As 2011 comes to a close, it's a great time to look back at what happened to the stocks that interest you. By making sure you know the important things that a company accomplished -- as well as the setbacks it experienced -- you can make a better decision about whether it's a smart investment for your portfolio.
Today, let's take a look at Capstone Turbine
Stats on Capstone Turbine
| Year-to-Date Stock Return | 12.2% |
| Market Cap | $281 million |
| Total Revenue, Trailing 12 Months | $98.7 million |
| Net Loss, Trailing 12 Months | ($38.6 million) |
| 1-Year Revenue Growth | 46.7% |
| Cash / Debt | $20.3 million / $12.4 million |
| CAPS Rating (out of 5) | *** |
Sources: S&P Capital IQ, Motley Fool CAPS.
How did Capstone Turbine do this year?
Capstone Turbine makes microturbines that generate electricity independently of the power grid. With an increasing focus on alternative energy lately, Capstone seems well positioned to take advantage of investor interest in the area.
Off-grid power has come quite in handy for certain applications, especially oil and gas drilling sites where power isn't always readily available. For instance, Capstone identified the Eagle Ford shale play as a potential source of growth for the company. With players ranging from giants Chesapeake Energy
This year actually marked a milestone for Capstone: It made money in its most recent quarter. Granted, $1.3 million in a quarter isn't huge, but it could represent a true turning point in what has been a long series of struggles for the company to become profitable. Yet with General Electric
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