Solar exchange traded funds are enjoying their moment in the sun as analyst upgrades, better-than-expected fourth quarter results and improved guidance brighten the sector.
The Guggenheim Solar ETF (NYSEArca: TAN) was up 6.0% Tuesday while the Market Vectors Solar Energy ETF (NYSEArca: KWT) gained 6.1%. TAN is up 29.9% and KWT is 21.1% higher year-to-date.
SuneEdison (NYSE: SUNE) was up 10.3% Tuesday after Morgan Stanley upgraded the company to overweight on a growth spurt ahead of the anticipated change to the investment tax credit, reports Teresa Rivas for Barron’s.
“We estimate that the commercial-scale solar market could be as large as 129GW in 2018, assuming that the investment tax credit (ITC) goes to 0% and utilities nationwide implement fixed charges on solar customers,” Morgan Stanley’s Timothy Radcliff said in the article. “We believe the market currently expects an ITC-driven rush through 2016, followed by a significant decline in volumes and margins.”
Yingli Green Energy (NYSE: YGE) was up 4.2%, rising after the company announced that it expected higher solar panel shipments when it reports its fourth-quarter results March 18, reports Andrew Meola for TheStreet. [Solar ETF Breaks Out Ahead of Earnings]
GT Advanced Technologies (NasdaqGS: GTAT) surged 10.6% Tuesday. Goldman Sachs upgraded the set the stock at a “buy” as the company stuck to its financial guidance, reports Keris Alison Lahiff for TheStreet.
Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL) rose 9.7%. The company expects shipments to jump as much as 47% this year on higher demand in Asia and the Middle East, reports Stefan Nicola for Bloomberg.
“We are optimistic that solar PV demand will continue to be strong and expect China, Japan, as well as the broader Asia Pacific region and the Middle East to be key drivers,” Chief Executive Officer Jifan Gao said in the Bloomberg article. “Our efforts to diversify our business beyond the traditional markets in Europe and the U.S. where we have maintained leading positions and into additional emerging markets have progressed well.”