5 Commodity Stocks to Be Thankful for This Year
So far in 2013, commodity markets have had a troublesome year, with many analysts speculating that the epic commodity boom seen in recent years is finally over. On the equity side, however, major commodity producers have benefited from this year’s bull run, logging in double- and triple-digit gains. Oil and gas producers in particular continue to come out on top, while precious and industrial metal miners struggle to stay out of the red. But on this Thanksgiving Day, it is perhaps most appropriate for us to reflect on those commodity producers we’re particularly grateful for [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Major Commodity Earnings This Week: ADM, DVN, TNH
As we enter the latter part of earnings season, investors and analysts have had plenty of major reports to digest. Thus far, it seems to have been a mixed bag of results with a number of high-profile beats and misses. Reports from commodity firms have been especially under scrutiny as many worry that China’s plateauing growth will send commodity prices into the gutter. Below, we outline some of the biggest commodity firms reporting earnings this week [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
3 Commodity Investments To Profit From Population Growth
One of the most talked-about global trends in recent years has been the rapid growth in population. As emerging markets around the world enter periods of robust growth, their populations have also been on the rise. Though a growing worldwide population will certainly cause a number of issues, it will also present commodity investors with a fair amount of opportunities, as some hard assets represent a great way to profit from the current trend [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
First Solar (FSLR) Helps Industry Skyrocket
Solar energy has been an investing nightmare since the financial crisis. Due to the failure of Solyndra, and the lack of subsidies as the government instead focuses on the failing economy, the solar industry has been burned. In 2011, solar was down over 60% and down another 30% in 2012, but this year First Solar may have finally turned things around for this dying industry [for more alternative energy news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Contrarian Alert: First Solar (FSLR) Rising From The Grave
The bull train has hit a few bumps in recent trading sessions as a wave of European woes over the weekend has prompted some to take profit. Nonetheless, “buying on the dip” remains a dominant theme on Wall Street as bullish pressures continue to reign supreme on the equity front [for more market news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter]. With most equities either sitting at or headed towards new highs, many are faced with the tough decision of waiting to pull the sell trigger in an effort to maximize profit without getting burned by the impending correction. Luckily, the investable universe is wide and not every security has taken advantage of the bull run on Wall Street. Green-energy bellwether First Solar (FSLR) presents an intriguing opportunity at the moment that warrants a closer look from contrarian investors looking to get a piece of the action on Wall Street.
SolarCity IPO On The Horizon
Amid all of the talks and discussions on alternative energy by the Presidential candidates, one solar company has announced its plans for an IPO. Founded in 2006, SolarCity provides energy to both homeowners as well as businesses as it finances and installs photovoltaic for its customers. The firm also performs energy audits and builds charging stations for electric cars [for more solar energy news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Top 5 Solar Stocks by Market Cap
Solar investing has been a highly contended subject for many years now. Some feel that it is a strong allocation for a long-term portfolio as the growth in the alternative energy world offers some enticing opportunities. Others need only point to the historically abysmal returns of the majority of these securities to justify their reasoning for avoidance. For those who do feel that solar is a good long term play, or are at least interested in researching further into this energy source, we outline the five biggest solar companies by market cap [for more solar news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
How a President Romney Could Destroy Alternative Energy Investing
For the next two months, all anyone will be talking about is who will win the November election and how that will impact our nation. From our economic standing to our energy policy, each presidential candidate offers a different plan for how they plan to move forward. One investing segment that is of particular interest is that of alternative energy as the Republican and Democratic parties have very opposing views and policies for green energy. The biggest question that alternative energy investors are asking is whether or not a Mitt Romney presidency will mean troubled times for this green sector [for more alternative energy news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Why Alternative Energy Will Never Become Widespread (In Our Lifetime)
It has been an argument that has caught fire in recent years; whether or not countries around the world should make the switch to clean energy. There are two very opposed sides, as big oil has such a prominent impact on the global economy though environmentalists have been quick to point out their destruction of the surrounding environment. But while small strides have been made in recent decades, the fact is, alternative energy is still a minute portion of our energy production [see also 25 Ways To Invest In Alternative Energy].
Three Reasons Why Solar Stocks Are Sinking
After enduring a miserable 2010, most investors were pleased to see solar hit the ground running this year, as a number of equities tied to this industry enjoyed double digit gains for several months. But as the year progressed, solar stocks quickly began to reverse their winning ways, dragging them even lower than where many had been at last year. These extreme losses come as a thorn in investors’ side, especially given that solar energy is arguably the fastest growing renewable energy in the world. Last year saw the overall industry grow by nearly 73%, leading to an average annual growth of 39% over the last decade [see also Company Spotlight: First Solar (FSLR)].
