After the closing bell last night, silicon-wafer producer MEMC Electronic Materials (NYSE: WFR) offered a mid-quarter update that's sent the shares reeling into negative territory this morning. The report started auspiciously enough, as CEO Nabeel Gareeb noted that current production rates "could allow us to achieve results in the upper half of our targeted financial range" of $560 million to $620 million in revenue.
His comment seemed to indicate that MEMC might exceed analysts' expected revenue of $596.7 million, as reported by Thoms
MEMC Electronic Materials (WFR) designs, manufactures and sells silicon wafers for use in the semiconductor and solar industry. Recently, the company has been battered by series of problems such as slowing demand, new competitors, manufacturing problems and declining oil prices which threaten to undermine the renewed interest in solar technology. These issues are resolving with WFR demonstrating the superiority of their product over competitors and solar energy becoming a top priority for both U. S. political parties as a necessary part of the current energy crisis. This should result in...
With MEMC Electronic (WFR) getting hammered yesterday on disappointing earnings (see conference call transcript), investors are faced with the always difficult assessment of what to do with the stock. I make no claim to deep expertise on WFR, but here are some general comments on the quarter, the valuation and the stock market reaction.
Top line was about $10mm below the low end of management’s April 24th guidance. Operational issues were the cause. Some analysts are concerned because this is the 2nd quarter of such issues. Thus, the tendency is to extrapolate. But that is a human flaw.
Stocks discussed in the lightning round session of Jim Cramer’s Mad Money TV program, Friday June 20. <!---->
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Bullish calls:
John Deere (DE):“I have to tell you, I think DE down 18 straight points is a buy, not a sell.” Williams (WMB): “I like WMB... I'll give you a two-fer... I like Willbros Group…it ain't ending with this natural gas situation.” Willbros Group (WG) Frontline (FRO): “I have been recommending and recommending and recommending it, and what happened today? 52-week high. What's the yield?... 15%.” Wal-Mart (WMT): “WMT is a buy, buy, buy. A house of pleasure, and I lov
With the explosion of oil prices and implosion in the value of the dollar, a perfect storm is brewing for U.S.-based, export-oriented providers of alternative energy related products. MEMC Electronic Materials (WFR) fits that description nicely, though investors will have to climb a “wall of worry” to overcome some of the fears holding the stock back.
MEMC refines silicon, grows silicon ingots and slices wafers for electronics and solar applications.80% of its revenues come from the semiconductor industry (projected 7.7% CAGR over the next 5 years) and 20% from solar applications (47-81
Consider buying MEMC Electronic Materials (WFR) shares ahead of the company’s Q2 results, advises Friedman Billings Ramsey analyst Mehdi Hosseini.
Hosseini write in a research note Monday morning that “field checks” find polysilicon prices “have remained strong.” He says recent manufacturing issues have been fixed and that the company is on track to meet or exceed Q2 estimates. He sees Q2 revenue of $554 million with pro forma EPS of 99 cents. Hosseini also thinks the company could provide Q3 guidance ahead of the current Street consensus of $619 million and $1.13.
4/30 - "MEMC Electronic Materials (WFR) shares are down sharply today after J.P. Morgan analyst Christopher Blansett cut his rating on the stock to Neutral from Overweight...Blansett wrote in a research note this morning that the polysilicon wafer supplier “faces increasing near-term headwinds given the high Street expectations and very tight capacity expansion schedule over the next few quarters.”
"He also says that erosion in semi wafer pricing “implies that supply tightness is not as severe as before and that semi customers are pushing back and gaining concessions.” He thinks MEMC rival...
3/10 - "Citigroup...expects that reelection of the Socialist Party will result in more favorable solar tariff policies post the current policy's expiration on 30 September 2008...Sees Suntech (NYSE:STP) and Yingli (NYSE:YGE) as main beneficiaries due to their exposure to Spanish mkt."
"Piper Jaffray notes a very damaging article (and pictures) appeared in the Washington Post on Sunday March 9 which highlighted one of the problems with poorly designed Chinese poly plants. Some plants in China, like Luoyang Zhonggui (a supplier to STP, LDK and CSIQ) cannot recycle the byproducts back into th...
ROIC, book value, and EPS growth on a 5 and 1 year basis of > 30% with an increasing trend , along with a strong Piotroski analysis makes for a strong value case. Projected 2008 growth of 40% with a current PE ~ 21 and PEG < 1 makes for a strong PE expansion case. Has performed well through the downturn and looks good as momentum play. As a growth story, companies hoping to cash in on the solar incentives in Spain and Germany prior to lower government subsidy payouts are out of time; they must deploy 2008 or receive smaller payments forward. Major concerns to this growth story ...
Not sure why I left this out last October when I was last playing in this sand box. Anyway, here's another chance at this pretty much pure play silicon (next to oxygen, it is the most abundant element in the earth's crust) wafer company. Strong fundamentals and a bright future make it a no-brainer at this price.
I have always preferred to own oil and gas companies over stocks related to alternative energy. Mostly because alternative energy companies are highly dependent on the federal government for subsides to run a profitable business. Now many solar companies are publicly traded and less dependent on the government. The best way to play the growth of solar energy is to own MEMC Electronics ( WFR ). They manufacture the polysilicon for solar panels.
My second alternative energy stock is NRG Energy ( NRG ). NRG develops and manages power plants. The US power grid will need to be update...
MEMC Electronic (WFR) has experienced a sharp pullback since reporting earnings last week. After 2 years of beating estimates, I think investors were hoping for another big beat. The company still reported verys solid results, but I think a lot of momentum investors had become involved, and simply sold on the news.
WFR reported a big jump in earnings, and gross margins exceeded 50%, which is impressive. Management also indicated that it expected further margin improvement going forward, as solar sales to some big customers ramp up.
In a research note published this morning, the analyst mentions that the company is continuing to shift small quantities of its polysilicon capacity to the solar market. Silicon spot pricing is likely to remain buoyant in the near term, the analyst says. The EPS estimate for FY08 has been raised to $3.62.
Are we having fun yet?
- Hi guys,
Wanted to hear your take on a couple of companies:
Google (GOOG) and WFR are on my radar - could there be a better buying opportunity for th...
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About MEMC Electronic Materials Inc
- Answers.com
Top line was about $10mm below the low end of management’s April 24th guidance. Operational issues were the cause. Some analysts are concerned because this is the 2nd quarter of such issues. Thus, the tendency is to extrapolate. But that is a human flaw.
Consider buying MEMC Electronic Materials (WFR) shares ahead of the company’s Q2 results, advises Friedman Billings Ramsey analyst Mehdi Hosseini.
