Yingli (YGE) (YHOO) (DELL) (DOW) (FTR) (GILD) (GMLP) (GPC) (HGSI) Ratings, Price Targets

Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (YGE), Yahoo! Inc. (YHOO), Dell Inc. (DELL), The Dow Chemical Company (DOW), Frontier Communications (FTR), Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD), LNG Partners (GMLP), Genuine Parts Company (GPC) and Human Genome Sciences (HGSI) had ratings and price targets on them adjusted by analysts.

Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (YGE) was downgraded by Miller Tabak from a "Neutral" rating to a "Sell" rating.

Yahoo! Inc. (YHOO) was downgraded by Credit Agricole from a "Buy" rating to an "Underperform" rating.

Dell Inc. (DELL) was downgraded by Citigroup (C) from a "Buy" rating to a "Neutral" rating.

The Dow Chemical Company (DOW) was downgraded by Gilford Securities from a "Hold" rating to a "Sell" rating.

Frontier Communications (FTR) was downgraded by Hudson Securities from a "Buy" rating to a "Hold" rating.

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) was downgraded by Sanford C. Bernstein from an "Outperform" rating to a "Market Perform" rating.

Golar LNG Partners (GMLP) was downgraded by Citigroup from a "Buy" rating to a "Neutral" rating.

Genuine Parts Company (GPC) was downgraded by Gabelli from a "Buy" rating to a "Hold" rating.

Human Genome Sciences (HGSI) was downgraded by RBC Capital from an "Outperform" rating to a "Sector Perform" rating. They placed a price target of $10.00 on the company, down from $15.00.

Yingli (YGE) (VAL) (VIP) (AAUKY) (AAV) (AEG) Ratings, Price Targets

Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (YGE), The Valspar Co. (VAL), Vimpelcom Ltd (VIP), Anglo American plc (AAUKY), Advantage Oil & Gas Ltd. (AAV) and Aegon (AEG) ratings and price targets.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) raised its price target on The Valspar Co. (VAL) to $37.00.

UBS AG (NYSE:UBS) downgraded Vimpelcom Ltd (VIP) from a “Buy” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) reiterated its “Buy” rating on Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (YGE). They have a price target of $5.50 on the company.

Societe Generale downgraded Anglo American plc (AAUKY) from a “Buy” rating to a “Hold” rating.

RBC Capital downgraded Advantage Oil & Gas Ltd. (AAV) from an “Outperform” rating to a “Sector Perform” rating.

Goldman Sachs downgraded Aegon (AEG) from a “Buy” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Yingli (YGE) (ADI) (WCRX) (BEAV) (TXN) (BMY) Upgraded

Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (NYSE: YGE), Analog Devices, Inc. (NYSE: ADI), Warner Chilcott (NASDAQ: WCRX), BE Aerospace (NASDAQ: BEAV), Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) and Bristol Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE: BMY) Upgraded by analysts.

Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (YGE) was upgraded by Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) from a “Sell” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) was upgraded by UBS AG (NYSE:UBS) from a “Neutral” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $38.00 on the company.

Warner Chilcott (WCRX) was upgraded by Goldman Sachs from a “Neutral” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $21.00 on the company, down from $24.00.

BE Aerospace (BEAV) was upgraded by UBS AG from a “Neutral” rating to a “Buy” rating.

Texas Instruments (TXN) was upgraded by UBS AG from a “Neutral” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $32.00 on the company.

Bristol Myers Squibb Co. (BMY) was upgraded by Jefferies (NYSE:JEF) from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $35.00 on the company, up from $27.00.

Yingli (YGE) (AMRS) (WFR) (CREE) (VECO) (CRIS) Get New Coverage

Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (NYSE: YGE), Amyris Inc (NASDAQ: AMRS), MEMC Electronic Materials Inc (NYSE: WFR), Cree, Inc. (NASDAQ: CREE), Veeco Instruments Inc. (NASDAQ: VECO) and Curis, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRIS) getting new coverage from analysts.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) initiated coverage on Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (YGE). They placed a “Hold” rating and a price target of $6.00 on the company.

Deutsche Bank initiated coverage on Amyris Inc. (AMRS). They placed a “Buy” rating and a price target of $30.00 on the company.

ThinkEquity initiated coverage on Curis, Inc. (CRIS). They placed a “Buy” rating on the company.

