SPIR

[robt]

No particularly new developments, but with all the recent disappointments in my long positions, let's look again at the pride of my portfolio, Spire Technology.

After taking profits, I've been hoping for a spike up, that would allow me to sell more shares short, but no such luck. Normally, at these levels solar bargain hunters would at least try to stage a rally, but the current sentiment against all energy stocks is preventing that.

But little matter -- without the spike, SPIR is bringing in profits every day. I wish I could say the same for my long positions!

[robt]

Earnings are due within a few days.

They are certain to be dismal; they'll provide a sharp jolt to the many "buy and holders" who have mistaken SPIR for an investment.

There has been no sign from SPIR of any significant solar business this quarter. They recently moved their production equipment out of their Chicago location; this was released as news celebrating their increased production capacity in New Bedford, when it was actually an admission of failure in Chicago.

Back in March of this year, local government in Taos, NM budgeted $150,000 as a handout to SPIR to build solar production facilities there. Spir has issued no press on these plans, but newspapers in NM report that SPIR has failed to live up to the deal because of a lack of orders for the solar panels that would be produced there.

SPIR's two most recent press releases:

-- They received a $150k government grant to research dental implant technology.

-- CEO Roger Little placed fourth in his age division (65 to 70) in a Triathlon in Hawaii. (The PR failed to mention that Little, 65, was beaten by a 69 year old and a 67 year old in a field of thirty competitors.)

As stated above, SPIR's current valuation is as yet unaffected by the end of revenue from Bard Systems, which has been putting about $3 million a year into SPIR's coffers for licensed medical technology.

Also likely to be missing from this quarter is a payment similar to the $3.6 million paid last quarter by Japanese outfit Nisshinbo. The Nisshinbo deal, a ten-year solar technology licensing arrangement, for undisclosed financial terms covering an undisclosed region, may eventually bring SPIR royalties, but this quarter seems unlikely. No indication of any solar business can be found at the Nisshinbo website:

http://www.nisshinbo.co.jp/english/

I expect the delisting issue to re-emerge with the next earnings; the key figure in their financials will be "Stockholders Equity."

SPIR is being monitored by NASDAQ for compliance with their requirement that this figure remain above $10 million.

SPIR addressed this issue in an 8/5 release prior to last quarter's earnings:

Nasdaq will continue to monitor the Company's ongoing compliance with the Rule. If the Company fails to evidence compliance with the Rule upon filing its next periodic report with the SEC, the Company may be subject to delisting. If the Company were to receive a written notification of delisting from Nasdaq, it could appeal the decision to a Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Panel. If such an appeal were unsuccessful, the Company could apply to list the Company's common stock on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market.

Although the Company believes it has regained compliance with the Rule as of June 30, 2005, in order to avoid future listing problems with respect to the Nasdaq National Market, the Company may still decide to apply to transfer the listing of its common stock to the Nasdaq SmallCap Market.

In plain English, Spire EXPECTS the delisting issue to resurface, and will voluntarily leave the NASDAQ National Market and go to their small cap index.

Other companies have made this transition; according to my research on a stock by stock basis, it invariably comes with a significant haircut.

One other issue: in September of this year, CEO Roger Little told a reporter for the Associated Press that the delisting issue has "gone away." This was a month after the plan to voluntarily delist was published.

If SPIR does indeed move to the small cap, and long investors are hurt by the move, they could not have a clearer case for an investor lawsuit -- especially considering the huge volume of insider sales that followed the AP article.

[setravis]

Yesterday's closing chart.......

[setravis]

"SPIR" Threads have been Merged.
Please use the search before starting new threads on a Stock Pick.
Chances are a thread already exist.
So why not post whatever you have to comment about on that pick to that thread.
"Simplicity" My fellow traders.                                   
All history on a stock pick in 1 thread is awesome.                                 
Just trying to get threads together,so we don't have a numerous amount floating around on the same stock.              
Thank You....and good luck with all your trades....make some $$$              

[kslifka]

Here's a solar stock that has taken off.

[kslifka]

SPIR...looks ready to move higher.  I love this chart and the solar sector.

I wonder if we don't get a contract soon.

[kslifka]

Continues moving up.

[BigSully1]

Spire Corporation Reports Record Third Quarter 2007 Results
Monday November 19, 4:52 pm ET 
Revenues Increase 70 Percent on Turnkey Solar Factory Demand
Sales of Turnkey Solar Factories and Capital Equipment Increase by 268 Percent


BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spire Corporation, (Nasdaq: SPIR - News), a global solar company providing turnkey solar factories and capital equipment to manufacture photovoltaic modules worldwide, today announced that revenues increased 70 percent in the third quarter of 2007 on strong sales of solar photovoltaic production equipment.
ADVERTISEMENT


The Company reported revenues of $9,845,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2007, compared to $5,794,000 for the same period in 2006. In addition, the Company recorded a gain of $2,707,000 from the sale of rights to utilize its trademark, income tax benefit of $884,000 and an extraordinary gain of $1,311,000, net of tax, on its equity investment in its joint venture, Gloria Spire Solar. Net income after extraordinary gain was $2,755,000, or $0.33 per basic share for the three months ended September 30, 2007, compared with a net loss of $1,941,000, or $0.24 per basic share, for the same period in 2006.

Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 were $25,421,000, compared to $15,062,000 for the nine month period in 2006. In addition, the Company recorded a gain of $2,707,000 from the sale of rights to utilize its trademark, income tax benefit of $884,000 and an extraordinary gain of $1,311,000 net of tax on its equity investment in the joint venture. Net loss after extraordinary gain was $856,000, or $0.10 per basic share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared with a net loss of $6,026,000, or $0.77 per basic share, for the same period in 2006.

Roger G. Little, Chairman and CEO of Spire, said, "We have now achieved three consecutive quarters of record revenues. During the third quarter, we have solidified our position as the worldwide leader in developing and providing turnkey factories for solar energy manufacturing and we continue to see strong growth in solar capital equipment sales going forward. Sales of our turnkey factories and manufacturing equipment increased by 268 percent over the comparable quarter last year. In addition to the strong current sales levels, we are also encouraged by the continued level of sales backlog in the pipeline. Margins increased compared to last year, and we expect to see continued improvement as we complete our extensive manufacturing expansion, become more efficient and integrate our growing workforce. Part of the gain from the improved margins was offset by higher selling expenses as a result of increased sales and marketing activity.

"During the quarter, we closed several major sales, including our first fully automated turnkey 50-megawatt (MW) module production line for Martifer Solar S.A., a division of Martifer Group, located in Oliverira de Frades, Portugal. And shortly after the close of the quarter, we provided a turnkey, 12-MW module manufacturing line to a customer in Russia, making them the largest module manufacturer in that country. These sales are a testament to the strength of Spire as a global equipment supplier and our dominance as the recognized leader for turnkey solar factory solutions."

"We also successfully restructured our solar systems operation with the formation of a joint venture with Gloria Solar, a leading manufacturer in Taiwan. We exchanged our existing building integrated Photovoltaics (PV) systems business for a 45 percent interest in the new venture, Gloria Spire Solar, LLC, which was capitalized by Gloria. In addition, we sold a 50-MW module production line to Gloria's existing operations in China, along with the right to mark their PV modules with the Spire trademark. This will enable Spire's management to better concentrate on our equipment business while continuing to extend the Spire brand in the marketplace. The joint venture is focused on the high-growth domestic systems market and we believe this new structure will allow Gloria Spire Solar to become a major player."

Mr. Little, concluded, "Our Bandwidth Semiconductor and Spire Biomedical operations continued to make progress towards profitability. Bandwidth Semiconductor increased its revenues while qualifying its two new commercial reactors with a key customer. We also are starting a new program to develop high-efficiency gallium arsenide solar concentrator cells and we are seeing strong customer interest in partnering with Bandwidth in this exciting new market. And our Biomedical operation reported revenue growth in both services and products."

Conference Call Information

Spire Corporation will conduct a conference call for investors to discuss the information contained in this news release today at 5:00 p.m. (ET). On the call, Chairman, CEO and President Roger G. Little and Chief Financial Officer Christian Dufresne will discuss Spire's third-quarter financial results, as well as the Company's business outlook and growth strategy.

Investors who wish to listen to the conference call webcast should visit the "Investors" section of the company's website at www.spirecorp.com. The live call also can be accessed by dialing 800-431-4190 or 913-905-1087. If you are unable to listen to the live call, the webcast will be archived on the company's website.

About Spire Corporation

Spire Corporation is a global solar company providing turnkey solar factories and capital equipment to manufacture photovoltaic modules worldwide. Spire's wholly owned LLC, Bandwidth Semiconductor provides high efficiency gallium arsenide (GaAs) solar concentrator cells to systems manufacturers as well as specialized optoelectronics components for biomedical, telecommunications and consumer products markets. The company's Spire Biomedical subsidiary is a leader in hemodialysis catheters and implantable device processing services.

For corporate or product information, contact Spire Corporation at 781-275-6000, or visit www.spirecorp.com.

SPIRE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

       
Three Months Ended
September 30,
     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
   
2007           2006      2007           2006     
Net sales and revenues
$
9,845,000
     $
5,794,000
     $
25,421,000
     $
15,062,000
   
Gain on sale of trademark
    2,707,000
        —
        2,707,000
        —
   
Income (loss) from operations
  643,000
    (2,001,000
)
   (2,957,000
)
   (6,094,000
)

Other income (expense), net
    (83,000
)
     60,000
        (94,000
)
     68,000
   
Income (loss) before income taxes and

extraordinary gain
   

560,000
     

(1,941,000
   

)
     

(3,051,000
   

)
     

(6,026,000
   

)

Income tax benefit
  884,000
    —
    884,000
    —
 
Income (loss) before extraordinary gain
    1,444,000
        (1,941,000
)
     (2,167,000
)
     (6,026,000
)

