Enphase Energy Inc (ENPH)

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This key solar supplier bears watching closely

Jason Hall (Enphase): Solar power management component maker Enphase was one of the few solar stocks to do well in 2018, finishing the year just shy of doubling in price after a big sell-off late in the year. But it's back to the races in 2019, up more than 46% at the time of this writing. Yet even with those big gains, Enphase remains one of my top solar stocks to buy this year, though with its volatility investors might do well to consider making multiple small buys versus going all in at one time. 
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ENPH DATA BY YCHARTS.
Why is it worth watching right now? Similar to First Solar, Enphase's position is as a major supplier of module-level electronics, and it's making a big move into energy storage and should report earnings near the end of February. And if you're interested in solar or renewables investing, what its management has to say can be quite informative as to the state of the overall industry, not just for its own results. This is because the company's products are typically bundled with solar panels directly, as Enphase has reached agreements to be a direct supplier to panel makers like SunPower. 
Lastly, much of Enphase's future prospects are tied to its success in breaking into the battery market. Management expects its supply deals with panel makers to provide a big boost in cash flows in 2019, and it's going to need that extra cash to advance its energy storage prospects. Investors would do well to stay plugged into how those efforts are paying off, and we will get an important update in February.