First Solar, Inc. (FSLR) is scheduled to release first-quarter 2025 results on April 29, after market close. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter revenues is pegged at $851.9 million, implying a 7.3% improvement from the year-ago reported figure. The consensus mark for earnings is pegged at $2.49 per share, suggesting a 13.2% increase from $2.20 reported in the prior-year quarter. The bottom-line estimate has, however, moved down 34.1% in the past 60 days. (Find the latest EPS estimates and surpri ...

Core Insights - Clean energy investments are rising globally, with solar power being the fastest-growing energy source, benefiting companies like First Solar (FSLR) and Canadian Solar (CSIQ) [1][2] Group 1: First Solar (FSLR) - Recent Achievements: First Solar achieved a record annual sales growth of 26.7% in 2024, driven by increased module shipments and started production of Series 7 modules in Alabama, with a total production capacity of approximately 21 GW [3][4] - Future Outlook: The company plans to expand its manufacturing capacity to over 25 GW by the end of 2026 and has contracts for the future sale of 68.5 GW of solar modules worth $20.5 billion, expected to be recognized as revenue through 2030 [4][5] - Financial Stability: As of December 31, 2024, First Solar had cash and cash equivalents of $1.79 billion, significantly higher than its long-term debt of $0.37 billion and current debt of $0.24 billion, indicating a strong solvency position [5] - Challenges: First Solar faces competition from Chinese manufacturers who added an estimated 270 GW of production capacity in 2024, which could lead to pricing volatility and affect profitability [6] - Manufacturing Issues: The company identified potential premature power loss in certain Series 7 modules, estimating aggregate losses between $56 million and $100 million, which could impact near-term results [7] Group 2: Canadian Solar (CSIQ) - Recent Achievements: Canadian Solar brought 1.3 GWp of solar projects to commercial operation by December 31, 2024, and has a project pipeline of 24.9 GWp [8][9] - Financial Stability: As of December 31, 2024, Canadian Solar's cash and cash equivalents totaled $2.25 billion, while its current debt was $2.76 billion and long-term debt was $2.49 billion, indicating a weak solvency position [11] - Challenges: The company experienced an 11% year-over-year decline in revenues in Q4 2024 due to declining average selling prices of solar modules, primarily affected by increased competition from Chinese manufacturers [12] Group 3: Comparative Analysis - Sales and Earnings Estimates: The Zacks Consensus Estimate for First Solar's 2025 sales and EPS implies improvements of 31.1% and 55.6%, respectively, while Canadian Solar's sales estimate implies a 24.7% improvement, with a projected loss per share of 6 cents [13][14] - Stock Performance: Over the past three months, FSLR has outperformed CSIQ, with FSLR down 19.5% compared to CSIQ's 28% decline [16] - Valuation: First Solar is trading at a forward earnings multiple of 6.49X, significantly lower than Canadian Solar's 26.64X, making FSLR a more attractive investment option [17][21]

Group 1 - The U.S. has imposed new tariffs on solar imports from four Southeast Asian countries, which supply a significant portion of solar panels to the U.S. market [1][2] - The final anti-dumping rates determined by the U.S. Department of Commerce are 125.37% for Cambodia, 271.28% for Vietnam, 111.45% for Thailand, and 8.59% for Malaysia, which are higher than the preliminary rates [1] - The investigation concluded that Southeast Asian solar manufacturers benefited from government subsidies and sold products below production costs, harming the U.S. solar industry [1] Group 2 - In the previous year, the U.S. imported $12.9 billion worth of solar equipment from the four affected countries, accounting for approximately 77% of total component imports [2] - The effectiveness of these tariffs depends on the subsequent actions of the U.S. International Trade Commission, which will determine if domestic producers are harmed by these imports [2] - The investigation was initiated following a petition submitted by the American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing Trade Committee, representing companies like First Solar, Hanwha Qcells USA Inc., and Mission Solar Energy LLC [2]

Analyst's Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Long position through a purchase of the stock, or the purchase of call options or similar derivatives in FSLR over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking ...

Core Viewpoint - First Solar has shown resilience amid market volatility, with its stock price increasing by approximately 4.5% while the S&P 500 declined by about 7% in early April 2025, despite a year-to-date decline of over 28% [1][2]. Group 1: Company Performance - First Solar's stock has struggled over the past several quarters, down more than 28% year-to-date and 25% over the past 12 months leading up to April 8 [2]. - The company has an attractive valuation with a price-to-sales ratio of 3.3 and a forward P/E ratio of 10.0, alongside strong fundamentals such as a return on equity (ROE) of 17.6% and net margins of 32.4% [3]. - In Q4, First Solar reported a 30.7% year-over-year net sales improvement, with gross profit increasing by over 13% [3]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - The sell-off in First Solar shares over the past year is attributed to a shift in investor focus from solar energy to nuclear and other energy sources, following initial excitement about AI-driven energy demand [4]. - Despite the medium-term decline, First Solar's stock price has more than tripled over the last five years [5]. Group 3: Competitive Advantage - First Solar operates primarily within the U.S., making it less susceptible to tariffs compared to competitors reliant on Southeast Asian materials, which have been significantly impacted by recent tariffs [7]. - The company is well-positioned to benefit from strong momentum in solar energy capacity growth, with about 50 gigawatts added to the U.S. power grid in 2024, the highest in nearly two decades [9]. Group 4: Analyst Sentiment - Analysts maintain a positive outlook on First Solar, with a 12-month stock price forecast of $257.42, indicating a potential upside of 98.58% from the current price [10]. - The consensus among analysts includes 25 Buy ratings and only three Holds, reflecting optimism about the company's earnings growth, projected at 56.1% [11]. - Despite recent price target reductions by some firms, the overall sentiment remains bullish, suggesting a potential turnaround for First Solar [12].

