Key Points
- CTO Markus Gloeckler sold 3,640 shares of First Solar on March 4 at an average price of $196.95 for about $716,898, cutting his ownership by 31.17% to 8,037 shares (≈$1.58M).
- First Solar reported quarterly EPS of $4.84 (missing the $5.22 consensus) with revenue of $1.68B, and its disappointing 2026 guidance prompted analyst downgrades and multiple price‑target cuts that pressured the stock.
- The company is expanding U.S. manufacturing with a new Louisiana plant and a planned South Carolina facility, which supports long‑term demand, but short‑term sentiment is also weakened by increased options/retail activity and a Pomerantz investor investigation.
First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR - Get Free Report) CAO Nathan Theurer sold 92 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $196.95, for a total value of $18,119.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink.
First Solar Stock Down 1.3%
NASDAQ:FSLR traded down $2.54 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $189.26. 694,534 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,648,111. The company has a quick ratio of 2.35, a current ratio of 2.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03. The company has a market cap of $20.31 billion, a PE ratio of 13.32, a PEG ratio of 0.32 and a beta of 1.65. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $235.70 and its 200-day simple moving average is $236.24. First Solar, Inc. has a one year low of $116.56 and a one year high of $285.99.
First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 24th. The solar cell manufacturer reported $4.84 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $5.22 by ($0.38). First Solar had a net margin of 29.28% and a return on equity of 17.32%. The firm had revenue of $1.68 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.59 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $3.65 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts predict that First Solar, Inc. will post 13.05 earnings per share for the current year.
More First Solar News
Here are the key news stories impacting First Solar this week:
- Positive Sentiment: U.S. manufacturing expansion: First Solar commissioned a new factory in Louisiana and plans additional capacity in South Carolina, supporting longer‑term demand, domestic supply‑chain positioning and revenue visibility. First Solar Expands US Manufacturing Footprint
- Neutral Sentiment: Elevated options activity and trending/retail coverage can amplify intraday volatility but do not alter fundamentals; expect bigger swings around news. Behind the Scenes of First Solar's Latest Options Trends
- Negative Sentiment: 2026 guidance disappointed analysts, prompting downgrades and the main wave of weakness—investors are repricing near‑term earnings and margin expectations. 2026 Guidance Disappoints, Triggers Downgrades
- Negative Sentiment: Multiple broker price‑target cuts (examples: Morgan Stanley, Barclays, Evercore, Argus) reduce analyst upside and pressure sentiment. Analyst Price Target Moves
- Negative Sentiment: Insider selling: CTO Markus Gloeckler, CAO Nathan Theurer and other insiders (including Kuntal Kumar Verma) disclosed stock sales on March 4, which can be interpreted negatively by some investors even if for routine reasons. CTO Insider Sale SEC Filing
- Negative Sentiment: Pomerantz LLP announced an investor investigation into First Solar, raising legal/financial risk that could magnify near‑term caution. Pomerantz Investigates First Solar
- Negative Sentiment: High‑profile commentary (e.g., Jim Cramer) emphasizing the weak quarter can reinforce trader caution and amplify selling momentum. Jim Cramer on First Solar
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
FSLR has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Susquehanna dropped their price target on First Solar from $292.00 to $280.00 and set a "positive" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on First Solar from $303.00 to $256.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 25th. Rothschild & Co Redburn boosted their price target on shares of First Solar from $150.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, November 13th. Bank of America decreased their price objective on shares of First Solar from $291.00 to $271.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Mizuho reduced their target price on shares of First Solar from $326.00 to $271.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 25th. Twenty investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $249.65.
Check Out Our Latest Analysis on FSLR
Institutional Trading of First Solar
Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Aventura Private Wealth LLC purchased a new position in First Solar in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Commonwealth Retirement Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of First Solar in the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. Reflection Asset Management bought a new stake in shares of First Solar during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Strategic Wealth Investment Group LLC purchased a new stake in First Solar during the 2nd quarter worth about $26,000. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC boosted its stake in First Solar by 117.0% in the 4th quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 102 shares of the solar cell manufacturer's stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 92.08% of the company's stock.
First Solar Company Profile
(
Get Free Report)
First Solar, Inc (NASDAQ: FSLR) is a United States–based solar technology company best known for designing and manufacturing thin‑film photovoltaic (PV) modules that use cadmium telluride (CdTe) semiconductor technology. The company supplies PV modules and delivers integrated solar power solutions for utility‑scale projects, positioning itself as a provider of both components and complete solar energy systems rather than solely a parts supplier. First Solar was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona.
Beyond module manufacturing, First Solar offers a range of project services including development support, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services, and operations and maintenance (O&M) for large-scale solar installations.
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