Making Money In Solar Power
SunPower (SPWR), the Cypress Semiconductor founded company, has performed well since going public. The stock has moved up to $43, increasing from the mid-20s when it initially started trading.
SunPower makes solar electric power products based on semiconductor technology. Due to the strong growth of these semiconductors, management has cited that getting access to the much needed materials might limit SunPower’s growth.
In this weekend’s Barron’s interview, Michael Cahill, portfolio manager of Chilton Investment, has found a way for investors to possibly profit from any supply shortages that SunPower might face.
Cahill recommends the purchase of MEMC Electronic Materials (WFR). For SunPower to make its chips, it needs a lot of polysilicon, the material used to manufacture semiconductor wafers. However, as this new solar application for semiconductors takes off, polysilicon will most likely be in short supply.
MEMC Electronic earned $2.07 for 2006 and Cahill expects earnings to hit $3.00 in 2007 and $4 per share by 2008. MEMC Electronic appears to be a way to profit from the take off of the solar semiconductor business.
February 6, 2007
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