Energy Conversion Devices Inc. (ENER) manufactures and sells thin-film solar laminates that convert sunlight to energy using proprietary technology. It also pioneers other alternative technologies – including being the inventor and developer of NiMH to licensees worldwide and a new type of nonvolatile digital memory technology that is significantly faster and less expensive, ideal for use in a variety of applications, including cell phones, digital cameras and personal computers.  Distributed globally under the UNI-SOLAR brand, the Company’s solar products are ideally suited for cost-effective solutions for roofing applications because they are lightweight, durable, flexible, can be integrated directly with building materials, and generate more energy in real-world conditions.

Source: Reuters.com, SEC Filings.

Investment Highlights

ENER shares traded as much as 40% higher Thursday, extending gains to a second consecutive day.  ENER stock, along with the rest of the solar sector, was boosted on Wednesday as investors welcomed an upbeat report on Germany’s solar market. ENER shares also traded higher as the Company’s United Solar subsidiary announced the commercial launch of the world’s first solar-powered cover for the Amazon Kindle e-reader made by SolarFocus Technology Co.

ENER shares have gained 67.1% in the last five days and 63.2% in the last month.  Year-to-date, the stock is down 87.9%.

SolarFocus’ SolarKindle Lighted Cover uses UNI-SOLAR’s proprietary technology to charge the Kindle’s internal battery as well as the cover’s integrated reserve battery, which is used to power the LED reading light featured on the inside of the cover. The solar cells, located on the front of the leather cover, are charged from direct exposure to the sun, providing unlimited extended power to the device.

The SolarKindle Lighted Cover will be revealed at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this week (January 10-13, 2012) in Las Vegas, Nevada. The lightweight solar cover will be recognized as a 2012 Innovations Honoree in the Eco-Design and Sustainability Technologies category. The CES is hosted by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and showcases the ground-breaking products and technologies influencing consumer technology.

Chris Bala, vice president of sales for Open Solar, commented that the SolarKindle Lighted Cover is a great example of the success of United Solar’s Open Solar initiative, which allows SolarFocus, a strategic partner, to leverage the differentiation of the company’s unique high-performance, lightweight and flexible solar cells,”

“This innovative product represents just how easily UNI-SOLAR technology can be integrated seamlessly and cost effectively into everyday applications.”

ENER shares gained 33.2% to close at $0.57, with over 9.19 million shares exchanged. Thursday’s trading volume was nearly five times the 10-day average. The stock is currently above its 50-day moving average of $0.30 and below its 200-day moving average of $0.62.

Source: http://investor.shareholder.com/ovonics/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=638897

Financial Summary

ENER reported total consolidated revenue from continuing operations of $22.0 million in first quarter of fiscal year 2012, ended September 30, 2011.  That compares to $65.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 2011, and $70.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011.

For the quarter, the Company generated a net loss from continuing operations of $57.5 million, which includes a non-cash impairment charge of $34.3 million. This result compares to a net loss of $15.4 million in the year ago period and $42.8 million in the prior quarter.

As of September 30, 2011, ENER held $130.2 million in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments. This represents a decrease of $10.5 million from June 30, 2011.

Source: http://investor.shareholder.com/ovonics/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=623708

Technical Analysis

Source: http://stockcharts.com

ENER is above the upper Bollinger Band, implying that it is currently extended from its recent trend. Be aware, however, that a cross outside of the Bollinger Bands can sometimes be a signal of trend strength and not, necessarily, trend reversal.

The MACD for ENER currently indicates a strong bullish signal for two reasons. First, the MACD is above the signal line, a 9-day moving average. Second, the MACD is above 0, which implies that the underlying moving averages are trending higher.

Comparative Analysis

Source: Thomson Financial

DO NOT BASE ANY INVESTMENT DECISION UPON ANY MATERIALS FOUND ON THIS REPORT. We are not registered as a securities broker-dealer or an investment adviser either with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or with any state securities regulatory authority.  We are neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice.

