Posted on 04/11/2008 4:25:56 PM PDT by RightWhale
MAC Indexing has announced the introduction of the MAC Global Solar Energy Index, the first index to independently track the rapidly growing solar energy sector. Dow Jones will publish the Index, which was developed and is maintained by MAC Indexes, an affiliate of Melvin and Company that specializes in clean energy equity research and index development.
The MAC Global Solar Energy Index has been licensed to Claymore Advisors, LLC, which anticipates launching the first solar power exchange-traded fund (ETF) on the NYSE-Arca under the symbol "TAN" in April (www.claymore.com/tan). "The creation of the MAC Global Solar Energy Index recognizes the growth of the solar sector and its maturing in terms of investment depth," said Christopher C. Melvin, Jr. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Melvin and Co. "Solar continues to be one of the fastest growing sectors within the clean-tech industry with a recent 47% annual growth rate and an expected 40% continued growth in the next few years."
A global portfolio of 25 leading solar companies with a combined market capitalization of nearly $100 billion comprise the index. The average market capitalization of the stocks in the Index is approximately $3.8 billion and the median is approximately $1.2 billion.
Shipments of solar modules over the six-year period from 2001-2007 showed compounded annual growth of 47%, according to PV News (www.Prometheus.org). With this strong growth, the solar industry has reached critical mass in terms of sales and profits. Photon Consulting estimates that global solar industry sales in 2007 rose by 50% to $30 billion and that pre-tax profits rose by 56% to $11 billion ( Solar Annual 2007, www.Photon-Consulting.com).
Solar power offers one of the few current mass-scale solutions to meet the world's enormous demand for clean and renewable power without pollution or greenhouse gas emissions. Solar power has the potential to reduce the world's dependence on fossil fuels. Solar power also provides electricity end-users with the ability to generate their own electricity, thus protecting themselves from power grid unreliability and from rising electricity prices charged by utilities.
The Index Methodology The Index is designed to track companies within the following business segments of the solar power industry: solar power equipment producers; suppliers of materials or services to solar equipment producers; companies that derive a significant portion of their business, measured by the methodology set forth below, from solar power system installation, integration or finance; and companies that specialize in selling electricity derived from solar power. As defined by the MAC Indexes LLC, solar power includes two main categories:
(1) Solar photovoltaic power, which involves the conversion of sunlight into electricity through the photovoltaic process; and
(2) Thermal solar power, which involves using energy from the sun to heat fluids for purposes of water or space heating or to produce electricity.
The Index is currently comprised of approximately 25 stocks selected based upon the relative importance of solar power within the company's business model. To determine whether solar power is a major component of a company's business, the Index Provider implements the following methodology.
1. All global publicly-traded companies with any connection to the solar industry are identified by company description database searches and bottom-up industry research of publicly available information and databases. 2. Based on a review of the company's public filings and company description information, companies that are identified through the initial search are put into three groups (the "Exposure Factor"):
Pure-Play Group-Companies that generate in excess of two thirds of their revenue from solar related business are considered to have their primary business in the solar industry and are placed in the Pure-Play Group. These are assigned an Exposure Factor of 1.0.
Medium-Play Group-Companies that operate in multiple industries, but have significant exposure to the solar industry - defined as generating less than approximately two thirds but more than approximately one third of their revenue from solar related business and are placed in the Medium-Play Group. These are assigned an Exposure Factor of 0.5.
Eliminated Group-Companies with marginal exposure to the solar industry - defined as generating less than approximately one third of their revenue from solar related business, are eliminated from consideration as an Index constituent.
3. From the securities in the Pure-Play Group and Medium-Play Group, securities eligible for inclusion in the Index must be listed on a developed market exchange, as defined above, have a minimum market capitalization greater than or equal to $250 million at the reference date preceding each reconstitution and have a minimum monthly trading value of $150 million at reference date preceding each reconstitution. Securities in the Primary and Secondary set that do not meet these criteria are excluded from consideration as an Index constituent.
The MAC Global Solar Energy Index is calculated and distributed by Dow Jones Indexes and is available via leading quote vendors.
The NYSE symbol will be ‘TAN.’ Catchy.
I hope they make it optionable.
Unless they track total costs, including grants, government contributions, (involuntary) taxpayer subsidies and individual costs, including maintenance costs, which go on forever, there ain't no such thing as a free lunch solar energy source that real humans can actually use and rely on...
I always short the index on cloudy days.
TAN is at 25.84
Stay tuned
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