How Did These 7 Green Money Managers Do in 2013?
Tom Konrad CFA Outlook 2013 photo via BigStock Last December, I asked my panel of managers of green funds and portfolios to predict the major trends of 2013, and pick their top stock for the year to come. I wrote a series of articles based on their responses, which I’ll reference below. I plan to ask them the same questions this year, but first I will check on how they’ve done so far. The Managers Not everyone on my panel responded to all the questions, but here are the...
Our Blue Chip Alternative Energy Stock List
The market has fallen sharply, and Solar stocks have fallen even more following rumors that Congress will pass the Energy Bill without the Production Tax Credit or Investment Tax Credit. Given this volatility and Renewable Energy's reputation for profitless startups, now might seem like an excellent time for a risk adverse investor to abandon the sector altogether. Not so. Even if all tax credits and other incentives for Renewable Energy were to be removed, the underlying drivers of Alternative Energy remain firmly in place: Rising energy prices and decreasing reserves, the need to reduce our Greenhouse gas emissions to avoid...
Ten Clean Energy Stocks For 2019: Sell The Peaks
I missed my regular monthly update in early June because of vacation.
In hindsight, early June looks like it was a good buying opportunity. The broad market of dividend stocks (represented by my benchmark SDY) falling six percent in May, only to rebound a similar amount in June. At the time, I would have continued to advise caution: “Sell the peaks” rather than “Buy the dips.”
Particularly volatile stocks like European autoparts supplier Valeo (FR.PA) from this list would have generated even greater short term gains. But it would take more than a six percent market decline to transform this bear...
Shares in Energy Conversion Devices Purchased
Energy Conversion Devices Inc (ENER) opened up trading this morning with a gap down to the $33 level. For the last hour it has been steadily rising up from this point. As I said in my earlier post, I have been looking for a good entry point in this company and feel that the near term support of $33 is an ideal area to place an order. The stock has been on a run for several months and it is always hard to take a new position in a stock that has already seen dramatic increases...
Ten Clean Energy Stocks For 2017: Taking Profits
By Tom Konrad Ph.D., CFA
2017 is turning into a second banner year in a row for my “Ten Clean Energy Stocks” model portfolio. I expected at best to make high single digit returns after the impressive 20% (while my benchmark fell 4%). Instead, the portfolio produced a 36.8% total return while its benchmark is up 19.5% with only four trading days left in the year.
Such returns are obviously cause for celebration, and also for profit taking. I plan to replace at least five of this year's list with new stocks in the 2018 (tenth annual) “Clean Energy Stocks” model...
Correction, or Bear Market?
by Tom Konrad, Ph.D., CFA
On February 21st, I was helping an investment advisor I consult with pick stocks for a new client's portfolio. He lamented that there were not enough stocks at good valuations. This is one of the hardest parts of being an investment advisor: a client expects the advisor to build a portfolio of stocks which should do well, but sometimes, especially in late stage bull markets, most stocks are overvalued. I reminded him, "The Constitution does not guarantee anyone the right to good stock picks." He agreed, but he still had to tell his client that...
Ten Clean Energy Stocks For 2014: September Update and Thoughts on the Finavera Deal
Tom Konrad CFA Clean energy stocks and the market in general rebounded strongly in August. My broad market benchmark of small cap stocks, IWM, rose 4.5%, returning to positive territory up 1.7% for the year. My clean energy benchmark PBW also jumped back into the black with an 11.1% gain for the month and 10.8% for the year to date. The less volatile defensive stocks in my 10 Clean Energy Stocks for 2014 model portfolio rose 1.9%. For the year to...
Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda
With the market's rapid rebound from March lows and the Nasdaq Composite stock index closing higher than it was at the end of last year, many of us are probably asking ourselves:
Did I miss my chance to buy at the lows?
or:
Will I ever make up for my losses?
These questions point to dangerous emotions for stock market investors. Fear of missing out often leads to investment mistakes. This is why investment advisors always tell their clients that they are better off not looking at their portfolios in a downturn.
A big loss makes some people want to sell everything, for fear...
