Every day, the sun rises on Wall Street, and a plethora of professional analysts wake to issue new opinions on stocks. Here at the Fool, we use our "This Just In" column to examine some of these picks -- and the track records of the companies behind them -- so individuals can make better investing decisions.
In addition to following professional banks, anyone can use Motley Fool CAPS to monitor the collective opinions of more than 135,000 members, many of whom demonstrate better investing insight than published analysts do.
More top-performing CAPS members are feeling bullish on Echelon (Nasdaq: ELON) these days -- after a long spell of nothing above a mediocre three-star rank in CAPS, the stock has recently popped up to a more formidable four stars. A total of 226 members have given their opinion on Echelon, with many of them offering analysis and commentary explaining the recent optimism.
With companies like Google (Nasdaq: GOOG), General Electric (NYSE: GE), and Cisco Systems (Nasdaq: CSCO) investing millions to promote the use of smarter and more efficient energy systems, CAPS members see solid potential behind smaller participants like Echelon, whose hardware and software products react to real-time conditions on the grid. The company supplies grid operators such as Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) with its smart meters, and it recently formed a deal with Deutsche Telekom's T-Mobile USA to link those meters to utilities through T-Mobile's wireless network. Hundreds of thousands of buildings are using its LonWorks building automation systems, installed by companies like Honeywell (NYSE: HON), and Echelon even has its Smart Transceivers in McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) kitchen equipment.
Echelon has certainly suffered from tight credit markets, but the company has seen second-quarter revenue improve over the first quarter, with gross margins staying strong. The firm had its strongest quarter ever in commercial demand response revenue in North America; that division's products help limit electricity use in buildings. Better yet, the company sits on $82.5 million in cash, giving it time for the economy to work through the down cycle, while setting Echelon up to move on opportunities for future growth in international markets where it looks to build its presence.
To see what the very best CAPS analysts are saying now about Echelon -- as well as other winning stocks they are picking -- head on over to CAPS and have a look.
Further Foolishness:
“Make Big Money With Options” Motley Fool CFO Ollen Douglass recently made over $100,000 buying options on 7 well known stocks. Now we’re committed to turning his small fortune into a massive one! And we want you to join us! Enter your email address to hear more:
Terms & Conditions
RSS Headlines
Fool UK