The information contained in our report should be viewed as commercial advertisement and is not intended to be investment advice.  The report is not provided to any particular individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. The information contained in our report is not an offer to buy or sell securities.  We distribute opinions, comments and information free of charge exclusively to individuals who wish to receive them.

Our newsletter and website have been prepared for informational purposes only and are not intended to be used as a complete source of information on any particular company.  An individual should never invest in the securities of any of the companies profiled based solely on information contained in our report.  Individuals should assume that all information contained in the report about profiled companies is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research.

Any individual who chooses to invest in any securities should do so with caution.  Investing in securities is speculative and carries a high degree of risk; you may lose some or all of the money that is invested.  Always research your own investments and consult with a registered investment advisor or licensed stock broker before investing.

Information contained in our report will contain “forward looking statements” as defined under Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21B of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Subscribers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon these forward looking statements.  These forward looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties outside of our control that could cause actual operations or results to differ materially from those anticipated.  Factors that could affect performance include, but are not limited to, those factors that are discussed in each profiled company’s most recent reports or registration statements filed with the SEC.  You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward looking statements included in the report and not place undue reliance upon such statements.

We are committed to providing factual information on the companies that are profiled.  However, we do not provide any assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided, including information regarding a profiled company’s plans or ability to effect any planned or proposed actions.  We have no first-hand knowledge of any profiled company’s operations and therefore cannot comment on their capabilities, intent, resources, nor experience and we make no attempt to do so.  Statistical information, dollar amounts, and market size data was provided by the subject company and related sources which we believe to be reliable.

To the fullest extent of the law, we will not be liable to any person or entity for the quality, accuracy, completeness, reliability, or timeliness of the information provided in the report, or for any direct, indirect, consequential, incidental, special or punitive damages that may arise out of the use of information we provide to any person or entity (including, but not limited to, lost profits, loss of opportunities, trading losses, and damages that may result from any inaccuracy or incompleteness of this information).

We encourage you to invest carefully and read investment information available at the websites of the SEC at http://www.sec.gov and FINRA at http://www.finra.org.

Related Articles

1. Alternative Energy Trade Option: Energy Conversion Devices Inc. (ENER) Review
2. Stock Alert for Energy Conversion Devices Inc. (ENER)
3. Renewable Energy Trade Option: Energy Conversion Devices Review

Energy Conversion Devices Inc. (ECD), through its subsidiaries, commercializes materials, products and production processes for the alternative energy generation (primarily solar energy), energy storage and information technology markets.  Through its United Solar Ovonic subsidiary, the Company manufactures, sells and installs thin-film solar laminates that convert sunlight to clean, renewable energy using proprietary technology. It also designs, manufactures and installs rooftop photovoltaic systems, which enable customers to transform unused rooftop space into a value-generating asset. The Company’s Ovonic Materials division includes the Ovonic Battery Company, the inventor and worldwide licensor of nickel-metal-hydride battery technology and the developer of proprietary advanced lithium-ion cathode materials, along with other emerging energy storage technologies. ENER’s Ovonyx joint venture is the inventor and worldwide licensor of phase change memory (PCM) technology.

Share Statistics (22-Sept-11)

Source: Reuters.com, SEC Filings.

Investment Highlights

Shares of ENER gained 55.2% over the last five days and 65.1% over the last month.  Year to date, the stockis down 76.6%. Shares of the Michigan-based solar energy technology provider jumped as much as 11% on Tuesday after itsUnited Solar subsidiary said its UNI-SOLAR brand photovoltaics have been used for one of the largest knownresidential solar installations in the world. United Solar announced in the press release that it provided 259 UNI-SOLAR brand flexible, lightweightphotovoltaic modules for the 24 kilowatt (kW) solar installation, which was completed in July 2011 by ADRSolar Solutions. It said the solar panels will power the majority of the home systems that are typically poweredby natural gas, including lighting, electronics and heating and air conditioning systems. Nancy Palmer, sales and marketing manager of ADR Solar Solutions commentated that “UNI-SOLAR was theonly application considered for the installation and is not only working as anticipated, but is a beautiful additionto the design of the state of the art home. The California-based solar installation firm intends to use UNI-SOLARon many upcoming projects.
Earlier this month, United Solar announced its solar laminates will be installed on the Pituaçu Stadium in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, marking the first solar photovoltaic system to be installed on a soccer stadium in South America. The installation is expected to commence this month and be completed before the year ends.

