First Solar(FSLR)

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First Solar or Nextracker? Uncovering the Smarter Solar Investment Play
ZACKS· 2025-06-30 14:31
Core Insights - Clean energy investments are rising globally, with solar power being the fastest-growing energy source, benefiting companies like First Solar (FSLR) and Nextracker Inc. (NXT) [1][20] - Both companies present unique investment opportunities amid increasing investor interest in green energy [1][20] Company Overview - First Solar specializes in advanced thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solar modules and utility-scale solar projects, while Nextracker focuses on solar tracker technologies for utility-scale and distributed generation applications [2] - Global solar power generation has doubled in the past three years, attracting investors to solar stocks [3] Financial Stability & Growth Drivers - As of March 31, 2025, First Solar had cash and cash equivalents of $891 million, long-term debt of $328 million, and current debt of $197 million, indicating strong solvency [4] - Nextracker reported cash and cash equivalents of $766 million with no notable debt, reflecting solid financial footing [5] - The solar energy market is experiencing enhanced demand due to favorable government policies, declining technology costs, and increased awareness of clean energy, benefiting both FSLR and NXT [6] Production Capacity & Contracts - First Solar's total installed nameplate production capacity was approximately 21 gigawatts (GW) as of March 31, 2025, with expectations to exceed 25 GW by the end of 2026 [7] - First Solar has contracts for the future sale of 66.1 GW of solar modules valued at $19.8 billion, expected to be recognized as revenue through 2030 [7] Recent Developments - Nextracker's NX Horizon solar trackers were selected for a 550 MW solar park in Europe, and the company surpassed 10 GW of tracker deployments in India [8] - Nextracker acquired Bentek Corporation for $78 million to enhance its domestic supply chain and accelerate solar plant construction [8] Stock Performance & Valuation - Nextracker's stock has outperformed First Solar, gaining 38.4% in three months and 26.5% over the past year, while FSLR's stock has declined by 31.6% [10][18] - First Solar is trading at a forward earnings multiple of 8.32X, below its median of 9.42X, while Nextracker's forward earnings multiple is 14.55X, indicating a more attractive valuation for FSLR [18] Analyst Sentiment & Future Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FSLR's 2025 sales implies a 16.3% year-over-year rise, while NXT's fiscal 2026 sales estimate suggests a 12.6% increase [14][15] - First Solar's long-term contracts and aggressive capacity expansion make it appealing for value-focused investors, despite recent downward revisions in near-term estimates [20] - Nextracker's strategic acquisitions and global project wins reflect improving analyst sentiment, although it faces a short-term dip in earnings estimates [21][22]
FSLR Stock A Steal At $145?
Forbes· 2025-06-23 12:30
Core Viewpoint - First Solar has faced a 14% loss year-to-date, primarily due to changes in federal energy policy that threaten solar tax credits, yet the company's strong fundamentals and attractive valuation may appeal to long-term investors willing to accept volatility [2][3][11]. Group 1: Policy Changes Impacting the Industry - The U.S. Senate Finance Committee has proposed to gradually eliminate solar and wind energy tax credits starting in 2026, reducing these credits by 60% in the coming year and phasing them out completely by 2028 [3]. - This policy shift significantly impacts First Solar, which derives 93% of its projected $4.2 billion revenue for 2024 from U.S. projects, making it more vulnerable than many competitors [4]. Group 2: Company Fundamentals - First Solar's Q1 2025 results showed earnings per share (EPS) of $1.95, below the forecast of $2.50, and revenue of $844.6 million, compared to an anticipated $866.2 million; however, gross margins improved to 41%, up from 37% in the prior quarter, indicating effective operational execution [5]. - The company is focusing on domestic manufacturing and advanced technology, including its CURE process and cadmium telluride thin-film modules, positioning itself well for future demand as U.S. electricity consumption is expected to rise sharply [6]. Group 3: Valuation and Growth Metrics - First Solar's stock is valued at approximately $145, with a P/E ratio of 12.2, significantly lower than the S&P 500's 26.9, while its P/S ratio of 3.8 is justified by superior growth and profitability [6]. - The company has achieved a 14% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in revenue over the past three years, nearly three times the pace of the S&P 500, with a 27% increase in sales over the last 12 months and a 6% rise in quarterly revenue year-over-year [7]. Group 4: Profitability and Financial Health - First Solar's operating margin stands at 33%, with a net income margin of 31%, and operating cash flow reached $1.2 billion in the past year, resulting in an operating cash flow margin of 29%, nearly double that of the S&P 500 [8]. - The company's balance sheet is strong, with total debt of $719 million against a market cap of $15 billion, leading to a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.7%, and it maintains $891 million in cash, representing 14.8% of total assets [9]. Group 5: Market Sensitivity - First Solar has shown susceptibility during market downturns, with significant stock declines during past crises, including a 49.3% drop in 2022 compared to the S&P 500's 25.4% decline [10]. - Despite its strong fundamentals, the company's heightened sensitivity to macroeconomic shocks renders it a high-volatility investment [10]. Group 6: Investment Opportunity - For long-term investors who can tolerate risk, First Solar's stock at $145 presents a unique opportunity, as the market appears to be pricing in worst-case policy scenarios while overlooking the company's strong positioning and margin strength [12].
