Naz News, Gappers and FLE's

[sludgehound]

SCTY two bits, tariffs effect

By Claudia Assis , MarketWatch 1034ET
Duties on Chinese-based panel makers dampen project pipeline
- Claudia Assis ; 415-439-6400; [e-mail]
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Solar projects worth more than three gigawatts are at risk due to the recently imposed tariffs on Chinese-made solar panels, researchers at NPD Solarbuzz said in a report Monday.
The projects had been set to use Chinese-made panels, but the rulings by the U.S. Department of Commerce may push companies to find other suppliers or potentially pay higher prices for those modules, the report said.
Ground-mount projects, which are half of the U.S. solar project pipeline and are usually large in scale, are particularly vulnerable to cost increases since many pre-sold the energy to be produced through power price agreements. signed
"Any increase in cost for the projects could mean renegotiation, delay, or even termination," Michael Barker , a senior analyst at NPD Solarbuzz, said in the report.
Following a complaint and an investigation, the U.S. government set preliminary anti-subsidies duties in June and anti-dumping tariffs two weeks ago on Chinese-made solar panels. The duties vary from company to company.
Chinese companies have supplied roughly a third of solar modules installed in the U.S. last year, and more than half the modules used in residential systems.
Chinese-based solar-panel makers were mixed on Monday, with JinkoSolar Holding Co. U.S.-listed shares (JKS) down 0.8%. U.S.-listed shares of Trina Solar Ltd. (TSL) advanced 1.3%.
Shares of solar-panel maker First Solar Inc. (FSLR) rose 2.5%. The company is a frequently cited as a beneficiary of the tariffs within the large-scale utility market. Solar installer SolarCity Corp. (SCTY) shares fell 0.8%.
U.S. stocks traded higher on Monday, recouping some of last week's slide losses.
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By Claudia Assis , MarketWatch 1613ET
Installer shows investors it can tap cheap funding
- Claudia Assis ; 415-439-6400; [e-mail]
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- SolarCity Corp. is expected to report second-quarter results after the market closes on Thursday, and investors expect the solar-power installer to widen its quarterly loss.
SolarCity (SCTY) is still a Wall Street favorite, however, with most investment banks that cover the stock rating it a "buy."
SolarCity last month pushed through its third and largest debt deal, selling asset-backed securities worth $201.5 million on better terms than the prior sales -- and showing Wall Street it can access low-cost financing.
The company, which is the U.S.'s top residential solar installer, also won accolades in June when it said it bought solar-panel maker Silevo Inc.
Analysts are waiting to hear SolarCity elaborate on its capital expenditure goals for the next few months. The company has said Silevo's planned solar-panel factory would be followed by one or more larger plants.
Here's what to expect:
Earnings: Analysts surveyed by FactSet expect SolarCity to widen its second-quarter net loss to $73.3 million , or 99 cents a share, compared with a loss of 31 cents a share a year ago.
Revenue: Sales are seen at $63.2 million , from $37.9 million in the second-quarter of 2013.
Stock reaction: Shares of SolarCity are up 68% in the past 12 months, and 23% so far this year. Momentum has held, and the company has gained 30% in the last three months.
What to watch for: Wall Street will be watching closely for updates on any cost reduction plans. Analysts also expect SolarCity to elaborate on its goals for Silevo, and more on the timing of the proposed solar-panel plant, which would located in upstate New York .