Evergreen Solar (ESLR: sentiment, chart, options) was one of many stocks within the solar group to feel the wrath of analysts today. Calyon Securities dropped the shares from "buy" to "reduce," while Lazard trimmed its ESLR price target from $15 to $7.50. Lazard also slashed price targets on Canadian Solar (CSIQ), China Sunergy (CSUN), Energy Conversion Devices (ENER), Suntech Power (STP), SunPower (SPWRA), Renesola (SOL), JA Solar (JASO), and First Solar (FSLR).

In a note to clients, Lazard said, "This supply/demand imbalance could persist for several quarters, requiring the industry to work collectively to expand existing markets and establish/open new geographic territories." However, the brokerage firm maintained its "buy" opinion on ESLR and the other 8 solar stocks, because "industry dynamics should make the leaders even stronger as we come out of this financial crisis, unprecedented volatility, and fear-dominated market."

ESLR has shed more than 8%, and earlier arrived at a new 52-week low of $3. The stock could be vulnerable to more price-target cuts in the coming weeks, as Andrea Kramer noted on Tuesday. Thomson Financial reports that the average 12-month price target on the shares is $10.98, a premium of 266% to today's new low.