Deutsche Bank initiated coverage on MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. (WFR). They placed a “Buy” rating and a price target of $10.00 on the company.

Deutsche Bank initiated coverage on Cree, Inc. (CREE). They placed a “Buy” rating on the company.

Deutsche Bank initiated coverage on Veeco Instruments Inc. (VECO). Theyy placed a “Hold” rating on the company.

Potash (POT) (YGE) (WBS) (DCOM) (ECL) (FCF) Upgraded

Potash Corp (NYSE: POT), Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (NYSE: YGE), Webster Financial Corp (NYSE: WBS), Dime Community Bancshares Inc (NASDAQ: DCOM), Ecolab Inc. (NYSE: ECL) and First Commonwealth Financial (NYSE: FCF) upgraded by analysts.

Webster Financial Corp. (WBS) was upgraded by Stifel Nicolaus from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target $21.00 on the company.

Potash Corp. (POT) was upgraded by Scotia Capital from a “Sector Perform” rating to an “Outperform” rating.

Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (YGE) was upgraded by HSBC (NYSE:HBC) from an “Underweight” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Dime Community Bancshares Inc. (DCOM) was upgraded by Stifel Nicolaus from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $15.00 on the company.

Ecolab Inc. (ECL) was upgraded by Citigroup (NYSE:C) from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating.

First Commonwealth Financial (FCF) was upgraded by Stifel Nicolaus from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $5.25 on the company.

Newmont (NEM) (VIA-B) (BIRT) (HPQ) (YGE) (CHCO) Upgraded

Newmont Mining Co. (NYSE: NEM), Viacom, Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA.B), Actuate Co. (NASDAQ: BIRT), Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ), Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (NYSE: YGE) and City Holding Company (NASDAQ: CHCO) upgraded by analysts.

Newmont Mining Co. (NEM) was upgraded by Citigroup (NYSE:C) from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating.

Viacom, Inc. (VIA-B) was upgraded by Caris & Company from an “Above Average” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $58.00 on the company.

Actuate Co. (BIRT) was upgraded by First Analysis from an “Equal Weight” rating to an “Overweight” rating.

Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) was upgraded by Auriga from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating.

Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (YGE) was upgraded by Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC) from a “Neutral” rating to an “Overweight” rating.

City Holding Company (CHCO) was upgraded by Stifel Nicolaus from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $35.00 on the company.

Yingli (YGE) (AA) (AF) (FCBC) (APEI) (WSBC) Upgraded

Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (NYSE: YGE), Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA), Astoria Financial Co. (NYSE: AF), First Community Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: FCBC), American Public Education (NASDAQ: APEI) and WesBanco, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSBC) had analyst upgrades.

Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (YGE) was upgraded by Avian from a “Negative” rating to a “Positive” rating. They have a price target of $7.50 on the company.

Alcoa Inc. (AA) was upgraded by Davenport from a “Neutral” rating to a “Buy” rating.

Astoria Financial Co. (AF) was upgraded by Stifel Nicolaus from a “Sell” rating to a “Hold” rating.

First Community Bancshares, Inc. (FCBC) was upgraded by Stifel Nicolaus from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $13.00 on the company.

American Public Education (APEI) was upgraded by BMO Capital Markets from a “Market Perform” rating to an “Outperform” rating.

WesBanco, Inc. (WSBC) was upgraded by Stifel Nicolaus from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $22.00 on the company.

SunPower Co. (NASDAQ: SPWRA), Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (NYSE: YGE) Upgraded

The solar sector had a little positive news today, as SunPower Co. (NASDAQ: SPWRA) and Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (NYSE: YGE) were upgraded by several analysts, with Yingli getting positive coverage from three separate companies.

Yingli is getting a boost from its second-quarter report Friday, which outperformed analysts' expectations. That resulted in Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC), Avian Securities and HSBC (NYSE:HBC) all upgrading the company.

Auriga Securities’s Hari Chandra Polavarapu boosted his rating on Sunpower (SPWRA) from "Hold" to "Sell," saying the plunge in share price of 40 percent since he began coverage in the latter part of July is overdone. He has a price target of $14 on Sunpower. Even so, Polavarapu won't raise his rating on Sunpower to a buy until the cost issues are resolved.

