Shares of Chinese solar firm Yingli Green Energy Hldng (NYSE: YGE - News) are off half a percent despite being on the receiving end of some positive comments from Brean Murray, which spoke out on several solar names today. The research firm raised its rating on Yingli Green to "buy" from "hold" with a $10 price target, which represents significant upside from where the shares currently trade. Brean Murray said margin erosion should be fully baked into Yingli Green's shares and that the solar sector should see improved demand in the second half of the year.

That's music to the ears of solar investors as the Solar Stocks Index is up 1.2%. Brean Murray was not so kind with JA Solar Holdings (NASDAQ: JASO - News). That stock is down 4% after Brean Murray downgraded it to "sell" with a $4 price target, which is well below where the shares currently trade. The research firm said materials prices are pressuring JA Solar's margins and that the company is less of a candidate to participate in a second-half demand rebound.

Shares of ReneSola (NYSE: SOL - News) are down 2% after Brean Murray downgraded that name to "hold" from "buy" citing expectations for second-half margin erosion at the hands of material wafer weakness and limited prospects for a second-half rebound.