Group 1 - First Solar was initially covered by an analyst, but the stock underperformed the S&P by almost 20% [1] - The analyst has a background in mechanical engineering and has transitioned from the oil and gas sector to focus on global equities, particularly in semiconductors, robotics, and energy [2] - The investment approach emphasizes growth at a reasonable price with a mid- to long-term investment horizon [2] Group 2 - The analyst holds a beneficial long position in First Solar shares through various means [2] - The article aims to provide small investors with valuable investment ideas [2] - The analyst's experience suggests that risks in smaller companies are often underestimated, leading to a preference for companies in oligopolistic sectors with high barriers to entry [2]

Core Insights - The article discusses the investment strategies and achievements of Paul Franke, a seasoned investor with 38 years of trading experience, highlighting his unique stock selection methods and performance metrics [1]. Group 1: Investment Strategies - Paul Franke employs a contrarian stock selection style, utilizing daily algorithm analysis of fundamental and technical data to identify investment opportunities [1]. - His system, named "Victory Formation," focuses on supply/demand imbalances indicated by specific stock price and volume movements [1]. - The "Bottom Fishing Club" articles target deep-value candidates or stocks showing significant upward technical momentum reversals [1]. Group 2: Performance Metrics - Franke was consistently ranked among the top investment advisors nationally during the 1990s and achieved the 1 position in the Motley Fool® CAPS stock picking contest in 2008 and 2009, out of over 60,000 portfolios [1]. - As of September 2024, he is ranked in the Top 3% of bloggers by TipRanks® for 12-month stock picking performance over the last decade [1]. Group 3: Risk Management - Franke advises investors to implement stop-loss levels of 10% or 20% on individual stock choices and to maintain a diversified portfolio of at least 50 well-positioned stocks to enhance regular stock market outperformance [1].

Group 1 - The Quant Rating for First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) is a neutral Hold, indicating a balanced outlook on the stock [1] - Valuation and financial growth for First Solar remain strong, but there are concerns regarding the lack of momentum in share prices and several downward earnings revisions [1] Group 2 - The analyst has over 20 years of experience in quantitative research, financial modeling, and risk management, specializing in equity valuation and market trends [1] - The investment approach combines risk management with long-term value creation, focusing on macroeconomic trends and corporate earnings [1]

Company Overview - First Solar, Inc. (FSLR) is a technology company that specializes in providing solar energy solutions globally by producing photovoltaic (PV) solar modules [1]. Stock Performance - Recently, the stock of First Solar has exhibited poor performance, which may be perceived as undervaluation [1]. Investment Background - The article discusses the author's background in algorithmic trading and macroeconomic topics, highlighting a conservative investment track record with a portfolio yield of 17.5% at the end of 2020 and a nearly flat performance in 2022 with a loss of only 0.16% [1]. - The author transitioned to a quantitative trading approach, achieving a portfolio yield of 12.84% last year with a beta of less than 0.6, indicating a lower risk profile [1]. Future Plans - The author plans to increase risk to enable higher yields on investments moving forward [1].

Market Overview - The stock market experienced its highest losses since the pandemic, with the S&P 500 plunging 6%, the Dow Jones dropping 5.2%, and the Nasdaq falling 5.8%, entering bear market territory, resulting in nearly $6.4 trillion in value being wiped out [1] First Solar (FSLR) - First Solar has received an 'Outperform' rating from BMO Capital, with a price target of $230, as analysts view the recent reciprocal tariffs averaging 39% on Southeast Asian solar imports as a long-term catalyst for U.S.-based manufacturers [3][4] - The tariffs are expected to boost domestic manufacturing demand while competitors face pricing pressures, and positive trends in average selling prices (ASPs) are seen as supportive for growth [4] - Despite short-term risks related to the Inflation Reduction Act and margin pressure from imports, BMO believes FSLR's long-term valuation remains compelling, with the stock trading at $128.69, down over 5% for the day but gaining about 3% weekly [5] Amazon (AMZN) - Goldman Sachs analyst Eric Sheridan reiterated a 'Buy' rating on Amazon with a price target of $255, noting the stock was trading at $171, down over 4% [7] - The analysis highlights a potential $5–10 billion EBIT impact from higher first-party merchandise costs due to reciprocal tariffs averaging 18.2%, but emphasizes Amazon's scale, vendor relationships, and pricing flexibility as effective mitigation strategies [8] - Amazon's margin stability during the 2018–2019 tariff period is cited as a strong precedent, and the closure of the de minimis exemption may reduce competition from Chinese platforms [9][10]