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☆ First Solar jumps on strong quarter, record backlog in rare bright spot for beaten-down renewable sector
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

First Solar shares jumped Wednesday after reporting another solid quarter, with the company booked solid through 2026 and an order backlog that stretches into the end of the decade. First Solar is one of the few companies that has weathered the sharp downturn in the solar sector. JPMorgan has a price target of $226 for the stock, implying about 56% upside from Tuesday's close. Goldman Sachs lowered its price target for First Solar to $265 from $275 prior despite the company's strong quarter. The investment bank said solar module oversupply and potential changes to U.S. tax credits are key risks for First Solar moving forward.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Andrew Percoco, Mark Strouse, Corinne Blanchard, Blanchard, Alexander Bradley, Mark Widmar, Goldman Sachs Organizations: Solar, JPMorgan, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Locations: Perrysburg , Ohio, India, Europe

☆ Solar stocks could rebound in 2024 after a brutal year but interest rates will make or break the recovery
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Solar stocks could rebound in the second half of 2024 after taking a beating this year, though the industry's recovery depends largely on whether the Federal Reserve raises interest rates again. The rally comes as the residential solar industry looks toward the end of a rough year, with demand softening significantly as repeated rate hikes made installations unattractive for consumers. "The big headwind is interest rates," said Julien Dumoulin-Smith, a stock analyst who covers clean energy for Bank of America. Inventory problem The residential solar companies misread the market this year after a record 2022. The residential solar stocks will probably be broadly revisited on the buyside sometime around the spring of 2024, Blanchard said, though this also depends on what the Federal Reserve does with interest rates.

Persons: SolarEdge, Julien Dumoulin, Smith, we're, Corinne Blanchard, Blanchard, Wood Mackenzie, Jerome Powell, Goldman Sachs, James West, orderbook, West Organizations: Federal Reserve, Treasury, Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, Federal, Golden State, Utilities, Evercore ISI Locations: Dumoulin, California, Golden

☆ Deutsche Bank downgrades three solar stocks as industry demand weakens in the U.S. and Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Softening demand means that investors should consider pivoting away from solar stocks, according to Deutsche Bank. The firm downgraded three solar names to hold from buy: SolarEdge , Sunrun and Sunnova . Deutsche lowered the price target for SolarEdge to $150 — implying a 32% potential upside from the stock's closing price Thursday — from $300. Those comments, along with SolarEdge cutting its third-quarter revenue guidance, put pressure on the broader solar sector. Earnings season for the solar industry kicks off with Sunnova reporting results on Oct. 25.

Persons: Deutsche, Sunnova, SolarEdge, Sunrun, Corinne Blanchard, whittle, Blanchard, there's, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Deutsche Bank, NOVA, Bloomberg Locations: U.S, Northeastern U.S, Southern, China

☆ Analysts bail on solar stocks after SolarEdge warning of weak earnings
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Solaredge 's warning on Thursday of weakening European demand was another red flag following what has already been a tumultuous year for the solar industry. Several Wall Street investment banks downgraded SolarEdge and slashed their price targets in reaction to the preannouncement. Deutsche Bank downgraded SolarEdge , along with peer solar stocks Sunrun and Sunnova , to a hold rating from buy. Analyst Corinne Blanchard halved SolarEdge's price target to $150 from $300, although this still implies 32% potential upside from the stock's Thursday close. Besides waning European demand, Blanchard highlighted that U.S. demand has also declined and may not bottom until early 2024.

Persons: Solaredge, Zvi Lando, Enphase, SunPower, Sunrun, bode, Gordon Haskett, Don Bilson, Corinne Blanchard, Blanchard, Goldman Sachs, SolarEdge, Goldman, Brian Lee, Oppenheimer, Roth, Philip Shen, Julien Dumoulin, Smith, Michael Bloom Organizations: Deutsche Bank, Bank of America Locations: California, SolarEdge, U.S

☆ Deutsche Bank upgrades this solar stock poised to rally 30%
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Analyst Corinne Blanchard upgraded the solar panel maker to buy from hold. She also raised her price target to $235 from $220, implying shares stand to gain 30.2% in the next 12 months. First Solar is the nation's largest solar panel manufacturer. First Solar is also at an "attractive entry point" compared to the firm's price target, the analyst said. The company is the nation's largest solar panel manufacturer.

