY2009 Altair ·         Revenues still minimal ·         Significant losses continue ·         Cash of $33.7 million ·         Yet to see material orders We think Cable’s assessments on both companies is right on. In fact, we would probably be more conservative, and assume a forward ...

September 15, 2008 – Premier Power Renewable Energy (OTCBB:PPRW) announced it has come public through a reverse merger this weekend, on the heels of a $7 million financing led by Vision Capital.  Premier is a leading downstream solar firm which has demonstrated success in the burgeoning solar markets both domestic and overseas. In an environment where so many of its peers have struggled to achieve profitability, Premier has. It is amongst the largest and fastest growing solar installers in the nation, achieving sales of $16.7 million in 2007 and has contracted $48 million in sales for 2008, representing 187% year-over-year growth.  It has been profitable since 2006, and continues to experience dramatic growth and record sales in the US and Europe. Premier has been installing PV systems since 2000, and is one of the top seven installers in the country, focused on the $13 billion commercial market – GE’s number ...