Yingli was trading at $5.56, up $0.30, or 5.70 percent, as of 1:43 PM EDT. SunPower was trading at $13.62, gaining $0.05, or 0.37 percent.

Yingli (YGE) (AGU) (CSCO) (PNK) (MOLX) (ANEN) Price Targets Changed

Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (NYSE: YGE), Agrium Inc. (NYSE: AGU), Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO), Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc (NYSE: PNK), Molex Inc (NASDAQ: MOLX) and Anaren Inc. (NASDAQ: ANEN) price targets adjusted by analysts.

Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (YGE) had its price target lowered by Ardour Capital from $10.00 to $7.50. They have a “Hold” rating on the company.

Agrium Inc. (AGU) had its price target raised by UBS AG (NYSE:UBS) from $112.00 to $115.00. They have a “Buy” rating on the company.

Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) had its price target lowered by Citigroup (NYSE:C) to $17.50. They have a “Hold” rating on the company.

Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. (PNK) had its price target raised by Morgan Joseph from $18.00 to $20.00. They have a “Buy” rating on the company.

Molex Inc. (MOLX) had its price target lowered by Longbow Research from $32.00 to $29.00. They have a “Buy” rating on the company.

Anaren Inc. (ANEN) had its price target raised by Needham & Company from $20.00 to $23.00. They have a “Buy” rating on the company.

Suntech (STP) (YGE) (SOL) (CLX) (NRGY) Downgraded

Suntech Power (NYSE: STP), Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (NYSE: YGE), ReneSola Ltd. (NYSE: SOL), Clorox Co (NYSE: CLX) and Inergy (NASDAQ: NRGY) downgraded by analysts.

Deutsche Bank (NYSE: DB) downgraded Suntech Power (STP) from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.

Yingli Green Energy (YGE) was downgraded by Deutsche Bank from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.

ReneSola Ltd. (NYSE: SOL) was downgraded by Deutsche Bank from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating.

Clorox Co (NYSE: CLX) was downgraded by RBC Capital from an “outperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating. They have a price target of $73.00 on the company, up from $72.00.

Inergy (NASDAQ: NRGY) was downgraded by Citigroup (NYSE: C) from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating.

Solar's (TSL) (LDK) (SOL) (JKS) (JASO) Honeymoon Appears Over

Trina Solar (NYSE:TSL) LDK Solar (NYSE:LDK), Renesola (NYSE:SOL), JinkoSolar (NYSE:JKS) and JA Solar (NASDAQ:JASO) got crushed Tuesday on growing concerns over the sustainability of the solar industry.

The results and outlook from Trina Solar (TSL), along with many other factors, such as the two largest solar markets in the world - Germany and Italy - saying they're either cutting back on solar subsidies or taking a close second look at slashing even more on them, seems to be pointing to the honeymoon period of 2010 for solar being over, hitting the share prices of solar firms.

If the sector, which has no real legitimate market (outside of government force) wants to grow, it'll have to be at the sacrifice of margins, which will make it more of a movement than profitable business.

Solar is increasingly looked upon as quaint, and "cute," as Bill Gates recently said, and is irrelevant as far as being a legitimate so-called alternative energy source.

That doesn't bode well for the industry, as governments will look towards energy sources that have a chance to meet real needs, and not being promoted for political and media purposes of appearing green.

As for pricing, that is also degrading in the wafer segment of the sector, revealing the extreme volatility and unpredictability inherent in the industry.

Trina Solar closed Tuesday at $23.11, falling $1.68, or 6.78 percent. LDK Solar ended the session at $8.61, down $0.67, or 7.22 percent. Renesola closed at $7.57, dropping $0.45, or 5.61 percent. JinkoSolar closed at $25.79, falling $1.71, or 6.22 percent. JA Solar ended the day at $5.74, down $0.24, or 4.01 percent.

Hanwha SolarOne Co., Ltd.(NASDAQ:HSOL), JA Solar (NASDAQ:JASO), Suntech Power Holdings (NYSE:STP) and Yingli Green Energy (NYSE:YGE) all closed down Tuesday over 3 percent.

Yingli (NYSE:YGE) Down on Industry Woes

Yingli Green Energy (NYSE:YGE) has been getting pummeled lately as funding in the industry around the U.S. and the world is starting to fizzle as governments look closely at the industry and question the value of the sector as a viable energy source.

