The top 5 solar stocks that should be on your radar as you look for investment opportunities in cleantech

Investors have been in a frenzy with regards to the roller coaster status oil prices have been on for more than 10 months. Our advice to those with investments in the oil and gas sectors–and are thinking to diversify into something else, should think no further than the solar industry, which is booming today.

A recent article by Andrew Topf for Oilprice.com listed the top 5 solar stocks you should be thinking about as you look for investment opportunities in cleantech.

1) First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR)

First Solar develops, engineers, constructs and operates some of the world’s largest grid-connected PV plants in the world. The Arizona-based company has over 10 gigawatts installed globally. First Solar is known for the efficiency of its solar modules, with the company’s best production line now shipping solar modules with 16.3 percent efficiency.

First Solar is forming a yieldco with SunPower called 8point3 Energy Partners, which will hold long-term contracts separate from the parent companies. (A yieldco is a publicly-traded company formed to own operating assets that produce cash flow, which is then distributed as dividends). First Solar also recently announced a strategic alliance with Caterpillar to manufacture a package for microgrid applications featuring the Caterpillar brand.