First Solar Is Barclays Top Pick in Alternative Energy/Environmental Services

• First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) shares have gained 18 percent since November 30, while shares of Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE: WCN) are up 4 percent.
• Barclays’ Jon Windham assigned a Neutral rating on the North America Alternative Energy and Environmental Services sector.
• Waste Connections has been dropped as the Top Pick, while leaving First Solar as the Top Pick.

Barclays has combining their US Alternative Energy sector and North America Environmental Services sector into a single sector called North America Alternative Energy & Environmental Services. Their earlier industry view for U.S. Alternative Energy was Neutral, and for North America Environmental Services was Positive.

“There have been no changes to our company estimates, stock recommendations, or price targets,” analyst Jon Windham wrote.

As part of this realignment, Waste Connections has been dropped as the Top Pick, leaving First Solar as Barclays’ Top Pick in North America Alternative Energy & Environmental Services.

Windham maintained an Overweight rating for First Solar, with a price target of $71. The EPS estimates for FY1 and FY2 remain unchanged at $3.49 and $3.77, respectively.

The analyst maintained an Overweight rating for Waste Connections, with a price target of $59. The EPS estimates for FY1 and FY2 remain unchanged at $1.96 and $2.20, respectively.