Seven Green Stocks I Told My Sister to Buy
Tom Konrad CFA I guide my sister through the stock market, she guides me through the mountains. An earlier version of his article was first published on the author's Forbes.com blog, Green Stocks on February 15th. This version has been updated to reflect market action and news since then. Earlier this week, I wrote about how my annual green stock trading advice had worked out for my sister and readers (well) and the two stocks where I thought she...
11 Clean Energy Stocks for 2012: August Update
Tom Konrad CFA July Overview July was a good month for my Clean Energy model portfolio. Since the last update, these 11 stocks are up an average of 3.3%, with a year to date return total return a tiny loss of -0.5%. While it's never pleasant to be down for the year, it's helpful to compare this performance to that of the most widely held clean energy ETF, the Powershares Wilderhill Clean Energy ETF (PBW), which was down 8.7% for the month, and down 21% year to date. All in all, it has been a miserable year...
Ten Clean Energy Stocks For 2019: Still Party Time
by Tom Konrad Ph.D., CFA
2019 has become another blockbuster year for the Ten Clean Energy Stocks model portfolio and, to a lesser extent clean energy stocks and the broad stock market as well. I'm frankly surprised to see the party continuing. The continued spiking of the metaphorical punch bowl by the Federal Reserve with interest rate cuts certainly has a lot to do with it. I had expected those cuts to be both fewer and less effective.
Which all goes to show that it's always a good idea to hedge one's bets in the stock market. At least in part...
Sixteen Clean Energy Stocks, Two Months
Tom Konrad CFA As I discussed in the first part of this update, this part will discuss the drivers behind the performance of the individual stocks in my Ten Clean energy Stocks for 2013 and six alternative picks. I looked into the performance of the portfolio as a whole in part I. The chart below summarizes individual stock performance. Note that it reflects two more days of trading since I wrote part I. Waterfurnace Renewable Energy (TSX:WFI, OTC:WFIFF) Geothermal heat pump manufacturer Waterfurnace rose 25% but not on any significant news. ...
Four Clean Energy Value Stocks I’m Buying Now
Tom Konrad CFA Corrected version 8/11/2011 Apologies to readers who have been missing my articles recently. I've had little time to write as I have been too busy trading. Long-time readers know that I've been bearish since the summer of 2009, and it has been a painful two years as I maintained my short positions and puts in the face of a generally rising market. Market Outlook In my opinion, we are still a good distance from the bottom. The rise of the stock market over the last two years has been predicated on...
Optionetics Story on Alt E Stocks
Fredric Ruffy from Optionetics.com has written a cautionary article about investing in Alternative Energy stocks. If alternative fuel companies made lots of money, there would be no energy crisis today. Unfortunately, most of these companies don't. You will start to see more and more stories about this sector now that gas prices are starting to cross the $3 per gallon mark and head even higher. As I said in a previous article, this sector is currently in a trading market. While he cautions investors that are looking for the long term viability of this investment, he...
The Yieldco Virtuous Cycle
by Tom Konrad, Ph.D., CFA
Readers who followed my coverage of the Yieldco bubble in 2015 know the Yieldco Virtuous Cycle.
A Yieldco’s stock price rises
It issues new shares, and invests the money in renewable energy projects.
Because the stock price is high, it is able to buy more project cash flow by issuing fewer shares than it has in the past.
Cash flow available for distribution (CAFD) per share increases, despite the increasing number of shares outstanding.
Yieldco management sets a target for continued rapid annual distribution growth, which can be met either by further share issuance (if...
Q1 Earnings Roundup: Yieldcos (AGR, BEP, CWEN, GPP)
By Tom Konrad, Ph.D., CFA
This is a roundup of first quarter earnings notes shared with my Patreon supporters over the last week. If there is any theme, it’s that low interest rates and increased interest in green investments is lowering Yieldcos’ cost of capital to the benefit of stock investors.
Avangrid Earnings
Avangrid's (AGR) Q1 earnings report showed solid progress. Key items of note were:
Increased outlook for full year 2021 Adjusted EPS a little over 5%
Key environmental approval for 800 MW offshore wind farm Vineyard Wind. Expected to begin construction later this year, with expected completion in 2024. Avangrid...
