Solar Stocks Sunbathe on Friday

Ever since the stock market correction began on September 22, the solar panel sector has been struggling. It was not until this week when solar stocks finally made some progress toward returning to their respective, 50-day moving averages. On Friday, SolarCity (NASDAQ:SCTY) closed above its 50-day moving average for the first time since September 12, after jumping 2.65 percent to $55.05. The Guggenheim Solar ETF (NYSEARCA:TAN) ended the week just 26 cents below its own 50-day line, when it soared 2.77 percent to $37.89. SunPower (NASDAQ:SPWR) surged 1.10 percent to $29.41. Canadian Solar (NASDAQ:CSIQ) climbed 0.69 percent to $27.57. First Solar (NASDAQ:FLSR) advanced 0.67 percent to $49.76. Vivint Solar (NYSEARCA:VSLR) surged 1.12 percent to $10.87.

The ugliness which has been taking place in the 3D printing sector cannot be fully appreciated, until you compare the prices for these stocks with what their prices were a year ago. Yesterday, I discussed what I wrote about the sector at this point last year. In last years piece, I suggested that buying shares of Autodesk (NASDAQ:ADSK) presented a safer means for investing in the 3D printing sector (while disclosing that I was a shareholder). I made a point of emphasizing Autodesks share price had increased 29 percent since last year. (Yes, Im still a shareholder.) On Friday, Autodesk shares soared 6.06 percent to $61.95, as a result of several analysts upgrades.

As I discuss each 3D printing stock, I will include its closing price from November 21, 2013. Shares for 3D Systems (NYSEARCA:DDD) dropped 0.87 percent to $35.15 (last year: $73.30). Stratasys (NASDAQ:SSYS) advanced 0.46 percent to $102.42 (last year: $116.97). ExOne (NASDAQ:XONE) rose 0.05 percent to $21.15 (last year: $53.52). Voxeljet (NYSEARCA:VJET) plunged 5.59 percent to $11.32 (last year: $35.86). 3D bioprinting company, Organovo (NYSE MKT:ONVO) sank 3.96 percent to $6.31 (last year: $9.15).

The four major biotech ETFs had another sober session of making reasonable, non-manic advances. The Market Vectors Biotech ETF (NYSEARCA:BBH) rose 0.15 percent to $114.53. The First Trust NYSEARCA Biotechnology Index ETF (NYSEARCA:FBT) climbed 0.65 percent to $99.20. The iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index ETF (NYSEARCA:IBB) advanced 0.34 percent to $295.01. The ever-volatile, SPDR S&P Biotech Index ETF (NYSEARCA:XBI) surged 0.85 percent to $174.04.

The major ETFs expected to respond to developments in the technology sector are:

Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF(NYSEARCA:XLK): +0.14%

Vanguard Information Technology Index ETF (NYSEARCA:VGT): +0.24%

iShares Dow Jones U.S. Technology Sector Index ETF (NYSEARCA:IYW): +0.23%

Market Vectors Semiconductor ETF (NYSEARCA:SMH): +0.58%

iShares PHLX SOXX Semiconductor Sector ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX): +1.10%

SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (NYSEARCA:XSD): +0.90%

The last word: Friday brought us A Tale of Two Momentum Sectors: It was the best of times for solar stocks and it was the worst of times for 3D printing stocks most of which were trading at a mere fraction of last years prices.

Source: http://www.wallstreetsectorselector.com/investment-articles/editors-desk/2014/11/solar-stocks-sunbathe-friday/