Where will you find the best solar plays? Motley Fool CAPS ranks the top five thusly:
CAPS stars (5 max) |
|
---|---|
AXT |
***** |
ReneSola |
***** |
Amtech Systems |
***** |
FPL Group |
***** |
Yingli Green Energy |
***** |
Note: Data current as of Aug. 8, 2008.
Notice which companies don't make this list. Suntech Power
So be it. In investing, where you look is just as important as what you find. And I think I've found something interesting: An up-and-coming solar play in a British defense contractor called QinetiQ Group (OTC BB: QNTQY.PK).
QinetiQ on Sunday said that its unmanned propeller-driven aircraft, the Zephyr, had flown uninterrupted for 83 hours and 37 minutes. That's more than double the record set by a Northrop Grumman
Interestingly, this isn't the first time QinetiQ has been involved in a solar project. The company's most recent financial report provides details of a solar-powered rocket engine created for the European Space Agency (ESA). This "ion" engine, as it's called, will help propel the ESA's soon-to-be launched GOCE Earth explorer into orbit for a detailed study of our planet's gravitational field.
Best of all: QinetiQ sells its American depositary receipts on the Pink Sheets -- a perfectly reasonable place for finding top foreign bargains -- and has a history of producing generous amounts of free cash flow, a rarity for most of the young solar pure plays.
For related Foolishness:
- Here's all the news from the week in solar.
- Who knew the Web still beats solar?
- And thus ... Suntech spoke.