First Solar: Civilizations Die Before The Sun
Seeking Alpha· 2025-06-20 20:44
Core Insights - The article discusses potential policy changes related to the "Big Beautiful Bill," also known as the OBBBA, which may impact investment strategies and market dynamics [1] Company Overview - Invictus Origin is a high-alpha investment management firm founded by Oliver Rodzianko in May 2025, aiming to achieve global recognition as an actively managed fund [1] - The firm is developing innovative portfolio strategies, particularly through its Nasdaq High-Alpha Black Swan Portfolio, designed to sustainably outperform the Nasdaq-100 [1] - This portfolio maintains approximately 20% in strategic cash reserves, providing downside protection and flexibility during market disruptions [1] Leadership and Expertise - Oliver Rodzianko has extensive experience as a macro-focused investment analyst, specializing in public equities with a disciplined approach to fundamental valuation and long-term market cycles [1] - His sector expertise includes technology, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and energy, integrating U.S. market specialization with international market awareness [1] - Rodzianko has built a strong reputation as an Investment Analyst for platforms like Seeking Alpha, TipRanks, and GuruFocus, providing actionable insights to sophisticated investors [1] Investment Strategy - The investment process at Invictus Origin focuses on capturing asymmetric upside by navigating market dislocations and intrinsic value cycles [1] - The firm emphasizes resilience, performance, and disciplined capital stewardship, supported by a complementary family office structure aimed at lower-volatility capital preservation [1]
First Solar Plunges 21.2% in Past 6 Months: How to Play the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-06-19 14:51
Key Takeaways FSLR stock has dropped 21.2% in six months, underperforming peers and broader energy and market indices. Earnings fell 11.4% in Q1, with warranty charges and tariffs weighing on 2025 guidance and near-term outlook. FSLR is expanding U.S. manufacturing and projects 16% revenue growth in both 2025 and 2026.Shares of First Solar Inc. (FSLR) have plunged 21.2% in the past six months, underperforming the Zacks solar industry’s decline of 19.3% as well as the broader Zacks Oil-Energy sector’s grow ...
First Solar Scales U.S. Manufacturing to Meet Rising Demand
ZACKS· 2025-06-18 16:31
Core Insights - First Solar Inc. (FSLR) is the largest solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere and is significantly increasing its U.S. production capacity to meet rising solar demand, targeting an installed nameplate capacity of approximately 14 gigawatts (GW) by the end of 2026 [1][8] Company Developments - FSLR has commenced commercial operations at its fourth manufacturing facility in the U.S. in Q2 2025 and is progressing on its fifth facility, expected to start operations in the second half of 2025 [2] - The company plans to invest approximately $0.6 billion in U.S. facilities and upgrades throughout 2025 and 2026 [2][8] Industry Trends - Other solar companies, such as Canadian Solar Inc. (CSIQ) and SolarEdge Technologies (SEDG), are also expanding their manufacturing capacities in response to increasing demand and government incentives [4] - Canadian Solar's facility in Mesquite, TX, is expected to contribute around 3 GW of volume delivery this year, enhancing the share of domestically produced products in its U.S. shipments [5] - SolarEdge Technologies is increasing its manufacturing of inverters in Florida and batteries in Utah to leverage federal incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act [6] Market Performance - FSLR shares have declined by 45.1% over the past year, compared to a 49% decline in the industry [7] - The company's shares are trading at a forward 12-month Price/Earnings ratio of 7.99X, significantly lower than the industry's average of 14.40X [9]
First Solar: 3 Reasons To Be Contrarian
Seeking Alpha· 2025-06-18 15:56
Group 1 - The article discusses the caution surrounding First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) amidst the backdrop of significant tariffs imposed on crystalline silicon solar panels from Southeast Asia by the Trump administration [1] - The author emphasizes the need for investors to temper their enthusiasm regarding FSLR, suggesting that the market reaction may be overly optimistic given the regulatory changes [1] Group 2 - The author, Dilantha De Silva, is an experienced equity analyst with over 10 years in the investment industry, focusing on small-cap stocks often overlooked by Wall Street [1] - Dilantha has contributed to various investment platforms and has been featured on major financial media outlets, indicating a strong reputation in the investment community [1]
