Sunnova stock earned bullish coverage while Solaredge Technologies was downgraded
Solar stocks are in the spotlight today, after analysts issued notes to Sunnova Energy International Inc (NYSE:NOVA) and Solaredge Technologies Inc Corporation (NASDAQ:SEDG).
Sunnova Energy stock is backing in UBS' new bullish coverage, a "buy" rating and $16 price target -- a more than 50% upside to Friday's close. The Wall Street brokerage seems confident that NOVA is positioned to build market share amid increased demand for third-party-owned residential solar systems. The equity marginally higher at last glance, standing just above $10.50.
Coming into today, the majority of analysts were already bullish on Sunnova Energy stock, with 19 of 23 recommending a "buy" or better without a single "sell" rating. Short interest is down 2.7% in the most recent reporting period, but the shares sold short still make up 26.8% of the stock's available float.
Over the last 12 months, Sunnova stock has shed more than 50%, with 41.7% of losses coming in 2023. After a brief mid-July surge above $24.50 per share, with support from long-term resistance at its 320-day moving average, the security pulled back on the charts. The 20-day moving average guided the shares lower over the last month, put it near three-year lows below the $10 area.
Solaredge Technologies, meanwhile, is up 0.4% at $10.51 this morning, even after Barclays downgraded the shares to "equal weight" from "overweight." The firm cut its price target to $152 from $274, and said more price cuts are "inevitable" next year.
An early August earnings report pressured SEDG, resulting in a bear gap on the charts that saw the equity move below the $200 area for the first time since October 2022. The extended pullback has Solaredge Technologies trading near levels not seen since early 2020, as it now stands nearly 56% lower year to date.
Similar to NOVA, analysts were bullish on SEDG coming into the session. There were no "sell" recommendations on the books, compared to 15 "strong buy" ratings, one "buy," and five "hold."
While puts are outpacing calls in early trading, the 1,364 bullish bets traded so far is double the volume typically seen at this point. The January 2024 150-strike put is most popular, while new positions are opening right beneath at the March 115-strike call.