Credit Markets Panic provides wind energy opportunity

If you ever wanted to consider investing in the stock market but always feared it was too risky, well you lucky bastard, isn't this your golden opportunity. For believers in the longterm viability of the wind power industry and the major companies that comprise it, today's continued carnage offers up what appear to be some extreme bargains, but only the future can tell for sure. Still, one would think that when markets do come back, clean energy producers will likely be among the stocks to watch.

Here are some green energy stocks (and funds!) that are down significantly from their highs, with a focus on wind energy related renewable power investments. This is NOT a recommendation to buy any individual securities, though I do feel confident in suggesting that investors should begin dollar-cost averaging programs into green energy stock funds, as any further volatility will just create larger share purchases for the same dollar amount.

For individual investors and professionals, this is an invitation to BEGIN your research, for when America inevitably comes roaring back, some of these domestic and international names should be among the leaders.

Market close of October 6th, 2008:

First Trust Global Wind Energy (FAN)

Wind power investment fund is designed to track the performance of ISE Global Wind Energy Index. At 15.44, down by half from the high of 31.50, it is a great time to consider dollar cost averaging into this diversified basket of quality global wind energy companies.


PowerShares Global Wind Energy Portfolio (PWND)

At 13.92, shares of this high quality, diversified windpower fund off is off over 50% from the year's high. Individual stocks can represent high risk after they have fallen significantly, yet in equity sector funds this volatility often indicates increased longterm capital gains opportunity.


Suzlon Energy

Suzlon Energy Ltd (Suzlon) is an integrated wind power company. Its operations include to manufacturing, designing, developing and selling of wind turbine generators (WTGs) and gear box. Its other operations include sale/sub-lease of land, infrastructure development income and power generation income.

At 127.10, the stock is off 70% from a high of 460, and you get one of the world's premier wind energy companies at just 16.6 times earnings.


VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS (VWS.CO)

At 393.50 the number one wind power company on the planet is available at a signficiant discount to the years high of 700.



Ormat Technologies (ORA)

An American success story and the world's premier geothermal energy company, Ormat at 30.35 represents a PE of 26.5, a seemingly reasonable price to pay for the leading global geothermal energy stock.


Kaydon Corp (KDN)

Kaydon Corporation (Kaydon) is a major supplier of bearings and other components to the wind turbine industry. Designs, manufactures custom-engineered, performance-critical products for a diverse customer base. KDN products include bearings and components, and filters and filter housings, and also custom rings, shaft seals, linear deceleration products, specialty balls, fuel cleansing systems, gas-phase air filtration systems and replacement media, industrial presses and metal alloy products. These products are used by customers in a variety of robotics, medical, material handling, machine tool positioning, aerospace, defense, alternative energy, security, electronic and other industrial applications.

At 39.73, the common stock is off a third from the high of 61.57, and now yields about 1.7%. A diversified way to invest in wind energy and high technology.



And on a more speculative note:


Western Wind Energy

The key to owning and profiting from quality junior stocks is getting positions when the chips are down, then holding for the longtermand selling into sunshine. Western Wind Energy is a real company with a diversified portfolio of wind power projects in development in western North America, primarily California and Arizona. At $1.00, the shares are down over three-quarters from the high of 4.35.



More Green Energy Stocks and Renewable Power Investing links:

Green Energy Stocks Investing

Solar Power Investments, Clean Energy Funds

Geothermal Energy Stocks, Geothermal Projects

Wind Energy Stocks, Renewable Power Funds