Commenting on the news, Steve Szamocki, United Solar senior vice president of sales-Americas, stated: “United Solar is proud to be a pioneer in the application of solar technology in emerging markets. This is a perfect example of how UNI-SOLAR lightweight solar laminates can be integrated directly into a building for a cost-saving renewable energy solution. We see great opportunity for solar adoption in Brazil with its high average insolation and growing infrastructure investment leading up to the World Cup in 2014.”

Source:

http://investor.shareholder.com/ovonics/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=606600

Financial Summary

ENER reported revenues of $73.1 million for its fourth quarter ended June 30, 2011, up 240% from $21.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011, but down 15% from $86.2 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010.

The Company’s solar product sales for the quarter were $28.9 million, compared to $17.5 million in the previous quarter, an increase of 65%, and $66.9 million in the same quarter last year, a 57% decrease. Solar system sales for the quarter were $41.3 million compared to $1.1 million in the prior quarter, and $14.4 million in the year-ago quarter. Most of the $41.3 million of solar system revenue in the fourth quarter was attributable to a single large project in Italy, which is now substantially complete.  Shipments of solar laminates in the quarter were 15.9 megawatts (MW) compared to 11.4 MW in the previous quarter, an increase of 39%, and 33.8 MW in the year-ago quarter, a decrease of 53%.

For the fourth quarter, the Company reported a net loss of $42.1 million or $0.84 per share, which includes a non-cash impairment charge of $6.0 million, or $0.12 per share. This compares to a net loss of $243.2 million, or $4.88 per share, in the previous quarter, which includes a non-cash impairment charge of $222.8 million or $4.47 per share. The net loss in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2010 was $20.9 million or $0.49 per share.

Fourth quarter net results were negatively affected by under-absorption of factory overhead costs of $9.5 million, the previously noted non-cash impairment charge of $6.0 million due to the write-down of the Company’s outstanding development loan for certain solar projects in Italy, a $4.1 million charge for raw materials and other commitments, a $2.3 million adjustment to the carrying value of certain inventory, and a restructuring charge of $4.6 million related to employee severance costs from the Company’s previously announced strategic corporate restructuring. The net impact of these items was an increase of the quarter’s net loss by $26.5 million or $0.53 per share.

As of June 30, 2011, ENER had $140.7 million of cash, cash-equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash, compared to $172.0 million as of March 31, 2011. The Company’s decrease in cash was due primarily to the cash loss from operations, timing of receipts and disbursements for system projects and capital spending on the technology roadmap.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, total consolidated revenues were $232.5 million compared to $254.4 million in the prior fiscal year. Combined solar product and system sales were $220.1 million for fiscal year 2011 compared to $227.3 million in the prior fiscal year, a decline of 3%, driven primarily by lower total shipments of 85.7 MW versus 95.4 MW in the prior year and lower average selling price, offset by an increase in system sales.

The net loss for fiscal year 2011 was $306.4 million or $6.41 per share compared to a net loss of $457.2 million or $10.75 per share in the year-ago period. Excluding non-cash impairment charges of $228.8 million and $359.2 million, respectively, the net loss for fiscal year 2011 was $77.6 million, or $1.62 per share, compared to $98.0 million, or $2.30 per share, in fiscal year 2010.

Source:

http://investor.shareholder.com/ovonics/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=606600

Technical Analysis

Source: http://stockcharts.com

Comparative Analysis

Source: Thomson Financial

DO NOT BASE ANY INVESTMENT DECISION UPON ANY MATERIALS FOUND ON THIS REPORT. We are not registered as a securities broker-dealer or an investment adviser either with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or with any state securities regulatory authority.  We are neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice.