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贝塔投资智库· 2025-06-18 04:17
Group 1: Hong Kong Stocks - Lehua Entertainment (02306) surged over 24% due to strong market performance of its toy IP "WUKUKU," with multiple new products setting sales records and the theme song exceeding 1 billion views [1] - United Energy Group (00467) rose over 7% after signing a 15-year production increase contract with Uzbekistan's UNG, involving 57.8 billion cubic meters of oil and gas production, with an initial investment of $100 million to expand into Central Asia [1] - Smoore International (06969) fell over 3% as shareholder Yiwei Lithium Energy plans to reduce its stake by 3.5% (216 million shares), resulting in a decrease of its holding to 27.23%, no longer being the controlling shareholder [1] - New World Development (00200) dropped over 5% after completing a "2 for 1" rights issue, issuing 758 million shares and raising HKD 771 million, with oversubscription of 13 times [1] - Fourth Paradigm (06682) increased over 7% after launching AI solutions for the manufacturing industry, covering production optimization to supply chain intelligence upgrades [1] - Shandong High-Tech Holdings (00412) rose over 4% as Zhongtai Securities highlighted significant synergy between its new energy and digital infrastructure, with a data center PUE value of 1.15, enhancing financial integration [1] - KANAT Optical (02276) increased over 4% due to an explosion in the smart glasses market (e-commerce transactions up 8 times), with Meta collaborating with Oakley to launch AI glasses, positioning the company with leading 3C enterprises [1] Group 2: Other Notable Stocks - Sipai Health (00314) rose over 7% after partnering with Anruijiaer to develop customized insurance, planning to sell 6 pharmacies for 5.89 million to focus on core medical insurance business [2] - SF Express (09699) increased over 5% after raising its delivery service revenue cap for 2025/26 to HKD 12.8 billion / HKD 20.5 billion, with demand growth exceeding expectations [2] - Liufu Group (00590) fell over 3% as it projected a 40% decline in profits for the 2025 fiscal year, primarily due to gold hedging losses and high base effects from acquisition gains [2] - Zhenjiu Lidu (06979) rose over 4% after announcing Yao Annan as the "Cultural Heritage Ambassador" for liquor, leveraging Huawei-related topics to boost brand visibility [2] - Ideal Auto-W (02015) dropped over 4% as Meituan's Wang Xing sold 5.73 million shares for HKD 600 million, reducing his stake to 20.61% [2] - Health Road (02587) surged over 7% as its liver disease AI management platform was selected for Beijing's digital medical verification program, supporting WHO's "2030 Hepatitis Elimination" goal [2] - Gilead Sciences-B (01672) rose over 5% after its psoriasis oral drug ASC50 completed the first dosing in Phase I clinical trials in the U.S., targeting the IL-17 pathway [2] - China Silver Group (00815) increased over 10% after partnering with Zefeng Gold to acquire a 55% stake in a lead-zinc exploration company, gaining exploration rights over 50.8 square kilometers in Tibet [2] Group 3: U.S. Stocks - Verve Therapeutics (VERV.US) skyrocketed over 80% as Eli Lilly prepares to acquire the gene-editing company for up to $1.3 billion, with $1 billion as an upfront payment and $300 million contingent on specific clinical milestones [4] - Solar energy stocks plummeted, with Sunrun (RUN.US) down over 40%, Solaredge Technologies (SEDG.US) down over 41%, and First Solar (FSLR.US) down over 22%, following a Republican proposal in the U.S. Senate to terminate wind and solar tax credits by 2028, raising concerns about the industry's outlook [4] - Reddit (RDDT.US) rose over 6% after launching the AI advertising tool Reddit Insights, enhancing ad targeting through real-time user trend analysis [4] - Bitcoin-related stocks fell, with CleanSpark (CLSK.US) down over 7% and Riot Platforms (RIOT.US) down over 5%, as Bitcoin prices dropped nearly 2% to $105,580 amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and high leverage positions in the derivatives