First Solar rallies on earnings as Street cheers

[bananas]

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/first-solar-rallies-analysts-cheer/story.aspx

First Solar rallies on earnings as Street cheers
By Steve Gelsi, MarketWatch
Last Update: 4:35 PM ET Nov 8, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) - First Solar on Thursday rallied 34% to a new closing high Thursday, after the thin-film solar module maker blasted past its earning estimates and drew cheers from analysts.

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"We successfully completed the ramp of our German production facility well ahead of schedule, which afforded us with highly leveraged growth during the quarter and provided our customers with additional production volumes in a continued robust demand environment," said Mike Ahearn, chief executive officer and chairman of First Solar.

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"As investors ponder the implications of $100 oil, potentially weakening economy, weak dollar, geopolitical oil risks and threat from global warming - we cannot but stress how First Solar and SunPower are excellent plays over these big themes in the stock market," Credit Suisse said.

Once First Solar achieves parity in solar costs with utility rates, the company will become "the first stock that can remain profitable even if you completely eliminate subsidies a few years from now," Credit Suisse said.

[Hydra]

1. And solar isn't viable and profitable as an industry

...or so they say.