Why SunPower Corporation (SPWR) Could Have a Very Bright Future

I will be the first to admit, I’m pretty skeptical of solar companies being a great long-term investment. That skepticism comes from being burned three times by investing in a solar manufacturer. That being said, if I were ever to consider investing in solar again, SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR) is the one company that appears to have the brightest future.

The company’s most recent analyst day was an eye opener for an investor who has turned a blind eye to the industry the past few years. In taking in the company’s presentation, three slides really caught my eye. If SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR) is to succeed, it will do so based on the following three reasons, which are adapted from that presentation.

1. Unbelievable untapped market potential
When you look at the market potential for solar it really has staggering potential. SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR) has just captured 0.01% of its total addressable distributed generation market. A tenfold increase brings that up to just 0.13% of its addressable market. That’s meaningful growth potential not just for SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR) but for industry peers such as First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR). As the saying goes, a picture really is worth a thousand words, and the below chart speaks volumes:

Source: SunPower Investor Presentation

Both SunPower and First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) not only have impressive distributed generation market potential but both have an enormous power plant market to tap. Just this year SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR) signed a massive 579 MW solar power deal with MidAmerican Solar, which is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK.B). The deal could be worth up to $2.5 billion according to the company. Meanwhile, First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) has signed several solar power plant projects including a recent 139 MW deal in Arizona. As you can see in that above chart, there is vast untapped potential for both companies to pursue large-scale utility projects as well as massive potential growth for distributed generation systems.

2. Lifetime energy advantage
What really struck me when looking at SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR) is how good its product is when compared to competing products. Because of overcapacity, the solar panel industry has become highly commoditized which has stunted innovation. SunPower, on the other hand, has developed a premium product which isn’t just slightly better; it’s twice as good. Take a look at the following chart and see what I mean:

Source: SunPower Investor Presentation

Not only does the system generate 55% more energy in the first year, but after 25 years customers will be enjoying twice the clean energy than if they’d purchased a commodity panel. That technological breakthrough is truly impressive.