3SOF

Anyone following ZOLT?




Taken from the "Stockpicker of the year"  
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/china-stake-wins-stockpicker-year/story.aspx?guid=%7B626A50E9%2D7456%2D44B1%2DAC94%2D7ABBFBDB0994%7D&siteid=yhoof

>>Bridgeton, Mo.-based Zoltek is a leading producer of carbon fiber, a composite material used in the construction industry and by airplane and automobile manufacturers to reinforce the strength of crucial parts.
Carbon fiber is stronger and lighter than steel, but its higher cost has kept it from wider applications. That's about to change in a big way, Lutts says. New federally mandated fuel-efficiency standards, he explains, will focus automakers on making lighter cars and trucks, which get better gas mileage.
That gives carbon fiber and aluminum an edge over steel, he predicts, and adds that Zoltek will benefit from these moves toward greater energy efficiency. "They're going through a big ramp up in production," he added. Indeed, the company has a stated goal of achieving at least $500 million in revenue by its 2011 fiscal year, which ends in May. That would be more than five times current sales, but Lutts says that target is achievable.
"The price of carbon fiber has come down, and lower prices means higher volume," Lutts said. "This is one of the solutions to our energy crisis, not just in the U.S. but globally."
>>

Yep, it's my biggest position

I like it but don't have a position yet.  I keep thinking it needs to check the 200dma like most other stocks did in the last week or so.

Market is still funky, imo.  Could be a great buying opportunity, I just haven't done enough DD to know.

Jody

Quote from: Lucas Scott on January 29, 2008, 03:17:31 AM
Yep, it's my biggest position

What is it you like about ZOLT?

I'm holding as a long-term carbon fiber play. Lots of applications for CF - autos, planes, wind turbines, drilling equipment. Also is an alternative energy play due to the wind power and auto/aero (lighter material makes for better fuel-efficiency) applications. Ambitious growth goals. I'll predict $200 by 2012.

Quote from: Lucas Scott on January 30, 2008, 03:07:51 AM
I'm holding as a long-term carbon fiber play. Lots of applications for CF - autos, planes, wind turbines, drilling equipment. Also is an alternative energy play due to the wind power and auto/aero (lighter material makes for better fuel-efficiency) applications.

EXACTLY!  But still on the sidelines.

ZOLT  Zoltek Reports First Quarter Results  by GlobeNewswire  Feb 3 2011 6:27PM

ST. LOUIS, Feb 3, 2011 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- Zoltek Companies, Inc. (ZOLT, Trade ) today reported financial results for the first quarter of its 2011 fiscal year.

Zoltek's net sales for the quarter ended December 31, 2010, totaled $32.9 million, compared to $28.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2009, an increase of 13.8%. On a sequential quarter basis, net sales for the latest quarter increased $1.7 million, or 5.6%, from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010.

Zoltek reported a net loss of $1.6 million, or $0.05 per share, in the first quarter of fiscal 2011, which compared to a net loss of $0.5 million, or $0.01 per share, in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. Operating loss totaled $1.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 2011, compared to an operating loss of $2.7 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, Zoltek reported an operating loss of $1.9 million.

"Our first quarter results reflect our success in developing business with new customers which offset soft demand from large wind energy customers," said Zsolt Rumy, Zoltek's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We expect demand to strengthen from the large wind energy customers and the momentum in new business to continue, leading to a pick-up in operating performance through the rest of fiscal 2011 and beyond."

Said Rumy: "Worldwide, we are seeing the beginning of a strong resurgence in demand for carbon fibers from wind energy -- our primary application area. While the wind turbine business slowed toward the end of calendar year 2010, our customers are entering 2011 with a significant order backlog. As we pointed out in our fiscal 2010 annual report, the wind energy business is global -- with rapid growth in wind energy installations in Asia and other parts of the developing world. Through the rest of this fiscal year and beyond, we expect to benefit from the combination of a higher volume of sales to existing customers and the addition of new customers using Zoltek carbon fibers in the production of the biggest and most advanced wind turbines."

