How stock sectors could fare in an Obama administration

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Barack Obama swept to the White House on Tuesday, leading a Democratic electoral land slide that expanded the party's majorities in both chambers of Congress.

That puts the focus on how key market sectors, including alternative energy, healthcare, defense and finance will fare under his policies.

Below is a snapshot of analysts' views on what could influence sectors and individual stocks:

SOLAR/WIND POWER

Many in the energy sector see an increase in government support coming as a way to help jump start the economy and stimulate job growth.

Shares of solar energy companies, beaten down by credit worries and the drop in crude oil prices, have surged in anticipation of a policy focus. Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd (STP.N), JA Solar Holdings Co Ltd (JASO.O) , First Solar Inc (FSLR.O) and SunPower Corp (SPWRA.O) are all up by more than 50 percent in the past week.

Shares of Denmark's Vestas (VWS.CO) , the world's No. 1 wind turbine maker, are up by nearly two-thirds in that time.

Experts also see natural gas for electricity generation and industry as key to the energy plans regardless of who becomes president.

HYBRID CARS/SMART GRID

Analysts at Louis Capital Research noted a U.S. drive for more hybrid cars would benefit Energy Conversion Devices Inc (ENER.O) , which patented the nickel metal hydride storage technology used in hybrid electric vehicles.

Democrat Barack Obama's green energy push may also have a big impact on the long-neglected problem of getting power from the source to users.

Potential beneficiaries include Swiss company Landis+Gyr, which received $1.1 billion in new financing in June and had been looking at floating shares. Redwood City, California-based Silver Spring Networks, which just got $75 million in venture capital funding, and Pittsburgh-based BPL Global, are also seen beneficiaries.

DEFENSE

U.S. defense contractors thrive as well during Democratic administrations, if not better, than in Republican ones, and the likely election of Obama as president offers no hint of being an exception.

Likely beneficiaries include companies with long-term contracts building fighters, bombers, warships and missiles -- the bread and butter for Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) , Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC.N) and other big contractors.

Likely losers in the event of an Obama win are companies with lucrative contracts supplying U.S. forces in Iraq, such as bullet-maker Alliant Techsystems Inc (ATK.N) , armor plate maker Ceradyne Inc (CRDN.O) , or large contractors making fighting vehicles such as General Dynamics Corp (GD.N) and BAE Systems Plc (BAES.L) .