Uncertainty surrounding Italy cutting back on its financial commitment to the solar industry while deciding to focus on rooftop solar has hurt some companies in the sector and possibly could help others. But it shows the reason there is so much volatility in the industry, as it is increasingly being questioned by governments as to the viability of solar and other non-convential energy sources being worth the cost and effort, as they are unreliable, expensive and won't help much over the long term.

Germany also announced on Friday they're probably going to revisit their commitment to the size of its feed-in-tariff, which is likely to be lowered, based on the comment itself.

Bill Gates also recently said solar and other so-called alternative energy sources have no real chance of dealing with our energy challenges, and rightly called solar and wind energy a "cute" idea but being no solution to our energy needs.

The truth is if an industry can't survive without the government, it's not a real market, but an artificial construct that needs to be abandoned as far as taxpayer subsidies and allowed to compete on its own in the marketplace. That includes all energy sectors.

Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited participates in the design, development, marketing, manufacture, installation, and sale of photovoltaic (PV) products around the world, and domestically in Chinai.

Yingli Green Energy (NYSE:YGE) closed Friday at $10.66, dropping $0.47, or 4.22 percent.

Trina (TSL) (YGE) (SOLR) (STP) Under Pressure on Financing Uncertainty

Shares of Trina Solar (NYSE:TSL), Yingli Green Energy (NYSE:YGE), GT Solar International (SOLR) and Suntech Power Holdings (NYSE:STP) all closed down Friday as the solar sector continues to be under immense pressure in relationship to financing concerns.

With America facing its own sovereign debt crisis, masked by the seemingly endless amount of new money thrown at the economy by the Federal Reserve, the solar industry in the country is facing more uncertainty, as lawmakers look to make budget deals, which could cut financing from the U.S. Department of Energy for the sector.

That was after First Solar (FSLR) alleged they were told by the Department of Energy they were still being considered for financial assistance to construct three major solar plants in the country.

Funding challenges also face the international solar industry as many countries continue to struggle with the lack of capital to artificially prop up the industry.

It's widely known that the Italian has cut back on support for the solar industry, but German Chancellor Angela Merkel suggested on Friday the country needs to take a another look at feed-in tariffs again, saying they may be too high. Germany and Italy have been the two leading markets for solar.

A lot of focus has been on the removing of subsidies from the big oil companies, but in fact we need to have all energy subsidies removed across the board and the let the free market decide how it wants to produce and consume energy and electricity, not politicians.

Trina Solar (TSL) closed Friday at $25.35, dropping $0.89, or 3.39 percent.

Solar Bubble (YGE) (SOL) (SPWRA) (WFR) (STP) Coming for These Firms?

The solar industry is under duress to say the least, and the very real possibility China may end up creating the first solar bubble is now being bantered about in the media, with solar companies like Yingli Green Energy (NYSE:YGE), Renesola (NYSE:SOL), SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWRA), MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. (NYSE:WFR) and Suntech Power Holdings (NYSE:STP) sure to come under stress after a seemingly unhindered run for several years before 2009.

Forbes' William Pentland wrote, "The epic expansion planned for the latter part of this decade may create the world’s first solar-energy bubble. The existing solar supply chain is likely too shallow to sustain growth on this scale. Unless the industry develops scalable infrastructure over the next four years, China’s planned installation of 8 GWs of solar capacity annually between 2015 and 2020 is likely to create severe bottlenecks in the solar supply chain. These bottlenecks could radically inflate the price of basic materials like silicon and create labor shortages that would affect the costs of manufacturing solar modules, designing and installing new solar systems and operating and maintaining already installed systems."

Combined with Germany and Italy cutting back on solar subsidies, it would make the China market even more important as far as solar goes, and with little demand from other countries, will disporportunately affect to view of the industry. during the coming years, which appear to be very negative.

Yingli Green Energy (YGE) closed Monday at $11.34, dropping $0.11, or 0.96 percent.

Solar's (YGE) (ASTI) (JASO) (CSIQ) (HSOL) (JKS) Facing Tough Times

The solar industry and solar companies like Yingli Green Energy (NYSE:YGE), Ascent Solar Technologies (ASTI), JA Solar (NASDAQ:JASO), Canadian Solar (NASDAQ:CSIQ), Hanwha SolarOne Co., Ltd.(NASDAQ:HSOL) and Jinko Solar (NYSE:JKS) are under increasing pressure as the government-created market, which the vast of majority of consumers really don't care about, is struggling because of the two major markets - Germany and Italy, which have been cutting back on subsidies, leaving a large gap in the demand side of the market, which isn't being taken up by any other country at this time, although there are small increases in various countries, including America.

