Best Solar Companies To Invest In Right Now

European stocks were little changed as investors weighed German data that showed business confidence in Europe�� largest economy increased to the highest level since April 2012. U.S. index futures and Asian shares were also little changed.

Novartis AG climbed 1.5 percent after proposing a share buyback and saying it will enter new business segments. Solarworld AG rallied 6.1 percent after a report that it will announce the takeover of Bosch Solar Energy AG next week. Rhoen-Klinikum AG fell 2.9 percent after saying its second-biggest shareholder sued to block the sale of 43 clinics to Fresenius SE�� Helios unit.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index gained 0.1 percent 322.83 at 10:29 a.m. in London. The benchmark gauge has lost 0.1 percent this week as Federal Reserve minutes signaled policy makers may reduce stimulus sooner than investors predicted. Standard & Poor�� 500 Index futures added less than 0.1 percent today, while the MSCI Asia Pacific Index increased 0.1 percent.

Top 10 Building Product Stocks To Invest In 2015: Real Goods Solar Inc.(RSOL)

Real Goods Solar, Inc. operates as a residential and commercial solar energy integrator primarily in California and Colorado. The company provides engineering, procurement, and construction services. It offers various turnkey solar energy services, including design, procurement, permitting, build-out, grid connection, financing referrals, and warranty and customer satisfaction services. The company installs residential and small commercial systems that range between 3 kilowatts and 1 megawatt output. It also engages in the retail sale of renewable energy products. The company was founded in 1978 and is based in Louisville, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Small cap solar stock Andalay Solar Inc (OTCMKTS: WEST) has largely cratered for investors�verses solar stock peers Real Goods Solar, Inc (NASDAQ: RSOL) and SolarCity Corp (NASDAQ: SCTY), but is the company finally turning itself around after a failed deal to be acquired?

Best Solar Companies To Invest In Right Now: First Solar Inc.(FSLR)

First Solar, Inc. manufactures and sells solar modules using a thin-film semiconductor technology. It also designs, constructs, and sells photovoltaic solar power systems. The company?s solar modules employ a thin layer of semiconductor material to convert sunlight into electricity. Its integrated solar power systems activities include the project development; engineering, procurement, and construction services; operating and maintenance services; and project finance. The company sells solar modules to project developers, system integrators, and operators of renewable energy projects; and solar power systems to investor owned utilities, independent power developers and producers, and commercial and industrial companies, as well as other system owners. It operates in the United States, Germany, France, Canada, and internationally. The company was formerly known as First Solar Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to First Solar, Inc. in 2006. First Solar was founded in 1999 a nd is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  First Solar provides a valuable alternative source of energy using solar power to consumers and companies present around the world. The stock has bounced off of lows and has gone on to see a surge in its stock price. Earnings and revenue figures have been growing for most of the last four quarters but investors have been expecting better earnings reports. Relative to its peers and sector, First Solar has been a year-to-date performance leader. Look for First Solar to OUTPERFORM.

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) was raised to Market Perform from Underperform at Raymond James now that shares have pulled back $20 or so from the 2013 highs. Shares are indicated up over 2% as effectively this removes on of the “sell” biases from the pool of analysts. Trina Solar Ltd. (NYSE: TSL) was also given the same upgrade to Market Perform from Underperform at Raymond James.

• [By Sean Williams]

  To begin with, Europe is set to enforce a whopping 67% tariff on Chinese solar panels beginning early in August. This movie will wipe out almost any pricing advantage Chinese companies had in Europe. The other factor here is the health and pricing power that U.S. solar producers like First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR  ) suddenly have. Comparatively speaking, First Solar has strong free cash generation and $439 million in net cash. Hanwha has had a free cash outflow in all but one year since inception and boasts $622 million in net debt with a shrinking cash pile. With First Solar's higher-efficiency panels and lessening costs, it can give any Chinese manufacturer a run for its money in the States and even overseas.

Best Solar Companies To Invest In Right Now: Ascent Solar Technologies Inc.(ASTI)

Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc., a development stage company, focuses on commercializing flexible photovoltaic (PV) modules using its proprietary technology. The company intends to manufacture roll-format PV modules that use copper-indium-gallium-diselenide (CIGS) on a plastic substrate. Its proprietary manufacturing process deposits multiple layers of materials, including a thin-film of CIGS semiconductor material on a plastic substrate and laser patterns the layers to create interconnected PV cells or PV modules through monolithic integration process. The company would serve the building applied photovoltaic (BAPV) and building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) market, as well as specialty markets, such as defense, portable power, transportation, electronic integrated photovoltaic, and space and near-space. It has a strategic relationship with Norsk Hydro Produksjon AS to access customers in the BIPV/BAPV markets worldwide. Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. was founded in 200 5 and is based in Thornton, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  Solar stocks have not exactly given buy and hold investors a smooth ride, but small cap�GT Advanced Technologies Inc (NASDAQ: GTAT) could be an interesting materials play on the solar sector���meaning its worth taking a closer look at the stock along with potential peers like Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc (NASDAQ: ASTI) and STR Holdings, Inc (NYSE: STRI) plus solar ETF Guggenheim Solar ETF (NYSEARCA: TAN). I should mention that just last week, we added GT Advanced Technologies to our�SmallCap Network Elite Opportunity (SCN EO) portfolio for both�fundamentals and technical reasons and we are already up almost 9%.

Best Solar Companies To Invest In Right Now: JA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd.(JASO)

JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd., through its subsidiaries, engages in the design, development, manufacture, and sale of photovoltaic solar cells and solar products, which convert sunlight into electricity in the People's Republic of China. The company?s principal products include monocrystalline and multicrystalline solar cells, as well as various solar modules. It also provides silicon wafer and solar cell processing services. The company sells its products primarily under the JA Solar brand name, as well as produces equipment for original equipment manufacturing customers under their brand names. It sells its solar cell and module products primarily to module manufacturers, system integrators, project developers, and distributors in the Germany, Italy, the United States, Hong Kong, Spain, India, the Czech Republic, France, and South Korea. The company has strategic partnerships with various solar power companies, such as BP Solar, Solar-Fabrik, and MEMC/SunEdison. JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. was founded in 2005 and is based in Shanghai, the People?s Republic of China.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Anna Prior]

  Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Monday’s session are Citigroup Inc.(C), JA Solar Holdings(JASO) Co and Chindex International Inc.(CHDX)