Zoltek will host a conference call to review first quarter results and answer questions on Friday, February 4, 2011, at 10:00 am CT. The conference dial-in number is (877) 874-1565. The confirmation code is 3269282. Individuals who wish to participate should dial in 5 to 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. This conference call will also be webcast on Zoltek's website ? www.zoltek.com ? under "Investor Relations -- Events & Presentations." The webcast replay will be available on the website several hours after the call.

This press release contains certain statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words "expect," "believe," "goal," "plan," "intend," "estimate," and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to specifically identify forward-looking statements. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of us, our directors and officers with respect to, among other things: (1) our financial prospects; (2) our growth strategy and operating strategy, including our focus on facilitating acceleration of the introduction and development of mass market applications for carbon fibers; and (3) our current and expected future revenue.

This press release also contains statements that are based on the current expectations of our company. You are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. The factors that might cause such differences include, among others, our ability to: (1) successfully adapt to recessionary conditions in the global economy and substantial volatility in order rates from our wind energy customers; (2) penetrate existing, identified and emerging markets, including entering into new supply agreements with large volume customers; (3) continue to improve efficiency at our manufacturing facilities on a timely and cost-effective basis to meet current order levels of carbon fibers; (4) successfully add new planned capacity for the production of carbon fiber and precursor raw materials and meet our obligations under long-term supply agreements; (5) operate profitably; (6) increase or maintain our borrowing at acceptable costs; (7) manage changes in customers' forecasted requirements for our products; ( continue investing in application and market development for a range of applications; (9) manufacture low-cost carbon fibers and profitably market them despite fluctuations in raw material and energy costs; (10) successfully operate our Mexican facility to produce acrylic fiber precursor and carbon fibers; (11) successfully continue operations at our Hungarian facility if natural gas supply disruptions occur; (12) successfully prosecute patent litigation; (13) successfully facilitate adoption of our carbon fibers by the auto industry for use in high-volume applications; (14) establish prepreg capacity; and (15) manage the risks identified under "Risk Factors" in our filings with the SEC. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

This news release was distributed by GlobeNewswire, www.globenewswire.com

SOURCE: Zoltek Companies, Inc.


CONTACT: Zsolt Rumy, Chairman and CEO
3101 McKelvey Road
St. Louis, MO 63044
(314) 291-5110

Wind Power Enjoying Strong Recovery in 2011, According...  by PR Newswire  Feb 3 2011 7:30AM

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The following is being issued by RW Towt & Associates, a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, CRD number 128837:

The U.S. Wind Power industry appears to be entering a phase of sustained recovery after a subdued 2010. Today, in only the second month of the new year, more wind parks are under construction than in all of 2010 - 5.6 GW of additional capacity - equivalent to about 3000 new wind turbines.

Electricity generated by wind is cost-competitive with natural gas now, according to Elizabeth Salerno, the director of industry data and analysis for the American Wind Energy Association.

"We expect that utilities will move to lock in more wind contracts, given the cost-competitive nature of wind in today's market," Ms. Salerno stated.

Wind energy stocks took an average 37% haircut in 2010, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. But, with a recovery well underway, bargain hunting investors have shown renewed interest in the sector - and the improved performance has exceeded expectations.

Exchange traded funds trading on the NYSE, such as PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy Portfolio (PBW) and PowerShares Global Wind Energy Portfolio (PWND) are performing well.

Even micro-cap wind companies such as Nacel Energy (NCEN) and Crownbutte Wind Power (CBWP) are showing new signs of life. After dropping to historical lows late in 2010, both stocks are trading up this year and the companies recently announced they were combining some operations.

More traditional ways to participate in the growth of the wind sector include turbine suppliers like GE (GE) and carbon fibre maker (used in turbine blades) Zoltek (ZOLT).

For important disclosures and further information follow this link www.rwtowt-btb.com/windpower

SOURCE RW Towt & Associates