It is increasingly realized that solar (or wind) isn't or won't be the answer to future energy needs, as they're unreliable and expensive, and can't even come close to meeting existing needs, let alone the growing needs of countries around the world.

The best thing to do in energy across the board is to get rid of all government subsidies in every energy sector and let the market decide what it wants.

Government interference through excessive regulation and taxation also needs to be cut back on, as it's only in place in order to promote the so-called "clean energy" initiative, which isn't as clean and green as being put forth, but is a media darling and is reported as being the future of energy, when if fact anyone that knows the energy sector understands at best it'll be a small supplemental part of the energy future, and one that probably doesn't even need to be pursued.

There will probably be a consolidation in the industry even as solar companies continue to mostly operate under losses, even with the generous subsidies and government pressure on competing energy industries.

Hanwha SolarOne Co., Ltd.(HSOL) closed Friday at $6.14, gaining $0.23, or 3.89 percent.

Yingli (YGE) (ASTI) (SOL) (PWER) (CSUN) Trade Down as Solar on the Defensive

The terrible results of First Solar (Nasdaq:FSLR) in its latest quarter, coupled with declining subsidies from the two largest solar markets in the world - Germany and Italy - dragged down Yingli Green Energy (NYSE:YGE), Ascent Solar Technologies (ASTI), Renesola (NYSE:SOL), Power-One Inc (NASDAQ:PWER) and China Sunergy (NASDAQ:CSUN) Wednesday, as the all closed in the negative.

Sources say Italy has reached an agreement to cut subsidies from current levels by 22-30 percent in 2011, 23-45 percent in 2012 and by 10-45 percent in 2013.

Australia also announced they are going to cut A$1,000 from solar panel subsidies a it is pushing up the price of electricity in the country.

The country has already cut back on an initial individual household subsidy of A$8,000 in 2007 to A$3,700 today.

The Australian government also said federal subsidies on rooftop solar panels will end a year earlier than originally stated, some time in the middle of 2013.

With very little demand in India and America - considered two potential new markets for solar - it appears the solar industry is in for a long, rough ride.

Government just need to end the subsidies completely (as well as with all other energy subsidies), and let the market sort out what it wants for energy.

Yingli Green Energy (YGE) closed Wednesday at $11.25, down $0.34, or 2.93 percent.

Yingli (YGE) (CSUN) (STP) (ASTI) (JASO) Dragged Down by First Solar (FSLR)

Shares of solar companies Yingli Green Energy (NYSE:YGE), China Sunergy (NASDAQ:CSUN), Suntech Power Holdings (NYSE:STP), Ascent Solar Technologies (ASTI) and JA Solar (NASDAQ:JASO) weighed down by First Solar's (NASDAQ:FSLR) weak performance

Net income for First Solar plunged 33 percent to $116 million over the same quarter last year, as the company earned $1.33 per share. That was actually much better than the $1.16 a share analysts expected, but not able to overcome the weak net income numbers.

Revenue made no headway during the quarter either, reaching $567 million, although beating estimates of $544 million.

The company said in its press release that rising costs, lower net sales and reduced average selling prices had a negative impact on the quarter.

Even so, the company asserts it will be able to meet full year guidance, although the market, at this time, isn't buying into that. Net sales for the full year are expected to reach about $3.7 to $3.8 billion, with EPS coming in at a range of $9.25 to $9.75 a share.

All of this underscores the lack of a real market for solar energy, and is only a primarily a creation of numerous governments around the world, not the result of demand from consumers.

That's why Italy, when it cut back on subsidies, put the hurt on First Solar, which has huge exposure there.

The highly expensive and low-demand energy source can't compete in the real market, and solar companies will remain extremely volatile because many governments that support it, don't have the capital to back their ambitions in the sector.

JA Solar (NASDAQ:JASO) closed Tuesday at $6.34, falling $0.34, or 5.09 percent.