Extraordinary gain on equity investment in joint

venture, net of tax
     

1,311,000
         

—
         

1,311,000
         

—
   
Net income (loss)
$
2,755,000
     $
(1,941,000
)
  $
(856,000
)
  $
(6,026,000
)

Basic income (loss) per share
$
0.33
     $
(0.24
)
  $
(0.10
)
  $
(0.77
)

Diluted income (loss) per share
$
0.33
     $
(0.24
)
  $
(0.10
)
  $
(0.77
)

Weighted average number of common and common

equivalent shares outstanding – basic
     

8,272,543
         

8,213,726
         

8,261,030
         

7,788,656
   
Weighted average number of common and common

equivalent shares outstanding – diluted
     

8,341,642
         

8,213,726
         

8,261,030
         

7,788,656
   
SUMMARY OF CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

September 30,
2007

Assets   
Current assets  $  40,715,000 
Net property and equipment   5,949,000 
Other assets     5,321,000 
Total assets  $  51,985,000 
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
   
Current portion of capital lease obligations - related party  $  779,000 
Current portion of equipment line of credit   1,167,000 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   10,087,000 
Advances on contracts in progress     22,096,000 
Total current liabilities   36,706,000 
     
Total long-term liabilities   6,031,000 
Stockholders' equity
    9,248,000

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $  51,985,000 


Certain matters described in this news release may be forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk of dependence on market growth, competition and dependence on government agencies and other third parties for funding contract research and services, as well as other factors described in the Company's Form 10-KSB and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.





Contact:
Spire Corporation
Christian Dufresne, 781-275-6000
CFO & Treasurer

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Spire Corporation

[BigSully1]

breakout.

[kslifka]

nice little break-out working today on this small cap solar.

[BigSully1]

Looks like another breakout to me!

[kslifka]

SPIR's been holding a pretty steep trend-line since November.  It may have made a bigger move today if the market didn't sell off late this afternoon.  Good volume today

Small solar Market cap of around $210 million. With revenues of $9.8 million.  Also was profitable last quarter.

[kslifka]

I'm still bag holding a little bit of SPIR...

SPIR did give an update on 2008 production capacity and revenues.  Market cap only $166 million...and expecting revenues of at least $80 million in 2008. 

So hopefully Solar is just in consolidation mode.

Spire Corporation Provides Strategic Update on Solar Expansion
Thursday January 10, 5:00 pm ET
Expanded Manufacturing Facility Provides Annual Revenue Potential of $200 Million; Company Projects Approximately $80 Million in Total Revenues for 2008

BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spire Corporation (Nasdaq: SPIR - News), a global solar company providing turnkey solar factories and capital equipment to manufacture photovoltaic modules worldwide, today announced that its recent 53,000 square foot solar manufacturing facility expansion, together with its refocused Spire Semiconductor solar-cell concentrator operations, are on track to significantly grow the company's revenues in the solar energy and solar capital equipment markets.

ADVERTISEMENT
The company estimates that at full capacity, its Bedford headquarters facility can produce solar capital equipment valued at approximately $200 million in annual revenues. Based upon currently contracted backlog and anticipated delivery schedules for equipment, the company projects total revenues for 2008 to be approximately $80 million, primarily generated from the sale of solar capital equipment and turnkey solar factories.

"We're in the midst of a historic expansion of capacity in the solar field, with manufacturers around the globe scrambling to bring factories on line to take advantage of the coming availability of silicon solar feedstocks," said Roger Little, Spire Corporation's Chairman and CEO. "We've undertaken a dramatic increase in our facility to meet this demand, nearly doubling our manufacturing square footage and more than doubling our headcount in the past year. This expansion is progressing well and we're on track to generate roughly $80 million in total revenues for 2008, largely on the strength of our unique ability to provide a one-stop-shop for manufacturers wanting to enter the global solar market."

"Our newly refocused Spire Semiconductor facility also will participate in this expansion by servicing the fast-growing gallium arsenide (GaAs) concentrator solar cell market," continued Little. "This facility alone has the capacity to produce the equivalent of approximately 50 megawatts (MW) of 500-sun concentration, high efficiency multiple-junction concentrator cells. With nearly 30 years of experience in GaAs concentrators, we expect robust growth from this operation going forward."

About Spire Corporation

Spire Corporation is a global solar company providing turnkey production lines and capital equipment to manufacture photovoltaic modules worldwide. The company's Spire Solar subsidiary is the world's leading supplier of turnkey photovoltaic manufacturing lines and module manufacturing equipment. Spire Semiconductor, formerly Bandwidth Semiconductor, develops and manufactures custom gallium arsenide solar cells and other related products for the commercial, biomedical and defense markets. The company's Spire Biomedical subsidiary is a leader in hemodialysis catheters and implantable device processing services.

For corporate or product information, contact Spire Corporation, "the turnkey solar factory company," at 781-275-6000, or visit www.spirecorp.com.

[BigSully1]

update