Barron's Picks Five Clean Tech Stocks for a Greener Future
1. SunPower Corp. (SPWR) -- a majority-owned spin-off of Cypress Semiconductor (CY), it is the premier seller of silicon solar cells and panels. Shares are rich at 36x 2008e earnings, but one analyst says: "It's kind of like buying Microsoft in the early '90s. It will just stay rich."
2. Environmental Power Corp. (EPG) -- its technology cuts the release of carbon-based Greenhouse Effect gases, giving it valuable pollution trading credits. One analyst says: "It has a long way to run."
3. Fuel-Tech (FTEK) -- its system breaks down slag build-up inside oil and coal fuel plants, avoiding the need to break down the deposits with explosives and keeping plants running smoother and cheaper. One analyst sees shares climbing 25% in 2008.
4. PICO Holdings Inc. (PICO) -- is buying up water rights in the West, and will then sell fresh water to areas where supply is limited. An analyst sees shares ($44) going up to $58.
5. Composite Technology (CPTC.OB) -- will release a new wind turbine (windmill) that should help address a global backlog, going into direct competition with General Electric Co. (GE). The $1 stock could hit $2.50.
