LDK Solar's Rising Sun

By Investing Hobo: Prices for silicon based solar photovoltaic products declined dramatically in 2011. From peak levels at the end of 2010, average selling prices ("ASPs") for components among the four major crystalline solar verticals dropped by as much as 70%. Polysilicon ASPs declined from over $80/kg to under $30/kg while silicon wafer ASPs went from as much as $1.00/watt to as low as $0.30/watt throughout the course of last year.

Investing Hobo submits: This is part two of LDK Solar‘s (NYSE: LDK) recent financing activities. Much of LDK’s financing rush described in part one may be linked to the company’s persistent efforts on keeping their corporate plans intact.

Investing Hobo submits: LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK) continued to show progress in reaching normalized earnings with its recent fourth quarter 2010 report. Higher levels of capacity utilization relative to the company’s installed fixed assets should continue to produce incremental gross profits.

By Investing Hobo: For over three quarters of 2011, leading U.S. listed Chinese solar companies held onto previously issued annual shipment targets, despite a clear over supply situation which sent spot market pricing tumbling since early May. Even for companies like Trina Solar (TSL), which had an excellent past track record of under promising and over delivering, succumbed to the overall negative industry macro-dynamics.

Investing Hobo submits: LDK Solar (LDK) today announced a $110m share repurchase plan. While not fundamentally significant, the company’s actions may generate meaningful activity in its share price due to technical factors.

Investing Hobo submits: In one of the first public interviews this year, Trina Solar’s (NYSE: TSL) CEO, Mr. Jifan Gao, offered quite detail opinions regarding the photovoltaic (“PV”) industry for the next few years. Mr.

Investing Hobo submits: Before first quarter 2011 earnings season began for US-listed Chinese solar companies, LDK Solar (LDK) became the first to warn of potential shipment shortfalls.

Investing Hobo submits: Solar is hot - no pun intended. When a company within the solar industry posts quarterly earnings of .72 EPS vs. Wall Street consensus expectations of .43 EPS, one can really get an indication on how strong the sector is currently. That’s exactly what LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK) did when it reported its third quarter 2010 earnings yesterday.