Roth Capital Brokers Reduce Earnings Estimates for First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR)

First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) – Equities research analysts at Roth Capital dropped their Q3 2024 earnings per share estimates for shares of First Solar in a research note issued on Wednesday, July 31st. Roth Capital analyst P. Shen now forecasts that the solar cell manufacturer will post earnings of $3.17 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $3.95. The consensus estimate for First Solar’s current full-year earnings is $13.53 per share. Roth Capital also issued estimates for First Solar’s Q1 2026 earnings at $4.42 EPS and Q2 2026 earnings at $7.12 EPS.

A number of other brokerages have also recently issued reports on FSLR. Mizuho reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $274.00 target price (up previously from $209.00) on shares of First Solar in a report on Thursday, May 30th. Piper Sandler raised their target price on First Solar from $219.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, July 22nd. Susquehanna increased their price objective on shares of First Solar from $258.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 3rd. Roth Mkm restated a “buy” rating and issued a $320.00 target price (up previously from $230.00) on shares of First Solar in a research report on Friday, May 31st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on First Solar from $311.00 to $286.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-one have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, First Solar currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $275.58.

First Solar Trading Down 2.5 %

NASDAQ:FSLR opened at $213.05 on Friday. First Solar has a 52 week low of $129.21 and a 52 week high of $306.77. The company has a quick ratio of 1.86, a current ratio of 2.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06. The company has a market cap of $22.81 billion, a PE ratio of 22.33, a P/E/G ratio of 0.37 and a beta of 1.44. The business’s 50 day moving average is $245.07 and its two-hundred day moving average is $194.89.

First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 30th. The solar cell manufacturer reported $3.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.69 by $0.56. The firm had revenue of $1.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $939.71 million. First Solar had a net margin of 31.98% and a return on equity of 17.73%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 24.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.85 earnings per share.

Insider Activity at First Solar

In related news, CFO Alexander R. Bradley sold 16,051 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.69, for a total value of $4,409,049.19. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 30,652 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,419,797.88. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, insider Caroline Stockdale sold 12,406 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $205.00, for a total transaction of $2,543,230.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 22,025 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,515,125. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Alexander R. Bradley sold 16,051 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.69, for a total value of $4,409,049.19. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 30,652 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,419,797.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 51,153 shares of company stock valued at $12,540,428. Insiders own 0.58% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On First Solar

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of First Solar during the fourth quarter valued at about $298,123,000. Schroder Investment Management Group grew its holdings in shares of First Solar by 16.7% during the 4th quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 2,454,499 shares of the solar cell manufacturer’s stock worth $422,861,000 after purchasing an additional 351,540 shares in the last quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. increased its position in shares of First Solar by 11.1% during the first quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. now owns 2,801,916 shares of the solar cell manufacturer’s stock valued at $472,963,000 after purchasing an additional 279,719 shares during the period. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its stake in shares of First Solar by 2,009.8% in the fourth quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 180,681 shares of the solar cell manufacturer’s stock valued at $31,128,000 after purchasing an additional 172,117 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bull Oak Capital LLC lifted its position in First Solar by 304,592.2% in the fourth quarter. Bull Oak Capital LLC now owns 155,393 shares of the solar cell manufacturer’s stock worth $26,771,000 after purchasing an additional 155,342 shares during the period. 92.08% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About First Solar

First Solar, Inc, a solar technology company, provides photovoltaic (PV) solar energy solutions in the United States, France, Japan, Chile, and internationally. The company manufactures and sells PV solar modules with a thin film semiconductor technology that provides a lower-carbon alternative to conventional crystalline silicon PV solar modules.