Total (NYSE:TOT) fourth quarter earnings per share of 1.20 euros ($1.58) may not be comparable to consensus of 1.22 euros ($1.61). Sales are up 18% to 47.49 billion euros ($62.63 billion). Total also confirms its target of a 2.5% increase in output on average per year from 2012 to 2015. Wanting to be a leader in the solar industry, CEO Christophe de Margerie admits the industry is currently “depressed” but sees “no reason solar can’t be profitable.”

Cobalt International Energy (NYSE:CIE) shares are up premarket after test results at an oil discovery off Angola exceed expectations. This boosts confidence in its West African pre-salt exploration prospects. Cobalt, whose main stakeholder is Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS), says tests at its Cameia-1 well confirm the presence of a 1,180-foot “gross continuous oil column.”

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EV Energy Partners (NASDAQ:EVEP) drops a bit after pricing 3.5 million common units at $67.95 in a public offering.

A123 Systems (NASDAQ:AONE) announces a deal to supply the United Kingdom with a grid operator containing six lithium ion storage systems. The firm aims to step into markets similar to that in the United Kingdom that face wind and solar power constraints, despite desires to convert to those sources for energy needs.

Energy Select Sector SPDR (NYSE:XLE) shares drop a little after the International Energy Agency decreases its oil demand forecast. The decrease has continued for six straight months and the new forecast suggests that growth will be less than 1% in 2012. Nymex crude is at $98.34 down 1.5%, and Exxon Mobile Corp. (NYSE:XOM) and Chevron Corp. (NYSE:CVX) are dropping as well.

Cameco (NYSE:CCJ) experienced a 29% year-to-date rise in the stock which suggests perhaps it was already priced in, after Canada announces that it will allow sales to China of uranium for use in nuclear-energy generation.

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To contact the reporter on this story: Tanya Harding at staff.writers@wallstcheatsheet.com

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Damien Hoffman at editors@wallstcheatsheet.com

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