First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR – Get Free Report) gapped up prior to trading on Wednesday. The stock had previously closed at $185.90, but opened at $206.00. First Solar shares last traded at $207.0330, with a volume of 2,792,272 shares trading hands.
Trending Headlines about First Solar
Here are the key news stories impacting First Solar this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Investors expect Democratic control of Congress could bring renewed support for clean energy and domestic renewable manufacturing, lifting First Solar and other solar stocks. Article: First Solar Shares Surge as Democratic Midterm Victory Boosts Renewable Energy Stocks
- Positive Sentiment: First Solar already benefits from tariffs that support its competitive position, according to Benzinga, providing a potential advantage alongside any future policy support. Article: First Solar Jumps After Democratic Sweep, but Tariffs Already Favor It
- Positive Sentiment: Call-option trading was unusually active, with 67,156 contracts traded—128% above typical volume—signaling increased bullish positioning, though options activity is not a guarantee of further gains.
- Neutral Sentiment: The election prompted a rapid market rotation into clean-energy stocks, but the durability of the trade is uncertain. Policy changes take time, and the election does not immediately alter First Solar’s earnings. Article: Blue Trade Sends First Solar and Sunrun Soaring
- Negative Sentiment: Barclays lowered its price target to $230 from $259 while retaining an Overweight rating. Guggenheim also cut its target, adding a cautionary note despite the positive election-driven sentiment.
Analyst Ratings Changes
Several brokerages have recently weighed in on FSLR. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on shares of First Solar from $290.00 to $266.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday. Raymond James Financial assumed coverage on shares of First Solar in a research report on Thursday, August 27th. They issued a “market perform” rating on the stock. Truist Financial upgraded shares of First Solar from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their target price for the stock from $229.00 to $270.00 in a report on Monday, October 12th. UBS Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of First Solar in a research report on Friday, October 30th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of First Solar from $326.00 to $307.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 30th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have issued a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $257.38.
View Our Latest Analysis on FSLR
First Solar Stock Performance
The company has a market cap of $21.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.52, a P/E/G ratio of 0.50 and a beta of 1.73. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $187.62 and a 200 day moving average price of $215.65.
First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 29th. The solar cell manufacturer reported $5.30 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.67 by $0.63. The business had revenue of $1.23 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.29 billion. First Solar had a net margin of 37.12% and a return on equity of 18.33%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 22.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $4.24 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that First Solar, Inc. will post 17.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Insider Activity
In related news, EVP Samantha Sloan sold 127 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $222.95, for a total value of $28,314.65. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 2,018 shares in the company, valued at approximately $449,913.10. This trade represents a 5.92% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, General Counsel Jason Dymbort sold 3,700 shares of First Solar stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $249.38, for a total value of $922,706.00. Following the transaction, the general counsel owned 5,624 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,402,513.12. The trade was a 39.68% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 5,427 shares of company stock valued at $1,250,221. 0.39% of the stock is owned by company insiders.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Edgemoor Investment Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of First Solar by 9.8% during the third quarter. Edgemoor Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 13,650 shares of the solar cell manufacturer’s stock worth $2,391,000 after acquiring an additional 1,213 shares during the last quarter. Candriam S.C.A. boosted its holdings in First Solar by 39.2% in the third quarter. Candriam S.C.A. now owns 126,586 shares of the solar cell manufacturer’s stock valued at $22,254,000 after acquiring an additional 35,663 shares during the last quarter. Ethic Inc. boosted its holdings in First Solar by 3.7% in the third quarter. Ethic Inc. now owns 25,578 shares of the solar cell manufacturer’s stock valued at $4,480,000 after acquiring an additional 901 shares during the last quarter. Guild Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in First Solar by 29.6% in the third quarter. Guild Investment Management Inc. now owns 22,183 shares of the solar cell manufacturer’s stock valued at $3,886,000 after acquiring an additional 5,073 shares during the last quarter. Finally, StoneX Group Inc. acquired a new stake in First Solar during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $336,000. 92.08% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
First Solar Company Profile
First Solar, Inc is a vertically integrated solar technology and manufacturing company that designs, manufactures and sells photovoltaic (PV) solar modules. Its modules use advanced thin-film semiconductor technology based on cadmium telluride (CdTe), rather than the crystalline-silicon technology used by most solar manufacturers. The company serves utility-scale solar developers, commercial and industrial customers, and other large-scale energy users.
Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, First Solar operates research and development, manufacturing and recycling facilities in the United States and internationally.
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