3SOF

With $oil at $105 per barrel and the inevitability of it ending sometime in the future, solar energy is a solid long term investment. Of course, most solar energy stocks came off very sharply from their highs and ASTI is no exception (although I think holding a bit better than most others).

ASTI is the unique play on BIPV (Building Integrated Photo-Voltaic) business, which I expect to be huge in a few years time.

I'll keep holding ASTI for the long term.

AussieTrader just warned me that the US market opens 1 hour earlier today. I must hurry.

Nothing new on ASTI, I'll keep holding.

All solar energy stocks went down sharply yesterday and ASTI was no exception.

I think this is happening due to the general market downturn and a severe multiple contraction across all sectors, not because the solar energy industry fundamentals are worsening. If anything, with $WTIC (Oil futures in www.stockcharts.com) hovering at $109 this morning, alternative energy fundamentals are better, not worse.

ASTI is a different kind of solar play, it isn't traditional, it is futuristic. If you believe, as I do, that the buildings of the future will have their roofs and walls build in a material that produces electricity from the sun, then you should own ASTI for the long term.

ASTI has the technology, the financial resources, the distribution and marketing capacity (given by its two huge global partners) to accomplish this for mankind.

Over the short term we'll have some more pain, perhaps a lot of pain, but I would be willing to put a small part of my monthly paycheck (if I had one) into this stock for the long term.

My kids would say "thank you dad"

ASTI: Short Interest DN 1.0% to 2.0M at the End of Feb 2008
Tuesday , March 11, 2008 16:16ET

According to new short interest data from NASDAQ, short interest for Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NasdaqNM: ASTI) DECREASED 1.0% to 2,038,633 shares as reported at month-end February, 2008.
Based on ASTI's 20-day average daily share volume of 239,750, it would require approximately 9 day(s) of buying to cover this short interest.

still holding... 
chart update:

Quotestill holding...   

Yeah, me too.

The next time I'll look into the future I'm going to have to ask two questions:

1 - How long is it going to take?

2 - What may happen between now and then?

The notion that investors always look into the future is probably true, but they look just 6-12 months down the road, not 3-5 years. They don't hold on to shares on a 3 years from now promise.

Well, I will, because I put into my mind that I wanted to be a long term investor, even though I must recognize I made several strategic mistakes.

If I were to sell ASTI I should have sold earlier, at the current prices I think it's a bargain, given the company's long term potential.

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUKN1444453420080314?rpc=44

Ascent Solar files to sell $80 mln in stock

why not..

Quote from: buddjas1 on March 14, 2008, 06:34:06 PM
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUKN1444453420080314?rpc=44

Ascent Solar files to sell $80 mln in stock

why not..

Bad news for ASTI:

Ascent Solar Announces Filing of Registration Statement
Business Wire(Fri, Mar 14)

I thought they had all the money they needed to fund their production plans. It appears costs will be higher than previously thought.

On March 14, 2007, before the open, Norsk Hydro filed an SC 13 form with the SEC clarifying that it can increase its stake in Hydro to 35% through multiple transactions.

So probably Norsk Hydro will buy a few of those $80 M. I'm just unsure of who will buy the remaining capital to be issued, since the manager for the offering is precisely Bear Stearns.

We'll see how it goes ... it doesn't change ASTI's technology and long term market opportunity, it just shows that the costs of setting everything up will be higher than initially thought.

I'll continue holding ASTI for the long term.

ASTI was just horrible yesterday. I guess the 14.2% fall was due to the following three factors:

1) They're requesting another $80 M from investors;

2) In the prospectus they say they'll need additional funding in the future to support ramping up production to 110 MW per year in 2011;

3) The promoter of this offering is Bear Stearns and anything associated with it just "had" to go down yesterday.

I enjoy their talk in selling the shares, which you can read in pages 1-5 of the offering prospectus.

But when one goes down to the Risk Factors, one gets shivers of fear.

ASTI is like a long term option. It may go up 100 fold if everything goes well and as planned or it may go down to $0 if there's any problem.

I feel embarrassed to be in this type of risky situation and for putting at least some of you in it too.

Anyway, I'll just keep holding ASTI for the long term, expecting the best, not well prepared for the worst.

ASTI: Volume Spike; 47% > 20-adsv, Stock -13.04%
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 13:15ET

This is the 1st VOLUME alert for ASTI in the past 7 calendar days.

Trading for Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ NM: ASTI) has been heavier than usual in today's session. By 13:15 ET, the stock had already traded 295,931 shares via 1,175 trades. The cumulative volume is 47.14% above its 20-day average of 201,125. Normally the stock experiences around 874 individual trades per session.

So far, today's volume surge has caused a net decline in ASTI's stock price. At the time of this alert, the stock was trading at $9.000, down $-1.350 (-13.04%).

One year ago, the Company's shares closed at $8.050. The price has gained more than 11 percent since then.

Over the last 10 trading session ASTI has traded in a range between $10.110 and $14.970 and is currently trading 68.25% below its 52-week high of $28.350 set on December 31,2007 and 38.46% above its 52-week low of $6.500 from August 16,2007.

