Editor’s note: Related tickers: First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR), SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR), NRG Energy Inc (NYSE:NRG), SolarCity Corp (NASDAQ:SCTY), Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (ADR) (NYSE:STP)
Alternative sources of energy are becoming a more and more popular topic on the table. One of the most popular sources of alternative energy is solar power. An interesting point is that most of the companies involved with this kind of energy have been boosted over the past week . Let’s take a closer look into these stocks: First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR), SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR), NRG Energy Inc (NYSE:NRG), SolarCity Corp (NASDAQ:SCTY), Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (ADR) (NYSE:STP).
First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) gained 40.32% over the past five days. On April 9, First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) had a dramatic jump of 49% on the back of the company’s analyst day, when the company announced improved guidance of $3.8 billion to $4.0 billion in net revenue for 2013 (which is over the analysts’ estimates of $3.17 billion). Also, the company said about an anticipated diluted EPS of $4-4.50 per share (estimates were $3.60 per share). At the same time, First Solar announced about acquiring TetraSun, a privately held manufacturer of silicon panel.
With a growth of 17.53%, SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR), is another company from the solar industry worth mentioning. In the market of solar power, the main issue is that the capacity exceeds demand and SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR) has outperformed its rivals in terms of efficiency, which could mean that it is most likely to capture its share of the 30 gigawatts of demand over which companies with 70 gigawatts are fighting.
We should also not forget about NRG Energy Inc (NYSE:NRG), which added 2.92% to its share price. NRG Energy Inc (NYSE:NRG) has conducted some interesting actions recently. Being the largest power provider to U.S. utilities, NRG Energy Inc (NYSE:NRG), has begun offering electricity straight to consumers, avoiding its traditional clients. The company entered the rooftop solar business and plans to offer natural-gas generators to substitute batteries in days without sun.
SolarCity Corp (NASDAQ:SCTY)‘s shares appreciated by 9.54% over the past five days. A couple of days ago, SolarCity Corp (NASDAQ:SCTY) announced it was building a 12 megawatt pv plant in Hawaii. The value of the project is estimated at $40 million, pv magazine, reported. Also, pv magazine said about SolarCity Corp (NASDAQ:SCTY) installing 75 solar panels on the rooftops of six Georgetown University-owned buildings, a measure which is expected to reduce the university’s bills by tens of thousands of dollars.
The most impressive of all is the advancement made by Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (ADR) (NYSE:STP). The stock has jumped by 80.44%. The stock rallied on rumors that Warren Buffett may buy the company. Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (ADR) (NYSE:STP) has filed for bankruptcy and it saw its stock lose 40% when it defaulted on $541 million in bonds.