The information contained in our report should be viewed as commercial advertisement and is not intended to be investment advice.  The report is not provided to any particular individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. The information contained in our report is not an offer to buy or sell securities.  We distribute opinions, comments and information free of charge exclusively to individuals who wish to receive them.

Our newsletter and website have been prepared for informational purposes only and are not intended to be used as a complete source of information on any particular company.  An individual should never invest in the securities of any of the companies profiled based solely on information contained in our report.  Individuals should assume that all information contained in the report about profiled companies is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research.

Any individual who chooses to invest in any securities should do so with caution.  Investing in securities is speculative and carries a high degree of risk; you may lose some or all of the money that is invested.  Always research your own investments and consult with a registered investment advisor or licensed stock broker before investing.

Information contained in our report will contain “forward looking statements” as defined under Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21B of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Subscribers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon these forward looking statements.  These forward looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties outside of our control that could cause actual operations or results to differ materially from those anticipated.  Factors that could affect performance include, but are not limited to, those factors that are discussed in each profiled company’s most recent reports or registration statements filed with the SEC.  You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward looking statements included in the report and not place undue reliance upon such statements.

We are committed to providing factual information on the companies that are profiled.  However, we do not provide any assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided, including information regarding a profiled company’s plans or ability to effect any planned or proposed actions.  We have no first-hand knowledge of any profiled company’s operations and therefore cannot comment on their capabilities, intent, resources, nor experience and we make no attempt to do so.  Statistical information, dollar amounts, and market size data was provided by the subject company and related sources which we believe to be reliable.

To the fullest extent of the law, we will not be liable to any person or entity for the quality, accuracy, completeness, reliability, or timeliness of the information provided in the report, or for any direct, indirect, consequential, incidental, special or punitive damages that may arise out of the use of information we provide to any person or entity (including, but not limited to, lost profits, loss of opportunities, trading losses, and damages that may result from any inaccuracy or incompleteness of this information).

We encourage you to invest carefully and read investment information available at the websites of the SEC at http://www.sec.gov and FINRA at http://www.finra.org.

Related Articles

1. Stock Alert for Energy Conversion Devices Inc. (ENER)
2. Alternative Energy Trade Option: Energy Conversion Devices Inc. (ENER) Review
3. Renewable Energy Trade Option: Energy Conversion Devices Review

Applied Materials Inc.  (AMAT) provides equipment, services and software to enable the manufacture of advanced semiconductor, flat panel display and solar photovoltaic products. Its technologies help make innovations like smartphones, flat screen TVs and solar panels more affordable and accessible to consumers and businesses around the world. The Company is a semiconductor fabrication equipment supplier. It is also a supplier of LCD fabrication equipment to the flat panel display industry and is the supplier of solar PV manufacturing systems to the solar industry.  AMAT operates in four reportable segments: Silicon Systems Group, Applied Global Services, Display, and Energy and Environmental Solutions.

Share Statistics (25-Aug-11)

Source: Reuters.com, SEC Filings

Investment Highlights

Shares of AMAT lost 1.46% in the last five days and 17.33% in the last month.  Year to date, the stock was up 1.12%

Shares of the semiconductor equipment maker traded as much as 5% lower Thursday, despite the Company posting strong quarterly results a day earlier. AMAT dropped $0.55 to close the session at $10.81, with over 21 million shares traded for the day.

For the third quarter of fiscal 2011 ended July 31, 2011, the Company generated orders of $2.39 billion, net sales of $2.79 billion, operating income of $687 million, and net income of $476 million, or $0.36 per share. Non-GAAP operating income was $683 million, and non-GAAP net income was $467 million or $0.35 per share.