Persons: Corinne Blanchard, Blanchard, — Michael Bloom Organizations: Deutsche Bank, Management Locations: U.S

☆ A worldwide lithium shortage could come as soon as 2025
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesThe world could face a shortage for lithium as demand for the metal ramps up, with some analysts forecasting that it could come as soon as 2025. BMI, a Fitch Solutions research unit, was among those that predict a lithium supply deficit by 2025. In a recently published report, BMI largely attributed the deficit to China's lithium demand exceeding that of its supply. "We expect an average of 20.4% year-on-year annual growth for China's lithium demand for EVs alone over 2023-2032," the report stated. While that could point to a global lithium surplus next year, shortages could start to plague supply chains in 2028.

Persons: Susan Zou, Corinne Blanchard, Deutsche, Blanchard, Zou Organizations: Sigma, Bloomberg, Getty, BMI, Fitch Solutions, Economic, Rystad Energy, P, Commodity, EV Locations: Itinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil, China, skyrocket, transportations, U.S, Europe

☆ As interest rates stay higher for longer, these home improvement stocks can navigate consumer trends
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Investors are hoping that next week's Federal Reserve meeting offers more clarity about the path interest rates could take. Rising interest rates squeeze consumers, while a cut to follow should help boost economic activity. These pricey purchases are often financed, and higher rates mean higher costs. "Even if the sticker price of the thing doesn't change, the interest rate still matters a lot for their monthly budget." The "brakes were hit very hard in 2022," largely due to higher rates on the new-home construction side, he said.

Persons: Christopher Herrington, Herrington, Kurt Yinger, It's, James Hardie, Yinger, There's, Rafe Jadrosich, Jadrosich, Seth Sigman, Bank of America's Curtis Nagle, Nagle, Loop's Anthony Chukumba, Garik Shmois, Shmois, Leslie's, Julien Dumoulin, Smith, SunRun, Corinne Blanchard, Citi's Pierre Lau, SolarEdge, Lau, John Bailer, Michael Bloom Organizations: Virginia Commonwealth University, Davidson, Companies, Bank of America, Fortune Brands, UFP Industries, Barclays, Bank of America's, Williams, Pool Corp, of America, FTC, Deutsche Bank, Shoals Technologies, Caterpillar, Cummins, Newton Investment Management Locations: Louisiana, Wall, Sonoma, California

☆ Deutsche Bank says buy this solar stock as margins, cost concerns fade
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The future is look brighter for shares of SolarEdge Technologies , according to Deutsche Bank. Analyst Corinne Blanchard upgraded the solar stock to buy from hold, saying in a Thursday note to clients that the company's quarterly results help alleviate some cost, margin and execution fears. "We are increasingly constructive on the name, given previous concerns around cost control, better geographic localization of its supply chain and margin pressure have faded away," she said. SEDG YTD mountain Shares in 2023 SolarEdge jumped 6.6% on Thursday after posting quarterly results that beat analyst expectations. Along with the upgrade, Blanchard lifted her price target on shares to $375, reflecting 33% upside from Thursday's close.

☆ As lithium prices bounce, analysts love these stocks — giving one 155% upside
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Weizhen Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

After a tough few months, lithium — a battery metal crucial in electric vehicles — is back in the spotlight as prices start to rebound. By the end of last week, however, lithium prices had started to bounce back. "Lithium prices in China gained for the first time this year on signs demand growth may be finally gathering pace … [and] amid thinning inventories across the supply chain," the ANZ Research analysts added. Canadian miner Sigma Lithium stood out for getting the highest potential upside from analysts at 155%, and a buy rating from 75% of analysts. Stocks that received a 100% buy rating included American EV battery maker Microvast Holdings and Australian miner Piedmont Lithium .