Yingli (YGE) (JASO) (PWER) (WFR) Jump on SunPower (SPWRA) Deal

The announcement Total SA (NYSE:TOT) was going to acquire a 60 percent stake in SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ:SPWRA) gave the solar sector a temporary boost, pushing up the share prices of companies like Yingli Green Energy (NYSE:YGE), JA Solar (NASDAQ:JASO), Power-One Inc (PWER) and MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. (NYSE:WFR), as expected.

In an extremely volatile sector, solar companies tend to move in unison on news affecting the industry, and that did happen, although investors shouldn't get too excited about it, other than trying to figure out whether or not another solar company will be acquired.

Since that's a guessing game, it's more gambling than it is investing, but that won't stop some from throwing money at the risky sector.

Solar will continue to struggle because there really isn't a market for it, other than governments around the world attempting to spin it as an alternative energy source. At best it'll be a very expensive source of energy that is unpredictable as to supply, and will only add a tiny bit of energy to the grid.

Spin it as they will, the media can't change that fact, and countries that had supported the extremely expensive sector are starting to pull back as they can no longer afford it. Germany and Italy are two examples; especially Italy in the shorter term.

For those guessing correctly, or even if there is a move toward energy companies buying up solar (not a surety by any means), there is money to be made in solar, but it's far too volatile to commit serious capital to.

SunPower closed Friday at $21.69, gaining $5.57, or 34.55 percent. MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. closed at $11.83, rising $0.68, or 6.10 percent. Yingli Green Energy ended the session at $12.53, up $0.27, or 2.20 percent. JA Solar closed at $6.85, jumping $0.40, or 6.20 percent. Power-One Inc closed at $8.25, increasing $0.04, or 0.49 percent.

SunPower (SPWRA) (FSLR) (STP) (YGE) (TSL) (SOLR) Should Jump on Total (TOT) Deal

There is no doubt the move by Total SA (NYSE:TOT) to acquire a majority stake in U.S. solar company SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ:SPWRA) will spur the industry, as it will generate the idea of who may be next to be infused with cash, such as First Solar (Nasdaq:FSLR), Suntech Power Holdings (NYSE:STP), Yingli Green Energy (NYSE:YGE), Trina Solar (NYSE:TSL) and GT Solar International (SOLR).

It must be kept in mind that the China-based solar companies already have access to capital, so it probably won't affect them as much, although they'll more than likely be pulled up with the rest of the sector over the short term, based on speculation.

Analysts were surprised by the decision of Total, as the solar industry, if you can call it that, is pressured by slow sales, rising costs of raw materials, financing, no real market for the product, and shrinking government support.

If it wasn't for government subsidies there would be no solar market, and the general population couldn't care less about solar, contrary to media allusions to that effect.

That's not to say you can't make money in the industry, as it's subject to wild swings because of it being a media darling and even when it's debatable as to the validity of the industry as a whole, it won't stop the media from hyping it up and causing the share prices of solar companies to jump, as they will on the news of the deal by Total for SunPower.

Yingli (YGE) (STP) (CSIQ) (PWER) Cheap Because of Artifical Markets

Until solar can prove it can stand on its own in the free market, the share prices of the companies will continue to be cheap, as is the case with Suntech Power Holdings (NYSE:STP), Yingli Green Energy (NYSE:YGE), Power-One Inc (NASDAQ:PWER) and Canadian Solar (NASDAQ:CSIQ), which closed mixed Monday.

The major problem with solar is everyone knows it isn't determined by consumer demand, but on government interference and strategies; something that never ends well.

Another major challenge for solar are the assumptions somehow it's going to solve its problems by some type of future invention. People that say this (and they're many) are just true believers and almost religiously want solar to work with a fervor that only the faithful can match.

That's why when you hear those proponents of solar talk about it, it's predicated largely on wishful thinking and faith in some unforeseeable future, rather than the supply and demand of the marketplace.

Solar would become more attractive if it was cut from the governments around the world and allowed to compete against other energy sources. Then they can prove if they are contenders or pretenders. At this time, most investors believe they're pretenders, as evidenced by their weak performances and share prices.

Solar companies will continue to trading at earnings multiples that reflect companies that are in decline until that becomes the reality.

With that unlikely to happen, and some governments like Germany and Italy backing off some of their commitments, it's doubtful the extremely expensive and unreliable energy source, along with solar companies, will be viable any time soon, if ever.