What's going on with solar stocks?

F or many people, solar energy stocks have been one of the greatest disappointments of the last few years. The case for them is so obvious, with most of the world’s governments committed to moving away from fossil fuels and towards solar and wind power.

Is the worst for solar energy stocks over?

The worst isn't over for the solar industry. Solar energy stocks continued their slide this week, as investors feared the worst for the renewable energy market. Not only are installations dropping, higher rates are squeezing margins, and not all companies will be able to weather the storm.

Should you buy solar power stocks?

The long-term bullish use case for solar power stocks may be obvious and has become somewhat cliched, but it is true: There is significant and growing global demand for solar power.

How did the new energy storage rule affect rooftop solar sales?

This both made energy storage more valuable and negatively impacted the economics of rooftop solar in general. There have been signs the industry is starting to figure out pricing and sales under the new structure, but through the third quarter of 2023, sales were impacted significantly by the new rule changes.

How will administration changes affect the solar energy industry?

Administration changes often bring changes to the renewable energy industry, but the direct impact is often unlike what investors expect. Over the last four years, multiple positive policies were passed, but many solar energy stocks struggled and some companies even went bankrupt.

Why did solar Stocks go up in 2020?

Around three quarters of the world’s solar panels are made in China, so when that country shut down in 2020 during the pandemic, supply of panels fell off a cliff and prices soared. That pushed solar stocks to the highs seen at the end of 2020 (the far left of the above chart), but it also encouraged more production of panels and panel supplies.