Anyone think Stp, will have a run this week with earnings? TSL also reports.
August 18, 2008, 4:06 pm
Trina Sell-Off Overdone, Says Raymond James
Posted by Tiernan Ray
Shares of solar power technology provider Trina Solar (TSL) fell as much as 5.4% today after the company this morning announced sales and profit that missed estimates despite a big jump in sales and profit, year-over-year. The sell-off may be overdone, opined Raymond James analyst Pavel Molchanov, in a chat I had with him by phone this afternoon.
Trina sales of $204.2 million nearly tripled from the prior-year period, beating the average $202.5 million estimate, while profit of 68 cents was short of an 81-cent estimate, in large part because of a $6.1 million foreign exchange loss owing to the rise in the Chinese Renminbi against the dollar. But what spooked some was the companyâs statement on a conference call with analysts earlier today that it has pre-sold 60% of its sales target for next year. That could be taken as meaning the company is at risk of having lower prices next year, even though management today actually said their gross profit should be up next year because of stronger pricing.
âIs it favorable they have pre-sold about 60%, with another 4 months to go in the year?â asks Molchanov in our talk. âAt this stage in the year, to have pre-sold 60% does not look like a bad place to be in.â Molchanov says the companyâs forecast for gross profit as a percentage of sales to be up next year from last quarterâs 23.2% is better than he had forecast. Molchanov points out that the company also has secured 60% of the silicon wafer supply it needs to meet next yearâs sales target. Thatâs important because locking in contracts for silicon now provides greater certainty for profit margin next year. Molchanov has a $55 price target on Trina and a âStrong Buyâ rating on the stock. He notes that its trading at less than 8 times his estimate for next year, which he thinks is relatively cheap among solar stocks. Molchanovâs profit estimate of $3.97 for 2009 is lower than the Street, at $4.35.
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