Solar stocks outperform following SolarEdge's earnings

• Solar stocks outperformed today (TAN +2.9%) amid a 1.2% gain for the Nasdaq. The gains arrived after solar power optimizer/inverter maker SolarEdge (SEDG +18.4%) trounced FQ3 estimates and provided equally strong FQ4 guidance in its first post-IPO earnings report. Standouts included Canadian Solar (CSIQ +8.3%), JinkoSolar (JKS +4.5%), ReneSola (SOL +5.6%), JA Solar (JASO +4%), Trina (TSL +4.4%), and Vivint (VSLR +5.3%).
• SolarEdge, which counts SolarCity and Vivint as clients (among others), says it "continued to see strong growth in the United States and Europe both in the residential and commercial markets" in calendar Q1. In a column under embargo until 7:54AM ET Saturday, SA PRO author Casual Analyst argues SolarEdge's offerings have "an architectural edge" against top microinverter maker Enphase. SolarEdge is now up 55% from its $20 March IPO price.
• Canadian's gains come a day after the company (shifting to a business model where it holds/operates solar project assets for a YieldCo instead of selling them) offered light Q2 guidance to go with a Q1 beat.
• Roth defended Canadian today. "The Q2 guide highlights the lack of contribution by the rich pipeline of Canadian historical projects and the weaker economics of the core manufacturing business ... Q2 may represent an 'air pocket' until yieldco details emerge, which will likely highlight the value creation enabled by the new entity."