It's time to take some profit in First Solar after the stock's big run-up, according to Deutsche Bank. To be sure, the analyst raised its price target on the stock to $230 per share from $190. Yet, we believe that the current stock price … represents an expensive entry point for investors; we would see a valuation range of below $200/sh as more attractive." "We would look to get more constructive if the share price sees a significant downside," Blanchard said. Deutsche named Enphase Energy as its top long-term buy name among solar energy companies.

☆ Lithium's got a strong year ahead of it — and China's reopening will boost this stock, analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Weizhen Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Things are looking up for the electric vehicle industry, thanks to China's reopening — particularly in the second half of the year, one analyst says. Corinne Blanchard, vice president of lithium and clean tech equity research at Deutsche Bank, told CNBC's " Street Signs Asia " last week that China's reopening should give the EV industry a "nice boost." Stock picks Among lithium names, Deutsche favors those with strong management teams with "best in class" execution. The firm is well positioned to capitalize on lithium's growth thanks to its two new plants, which were launched in 2022. "We believe Lithium will remain a license for Albemarle to continue printing money well into the future," she said.

☆ Investors have been more cautious on lithium in the last 2-3 months, says Deutsche Bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailInvestors have been more cautious on lithium in the last 2-3 months, says Deutsche BankCorinne Blanchard of the investment bank says lithium demand is usually lower in December and January, but China's reopening will boost the electric vehicle sector.

☆ Here are analysts' favorite tech stocks for 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Carmen Reinicke | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The tech sector was hit hard last year as worries about economic weakness and the Federal Reserve's aggressive rate hike path to tame inflation weighed on companies. In particular, rising interest rates hurt the present value of the future stream of earnings for tech stocks. The Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK), a fund that corresponds with the tech sector of the S & P 500, dropped 28% in 2022. Still, there are some bright spots in the sector where Wall Street analysts see growth ahead. The stock gained nearly 45% in 2022 and could rise another 43% this year, according to the consensus price target from Wall Street analysts.

☆ The top stories in the world of banking in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

While 2022 wasn't a banner year for banks, it also wasn't a complete disaster. Will Nance, Neena Bitritto-Garg, Corinne Blanchard, and Michael Elias Goldman Sachs; Citi; Cowen; Deutsche Bank; Sean Gladwell/Getty; Savanna Durr/Insider1. At Goldman Sachs ID swipes were tracked. But by 2022 the wheels were starting to fall off on CEO David Solomon's consumer ambitions, as first reported by Insider. This fall, Wells Fargo made the decision to move tens of thousands of accounts out of its private bank that had under $5 million.

☆ There hasn't been an impact on solar spending from consumer slowdown, says Deutsche Bank's Blanchard
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThere hasn't been an impact on solar spending from consumer slowdown, says Deutsche Bank's BlanchardCorinne Blanchard, Deutsche Bank research analyst, joins 'The Exchange' to discuss her macro thesis on solar stocks, if she worries about an economic slowdown affecting solar panel sales and more.

☆ Enphase could continue rallying as optimism around the solar energy sector grows, Deutsche Bank says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Solar company Enphase Energy could get a boost as demand in the U.S. increases in the coming years, according to Deutsche Bank. Analyst Corinne Blanchard initiated the stock as a buy with a price target of $330, which presents upside of 10.8% from its Monday closing price. That's about in line with the broader energy sector, which is the only in the S & P 500 performing positively this year. Among her list of stocks to watch is Enphase, which makes microinverter-based solar and battery systems that then allow for the sun to be converted into energy. She also initiated coverage of solar module producer First Solar at a buy with a price target of $180, which presents an upside of 17.2% over Monday's close.

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