“Applied delivered solid third quarter results, with earnings and revenue at the upper end of our expectations,” AMAT chairman and CEO Mike Splinter commented in the release. “While the fundamental drivers of our markets remain strong, we are seeing softness in our business resulting from the uncertain economic environment and overcapacity in solar.”

CFO George Davis said the Company’s cumulative net sales and non-GAAP earnings per share over the past four quarters have been the strongest in the Company’s history.

In the third quarter, AMAT posted an operating cash flow of $599 million, or 21% of net sales. Its gross margin was 42.5%t, up from 41.5% in the second quarter. Cash, cash equivalents and investments increased to $6.81 billion at quarter end. The amount included proceeds from the $1.75 billion of notes issued during the quarter.

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, AMAT expects net sales to be down in the range of 15% to 30% sequentially. The Company expects non-GAAP EPS to be in the range of $0.16 to $0.24. The non-GAAP EPS outlook excludes known charges related to completed acquisitions of approximately $0.01 per share, but does not exclude other non-GAAP adjustments that may arise subsequent to the latest release.

Source:

http://www.appliedmaterials.com/news/articles/applied-materials-delivers-strong-third-quarter-results

Technical Analysis

Source: http://stockcharts.com

AMAT is below its 20-day moving average. This bearish sign is even more significant because the moving average is also trending lower.

AMAT’s recent volatility has been greater than normal. This is evidenced by the increased distance between the upper and lower Bollinger Bands. These bands measure volatility using standard deviation and a large width is due to high volatility.

The MACD for AMAT currently indicates a strong bearish signal for two reasons. First, the MACD is below the signal line, a 9-day moving average. Second, the MACD is below the critical level of 0, which implies that the underlying moving averages are trending lower.

Comparative Analysis

Source: Thomson Financial

DO NOT BASE ANY INVESTMENT DECISION UPON ANY MATERIALS FOUND ON THIS REPORT. We are not registered as a securities broker-dealer or an investment adviser either with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or with any state securities regulatory authority.  We are neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice.

The information contained in our report should be viewed as commercial advertisement and is not intended to be investment advice.  The report is not provided to any particular individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. The information contained in our report is not an offer to buy or sell securities.  We distribute opinions, comments and information free of charge exclusively to individuals who wish to receive them.

Our newsletter and website have been prepared for informational purposes only and are not intended to be used as a complete source of information on any particular company.  An individual should never invest in the securities of any of the companies profiled based solely on information contained in our report.  Individuals should assume that all information contained in the report about profiled companies is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research.

Any individual who chooses to invest in any securities should do so with caution.  Investing in securities is speculative and carries a high degree of risk; you may lose some or all of the money that is invested.  Always research your own investments and consult with a registered investment advisor or licensed stock broker before investing.

Information contained in our report will contain “forward looking statements” as defined under Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21B of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Subscribers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon these forward looking statements.  These forward looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties outside of our control that could cause actual operations or results to differ materially from those anticipated.  Factors that could affect performance include, but are not limited to, those factors that are discussed in each profiled company’s most recent reports or registration statements filed with the SEC.  You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward looking statements included in the report and not place undue reliance upon such statements.

We are committed to providing factual information on the companies that are profiled.  However, we do not provide any assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided, including information regarding a profiled company’s plans or ability to effect any planned or proposed actions.  We have no first-hand knowledge of any profiled company’s operations and therefore cannot comment on their capabilities, intent, resources, nor experience and we make no attempt to do so.  Statistical information, dollar amounts, and market size data was provided by the subject company and related sources which we believe to be reliable.

To the fullest extent of the law, we will not be liable to any person or entity for the quality, accuracy, completeness, reliability, or timeliness of the information provided in the report, or for any direct, indirect, consequential, incidental, special or punitive damages that may arise out of the use of information we provide to any person or entity (including, but not limited to, lost profits, loss of opportunities, trading losses, and damages that may result from any inaccuracy or incompleteness of this information).

We encourage you to invest carefully and read investment information available at the websites of the SEC at http://www.sec.gov and FINRA at http://www.finra.org.

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