Alternative Energy Will Outperform The Market, With Storage Stocks Leading the Way

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The public relations firm Waggener Edstrom released a survey of investors and analysts yesterday seeking opinions on what was in store for alternative energy for 2009 (link to the survey at the end of this article). Of the 81 respondents, 47 were institutional investors, 26 were brokerage analysts, five were from independent research firms and three were classified as "Other industry participants". Overall, 58% of respondents were from the buy side, 32% from the sell side and the remainder from "Other". Here are a few tidbits that caught my attention.

Storage: The Next Boom?

Overall, 50% of respondents expect alternative energy stocks to outperform the market in 2009 because of Obama’s policies. Survey respondents are most bullish on energy storage stocks (including battery stocks) and wind stocks, with 43% believing that they will perform above or far above average (other categories include: biofuels, hydrogen & fuel cells and solar). Energy storage edges out wind in terms of bullishness with 15% of respondents believing storage stocks will perform far above average in 2009 (vs. 8% for wind).

This is an interesting development in my view and probably borne out of the recognition that, without significant technological improvements and cost decreases in storage technologies of all scales, alternative energy deployment will eventually plateau.

Unsurprisingly, biofuels receive the most bearish assessment with nearly a quarter of respondents believing the sector will perform far below average this year.

It’s The Policies, Stupid!

When asked: "How do you think the following factors/variables will affect the performance of alternative energy stocks in 2009?", 38% of respondents say the Obama administration will have a very positive effect on the sector (1st overall choice), while 33% say government incentives in the US will also have a very positive effect (2nd overall).

Access to capital is viewed as having the most negative effect (33%) on alternative energy stocks, followed by oil and gas prices (14%). When asked: "Generally speaking, public interest and commercial investment in alternative energy will (continue to) diminish whenever oil and gas prices decline", 53% of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed Vs. 38% who disagreed or strongly disagreed.

This appears to indicate that while financing is the single largest risk to sector growth, investors are concerned about low energy prices lessening the case for alternative energy. Nevertheless, policy and regulatory developments are top-of-mind for investors. Apparently, several respondents (although the number isn’t stated) revealed that their alternative energy investment theses rested on government incentives.  

Journalists Have Some Homework To Do

Overall, respondents feel that both the mainstream and business press do a poor job of covering the alternative energy sector, with the former often being overoptimistic and the latter being too sceptical.

Only 24% of respondents agree that "generally, the media cover the industry fully and fairly", with the balance (76%) believing that "journalists and other media often overlook or are underinformed about important aspects of the industry".

Stars & Dogs For 2009 

An investor survey wouldn’t be the same without stock picks. Without further ado, here are respondents’ views regarding the best and worst performing alternative energy stocks for 2009.

Best & Worst Performing Alternative Energy Stocks for 2009
Rank Top Picks Top Dogs
# Company Name Ticker Company Name Ticker
1 First Solar FSLR Solaria Energia SEYMF.PK
2 Vestas VWSYF.PK Suntech Power STP
3 Sunpower SPWRA Theolia THIXF.PK
4 Iberdrola Renovables IRVSF.PK Vestas VWSYF.PK
5 Covanta Holding CVA Aventine Renewable AVA

Interestingly, the top picks don’t include any storage or battery stocks while only one of the dogs is a biofuel stock (Aventine).

Either respondents don’t want to reveal what they’re buying or they won’t put their money where their mouth is. I find it a little difficult to believe that responde
nts truly view storage as THE alternative energy sub-sector to be in for 2009 but can’t identify a single storage stock they collectively like. 

The Survey

Access the survey of alternative energy investors and analysts.

DISCLOSURE: Charles Morand does not have a position in any of the securities discussed above.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a registered investment advisor. The information and trades that I provide here are for informational purposes only and are not a solicitation to buy or sell any of these securities. Investing involves substantial risk and you should evaluate your own risk levels before you make any investment. Past results are not an indication of future performance. Please take the time to read the full disclaimer here.

6 COMMENTS

  1. The utility sector is an industry without inventory. And while a robust smart grid can mitigate electrical storage concerns, without true storage of the actual ‘juice’, significant penetration of renewable power will have limitations.
    Indeed, the only successful renewable to date is hydroelectric power which holds its “energy storage” via all the water held within its reservoir.
    Maybe that’s why we don’t have any storage stocks on this list. The technologies out there are still too expensive or have some technical limitations.
    One salient example is vanadium flow battery provider, VRB Power, which ent belly up in late 2008 as they could not translate interest in their tech beyond demos and pilot projects.

  2. Kevin:
    I agree with you about the deployment of renewables being limited by the lack of storage technologies.
    I also agree that most pure-play storage stocks are too risky for many institutional investors. My point was that if survey respondents – a majority of whom are from the buy side – were that enthused about storage stocks (vs. storage as a concept), they would be able to name at least a couple of stocks they like.
    My sense is that survey responses confirm what you and I are saying: storage is essential and exciting but tough to play through the stock market.

  3. Great stuff guys! I have been impressed with the recent articles on income funds, ETF’s, the Obama administration, Top 10’s, etc. Keep up the good work!

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