In the previous 3 sessions, ASTI trading has displayed a mixed trend. Closing results have been as follows:

March 18, 2008 --- closed at $10.350 down $0.020 (-0.19%) on 248,500 shares
March 17, 2008 --- closed at $10.370 down $1.720 (-14.23%) on 349,900 shares
March 14, 2008 --- closed at $12.090 up $0.210 (+1.77%) on 197,100 shares

The Company last released news on March 14, 2008:

"Ascent Solar Announces Filing of Registration Statement"

good news number one:

Form 8-K for ASCENT SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

20-Mar-2008

Other Events


Item 8.01 Other Events.

In connection with lock-up agreements established between the officers, directors and certain shareholders of Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (the "Company") and the underwriters named in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed by the Company on March 14, 2008, Matthew Foster, Janet Casteel, Dr. Joe Armstrong, Dr. Mohan Misra, and ITN Energy Systems, Inc. have suspended or terminated each of their Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, under which each had sold shares of common stock of the Company.



good news number two:

Ascent Solar Awarded Second Phase of High Efficiency Solar Cell Program
Thursday March 20, 6:00 am ET

LITTLETON, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTI) today announced that it has been selected by the U.S. Air Force to continue development of a flexible thin-film tandem solar cell with a goal of achieving photovoltaic conversion efficiencies of 20%.

A tandem solar cell is a combination of two cells stacked atop one another, with the top and bottom cells gathering energy from separate parts of the solar spectrum. Tandem cells require two solar cells that not only have the desired electrical and optical properties, but that also share compatible manufacturing processes. The project is expected to be performed under the second phase of an Air Force Small Business Innovative Research contract, and under the auspices of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Ascent Solar expects the contract value of the project to be approximately $750,000, pending negotiation.

Ascent Solar's Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Joseph Armstrong stated: "This Phase II project follows our success in Phase I of the U.S. Air Force program, and builds upon work already performed by our scientists in the areas of wide bandgap and durable bottom cell thin-film photovoltaic technologies. Our objective in Phase II is to demonstrate an ability to make tandem solar cells using new material systems we developed during Phase I. We are delighted that the U.S. Air Force has selected Ascent Solar to continue work with these exciting thin-film photovoltaic technologies."

Thanks for posting these good news for ASTI la-onda

They didn't help the share price ... we'll see if today's news, with ASTI moving away from Bear Stearns, helps:

Ascent Solar may replace Bear as lead offering underwriter
at MarketWatch (Mon 6:33am)

I could have predicted ASTI would need more capital the moment I understood Hydro wasn't going to increase its stake from 23% to 35%, but I was obsessed with the long term.

I probably need to re-learn not to have a "big trade mentality".

I hardly can look at ASTI's chart, back below $11 ... let me just crawl and write "I'll hold".

looks like gettint in ASTI at 10.07 the pivot point could be very lucrative in the short term.
any thoughts?

 

  Ascent Solar Technologies Inc. (ASTI) said Thursday Norsk Hydro ASA exercised through its subsidiary Norsk Hydro Produksjon AS an option to purchase an additional 2.34 million shares of Ascent Solar common stock and 1.69 million Class B warrants.

  The Littleton, Colo., developer of thin-film photovoltaic materials said it will gain about $28.4 million from the deal.

  After the deal closes, which is expected on Monday, Hydro will hold roughly 35% of the Ascent Solar's shares outstanding and about 35% of its Class B warrants.

  The option was granted to Hydro and approved by Ascent Solar's shareholders in June 2007.

  Shares of Ascent Solar closed up $1.32, or 12.4%, at $11.96 on Wednesday.

  -Amanda Harris Falls; 201-938-5400; [email protected]


  (END) Dow Jones Newswires

  March 27, 2008 06:58 ET (10:58 GMT)

  Copyright (c) 2008 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.- - 06 58 AM EDT 03-27-08

**Brought to you by Scottrader, a

 ASTI Hydro increases stake to 35% in Ascent Solar (11.96 ) 

Co announces that Norsk Hydro ASA, through its subsidiary Norsk Hydro Produksjon AS, has exercised an option to purchase an additional 2,341,897 shares of Ascent Solar common stock and 1,689,905 Class B warrants. 

Great news out for ASTI:

Hydro Increases Stake to 35% in Ascent Solar
Business Wire (Thu 6:00am)

We were waiting for this news to be out last December, but it appears Hydro's management preferred to wait three or four months to increase their stake in ASTI, from 23% to 35%, at a more favorable price.

This shows that Hydro continues to support ASTI and has a strong belief in ASTI's technology.

Probably with this $28.4 M injection other investors won't feel so reluctant to invest the other $50 M or so that ASTI wants.

It remains to be seen if ASTI will be a success or a failure and that will only be evident in late 2009, early 2010, in my opinion. If it is a success the Main will have several bags of profits to show. If it is a failure it will show a big loss.

I remain a long term believer in this company and I'll continue holding the stock.

(p.s. Awesome trade Garoh, congrats )