10 Best Solar Stocks To Own For 2015

10 Best Solar Stocks To Own For 2015: First Solar Inc.(FSLR)

First Solar, Inc. manufactures and sells solar modules using a thin-film semiconductor technology. It also designs, constructs, and sells photovoltaic solar power systems. The company?s solar modules employ a thin layer of semiconductor material to convert sunlight into electricity. Its integrated solar power systems activities include the project development; engineering, procurement, and construction services; operating and maintenance services; and project finance. The company sells solar modules to project developers, system integrators, and operators of renewable energy projects; and solar power systems to investor owned utilities, independent power developers and producers, and commercial and industrial companies, as well as other system owners. It operates in the United States, Germany, France, Canada, and internationally. The company was formerly known as First Solar Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to First Solar, Inc. in 2006. First Solar was founded in 1999 a nd is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chad Fraser]

  Correspondingly, many solar stocks soared in 2013; the Market Vectors Solar Energy ETF (NYSE: KWT), a reasonable proxy for the industry, surged 103.5 percent on the year, far eclipsing the S&P 500's 31.8 percent climb.
  
  That outperformance has continued into 2014, with the ETF tacking on a 19.9 percent gain year-to-date, compared to 6.8 percent for the S&P 500.
  
  The rebound comes after a tough few years for the solar industry. First, the financial crisis deterred customers and drove down sales. Then governments cut spending to rein in their deficits—including on solar power subsidies. This all came against a glut of cheap panels—mainly from Chinese manufacturers—that lowered panel prices and profit margins.
  
  Today, solar stocks continue! to be volatile, and the industry is still subject to unpredictable swings in supply and demand, as well as constantly shifting political winds.
  
  It's also dealing with strong competition from natura l gas, as higher U.S. production has put downward pressure on prices. Last year in the U.S., for example, gas accounted for just over 50% of new utility-scale generating capacity, according to the Energy Information Administration, with solar accounting for 22%—though that was up from just 6% in 2012.
  
  However, there are signs that solar is making progress on this front. For example, the REN21 report noted that solar power is now competitive with fossil fuels without subsidies in at least 19 markets in 15 countries.
  
  A Large-Scale Solar Developer to Watch
  
  One solar stock that currently carries a buy rating in The Energy Strategist's Growth Portfolio is First Solar (NasdaqGS: FSLR), which focuses on large, utility-scale solar projects.
  
  First Solar started up as a pure photovoltaic module maker in 1999 but in 2011 began shifting toward building, financing, maintaining and selling solar facilities. The company benefits from its vertically integrate d structure, because

• [By Robert Rapier]

  Following last year's GSR release we took a deep dive into the solar sector and came up with a gem for subscribers in First Solar (Nasdaq: FSLR), which returned 88 percent in under seven months before we advised subscribers to take some money off the table (and FSLR is down 7 percent since we provided that advice on March 20). We did the same solar deep dive in last week's Energy Strategist, and made another recommendation in the sector, which has already gained more than 10 percent since. But today I provide a general overview of the GSR.  

• [By Aaron Levitt]

  While producing solar panels maybe sexy, the firms that own/operate the solar farms are the ones actually producing cash flows — see First Solar's (FSLR) latest earnings as ! an exampl! e. As utilities continue to build and add these things, they’re taking a page right out of the master limited partnership (MLP) and real estate investment trust (REIT) playbook. That is, offering high dividends to investors willing to take the plunge into the renewable energy space via new funding/security type called a YieldCo.

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/10-best-solar-stocks-to-own-for-2015.html