market [4] - AMD (AMD.US) continued to rise 0.56% after officially launching the Zen5 architecture Ryzen Threadripper processors, covering the workstation and desktop markets, with a market share close to 50% in China for Q1, although there are concerns about its cost-performance ratio [5] - Brain Regen Technologies (RGC.US) surged over 30% after announcing a 38-for-1 stock split, coupled with FDA clinical trial approval news, although its actual business has no revenue and a very small float, indicating significant retail speculation [6] - Jabil (JBL.US) rose over 8%, reaching a new all-time high of $202.5, with Q3 revenue increasing 15% year-on-year to $7.83 billion, raising its full-year revenue forecast to $29 billion and planning a $500 million investment to support AI data center infrastructure [6] - Niu Technologies (NIU.US) increased over 11% after launching its new NX Play electric motorcycle on Douyin, integrating a smart riding system to enhance user experience [6] - T-Mobile US (TMUS.US) fell nearly 4% as SoftBank sold 21.5 million shares at $224 each, a 3% discount, triggering market sell-off [6] - The pharmaceutical sector saw widespread declines, with Eli Lilly (LLY.US) down over 2% and Novo Nordisk (NVO.US) down over 3%, as concerns grew over the potential impact of the U.S. Senate tax bill on the industry, coupled with profit-taking ahead of some companies' earnings reports [6] - The gold sector declined, with Gold Fields (GFI.US) down over 2.1%, and spot gold fell 0.27% to $3,375.53, as easing tensions in the Middle East reduced safe-haven demand, alongside Citigroup's bearish long-term gold price forecast [7]
Why First Solar Stock Dived by Almost 18% Today
The Motley Fool· 2025-06-17 22:25
Core Viewpoint - The solar energy sector faced significant declines in stock prices due to proposed legislative changes regarding tax credits, particularly impacting companies like First Solar, which saw a nearly 18% drop in share price [1]. Legislative Changes - The Senate Finance Committee proposed to accelerate the elimination of tax credits for solar and wind energy, reducing them by 60% next year and phasing them out entirely by 2028, contrasting with extended credits for nuclear, hydroelectric, and geothermal energy until 2036 [4]. Market Reaction - The decline in solar energy stocks, such as First Solar, was notably sharper than the overall market, with the S&P 500 index only slipping by 0.8% on the same day [1]. Investor Sentiment - Despite the legislative challenges, there is a belief that the better companies in the renewable energy sector should be able to adapt to the potential loss of tax credits, indicating that the market reaction may be an over-reaction [5].
2 Stocks Plummeting as the Sun Sets on Solar
Schaeffers Investment Research· 2025-06-17 14:45
Industry Overview - The alternative energy sector is experiencing a significant decline due to the U.S. Senate's version of President Trump's spending bill, which maintains cuts to solar and wind tax credits, with renewable energy incentives introduced by former President Biden set to be fully phased out by 2028 [1] Company Performance - First Solar Inc (NASDAQ:FSLR) is down 19.5% at $141, marking its worst single-session percentage loss since December 2011, and is down 45.6% year-over-year [2] - Enphase Energy Inc (NASDAQ:ENPH) is down 23.9% at $34.97, trading at five-year lows, and is down 70.8% year-over-year, following a peak of $130.08 on August 26 [3] Options Activity - Options traders are actively targeting FSLR, with 48,000 calls and 30,000 puts exchanged, which is six times the typical options volume for this time in a session, with the July 185 call being the most popular [4] - ENPH has seen 39,000 calls and 44,000 puts, eight times the intraday average options volume, with the June 32 put being the most active contract [5]
Bulls Scored a Rapid Profit With This Solar Play
Schaeffers Investment Research· 2025-06-12 18:13
Weekly Options Countdown subscribers just notched a quick, sizable profit with our weekly First Solar Inc (NASDAQ:FSLR) 6/6 59.50-strike call recommendation. In fact, they quadrupled their investment in less than one week.When traders received this commentary on Sunday, June 1, the solar stock had pulled back to its 20-day moving average after surging 60% in eight sessions. The shares were getting bought off, and had potential to start a nice uptrend, as sellers appeared ready to clear and looked for a mov ...