Goldman Sachs just upgraded several stocks in the solar energy sector
The Dow is up triple digits today, on President Donald Trump's promising trade tweet. Solar stocks are getting a boost today too, after Goldman Sachs upgraded several sector names, including SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR), Sunrun Inc (NASDAQ:RUN), and Solaredge Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:SEDG). The analyst is "incrementally positive on U.S. residential solar stocks" and said the 2020 California New Homes Mandate will start generating demand soon. Here's a look at how the analyst update is affecting SPWR, RUN, and SEDG shares.
SPWR Shares Eye Best Day Since 2013
SunPower stock hit a nearly two-year high of $11.01 earlier today, after Goldman lifted its recommendation on the renewable energy name to "buy" from "neutral," and hiked its price target to $11 from $6, touting the solar concern's market leadership in California. Now, SPWR stock is eyeing its best day in more than six years, trading 31.5% higher at $10.89, at last check.
The security is definitely ripe for even more analyst upgrades, with six "hold" or worse ratings on the board, compared to only "two" buy or better recommendations. Plus, the stock's consensus 12-month price target of $7.26 now stands at a dramatic 33% discount to current levels.
Sunrun Stock Sprints to Fresh Highs
Goldman Sachs upgraded RUN stock to "buy" from "neutral," too, and lifted its target price to a yet-to-be touched $20 from $15. The equity clocked a fresh record high of $18.74 in response, now trading at $18.60, up 8.8% so far today, set for its best day since October 2018. On the charts, the equity has more than doubled off its Dec. 20 low of $8.81.
Unsurprisingly, options bulls are coming out in droves today, with more than 5,700 calls on the tape -- roughly 10 times the average intraday volume. Positions are being opened at the August 18 and November 20 calls, with traders expecting more upside for RUN stock through the contracts' expiration dates of Aug. 16 and Nov. 15, respectively.
That being said, today's appetite for calls runs counter to the recent trend. RUN sports a 10-day put/call volume ratio of 0.74 on the the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX). This ratio sits in the 80th percentile of the equity's annual range, suggesting a healthier-than-usual appetite for bearish bets of late. An unwinding of pessimism in the options pits could add fuel to Sunrun's fire.
SEDG Stock Continues Impressive Rally
The shares of SolarEdge Technologies have risen 5.8% to $59.69, on Goldman's upgrade to "neutral" from "sell," and earlier peaked at a new annual high of $60.96. The analyst lifted their price target on SEDG to $52 from $35, too. The stock has been in rally mode lately, recently spurred higher by a post-earnings pop in early May. Year-to-date, the shares have rallied more than 69%.
A short squeeze could bolster SolarEdge stock even higher. Short interest depleted by 22.6% during the past two reporting periods, but still accounts for nearly 12% of SEDG's total available float. It would take shorts nearly eight sessions to buy back the rest of their bearish bets, at the security's average pace of trading.
SEDG is seeing an influx of options volume today, too. So far, over 3,600 calls and 1,200 puts have crossed the tape -- four times what's typically seen at this point. Most of the activity is happening at the January 2020 70-strike call, with contracts likely being sold to open. Sellers of these calls are expecting the $70 level to act as a ceiling for the solar stock through January options expiration.