Steve Martin
5N Plus
VNP-T
PARTIAL BUY
Apr 18, 2008
This is one that he has struggled with because it is one of the best exposed companies for the solar industry but is a little bit expensive on an earnings basis. If you believe that the industry will grow at 30% or 50% per year for the next 10 or 20 years, which he does, this company will definitely prosper. Wouldn't make it an overweight holding.
Primary material supplier to First Solar. There are other potential customers lining up. There virtually have no competition. Tremendous balance sheet, lots of cash.
Originally specialized in tellurium and cadmium telluride the core guts of what is used in solar cells. Acquired a company in April, which diversifies them into other industry products. Just reported earnings, which were very significant. Sales growth up over 460%. 15% ROE. Dirt cheap.
Top Short Solar business has just been a disaster in the last year. This company provides components and some of the raw materials into this sector. Collapsing prices and subsidies disappearing. Cheap natural gas is a clean alternative to solar. Have a lot of debt.
He is still short the stock. The problem with this company is the balance sheet. Made a major acquisition of some of the raw materials that go into the solar supply chain but took on a significant amount of debt. Solar industry has been in serious decline.
(Top Pick Aug 26/11, Down 79.18%) Did a massive acquisition that didn’t work out. Should be good opportunities for lead free paint in Europe next year. It will still be tough sledding for the company, which is why he sold it 8 months ago for a 28% loss.
(A Top Short Jan 27/12. Up 55.89%.) Supply materials and components into the solar sector. Solar sector relies on subsidies and is not economic without it. He is pretty much out of this one now.
Volatile. Not easy to understand. Engineered materials mainly for the solar industry. They've diversified. A recent acquisition may be transformative, wait and see. Hold if you own it. He's revisiting it. He prefers NEO, as a cheap way to play the EV market.
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