This very interesting set of data lays out which US alternative energy stocks have outperformed and underperformed over quarter to date, year to date and over the last 52 weeks.

Here at AEI, we take a global perspective and carry news about stocks outside of the USA and we don't cover OTC stocks. So we won't be covering XSUNX - an OTC stock which was the top-performing in this grouping, with a return of over 400%.

What is clearly discernable is that it has been a tough quarter to date for many of these stocks. Most of the gains and outperformance were long prior to that. Still with Oil now touching $78 a barrel and expected to go higher, it's hard not to see more alternative energy technologies coming to market.