The recommendations of Wall Street analysts are often relied on by investors when deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock. Media reports about these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts changing their ratings often affect a stock's price. Do they really matter, though?Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about First Solar (FSLR) .First Solar currently has an average brokerag ...

With a market capitalization of over $23 billion, First Solar Inc. NASDAQ: FSLR is the biggest solar company in the U.S., where it has notched success with its low-cost and easily scalable Cadmium Telluride (CdTe)-based solar panel technology. First Solar TodayFSLRFirst Solar$196.70 +2.68 (+1.38%) 52-Week Range$129.21▼$306.77P/E Ratio16.94Price Target$281.13Add to WatchlistHowever, in late October 2024, the firm posted disappointing fiscal results for the third quarter, including both top- and bottom-line ...

About this content About Oliver Haill Oliver has been writing about companies and markets since the early 2000s, cutting his teeth as a financial journalist at Growth Company Investor with a focusing on AIM companies and small caps, before a few years later becoming a section editor and then head of research. He joined Proactive after a couple of years freelancing, where he worked for the Financial Times Group, ITV, Press Association, Reuters sports desk, the London Olympic News Service, Rugby World Cup ...

First Solar (FSLR) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.Shares of this largest U.S. solar company have returned -14.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.2% change. The Zacks Solar industry, to which First Solar belongs, has lost 18.6% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?Alt ...

Core Viewpoint - Shares of solar companies are declining following Donald Trump's presidential victory, which raises concerns about the potential repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that supports clean energy projects and solar installations [1] Group 1: Company Performance - First Solar Inc (FSLR) is down 11% to $192.17, having previously dipped to $173.37, and is now 23.1% lower for the quarter despite being up 11.3% year to date [2] - Enphase Energy Inc (ENPH) hit its lowest level since September 2020, trading 16.8% lower at $74.78, and has lost 43.8% in 2024 [3] - NextEra Energy Inc (NEE) is down 4.8% to $74.83, breaching its 160-day moving average for the first time since March, with an 11.3% deficit quarter-to-date [3] Group 2: Market Activity - All three companies are experiencing higher-than-usual intraday options volume, with calls outpacing puts for FSLR and ENPH, while NEE has seen 18,000 puts exchanged, three times the typical amount [4]

Green energy stocks are selling off post-election. Is this a buying opportunity?The U.S. voted to return Donald Trump to the White House Tuesday night, and the effects are making themselves felt across the stock market Wednesday morning. While not all votes have yet been tabulated, early Wednesday morning it's looking entirely likely that not only did Republicans win the popular vote and the Electoral College (with potentially as many as 312 electoral votes), but they now control a majority in the Senate, a ...

Retail investors can have a significant advantage over others by following Wall Street analysts' trends, especially in the way they shift their ratings and price targets for certain stocks. Today, three names give investors an opportunity to reverse engineer some of the recent analyst upgrades to determine whether they are Buys across the board. It turns out that these analysts might be spot on this time around, as the stocks they selected to boost valuations and ratings carry several tailwinds and bullish ...

First Solar's business is driven by subsidies, which may not be sustainable.First Solar (FSLR 3.58%) is one of the most valuable companies in the solar industry, but U.S. subsidies drive its profits. Is that sustainable? Travis Hoium uses recent numbers from the company to show why this may be the top for the stock.*Stock prices used were end-of-day prices of Nov. 4, 2024. The video was published on Nov. 4, 2024. ...

Core Viewpoint - First Solar has outperformed its sector peers with a stock increase of approximately 13% year-to-date, while Enphase Energy has seen a decline of 38% in the same period. The upcoming U.S. presidential election introduces uncertainty for the solar industry, particularly regarding potential regulatory changes under a Republican administration [1][2]. Company Performance - First Solar's financial performance has been strong, with revenues increasing by 24% year-over-year in the first nine months of 2024 and net profit margins rising to 33%, up from about 22% in the previous year [2][3]. - The company achieved record panel production of 3.8 gigawatts in Q3 2024 and has a bookings backlog of 73.3 gigawatts, indicating strong demand visibility [2]. Regulatory Environment - A significant portion of First Solar's margin expansion is attributed to subsidies, particularly the Section 45X tax credit under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, which incentivizes domestic panel manufacturing [3][4]. - First Solar plans to open its fifth factory in Louisiana by 2026, increasing its total U.S. capacity to approximately 14 gigawatts, benefiting from substantial tax credits [3][4]. Market Outlook - The solar industry is expected to continue expanding regardless of the political landscape, driven by declining costs and increasing viability of solar energy [2]. - The macroeconomic environment is improving, with inflation cooling and the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates, which may enhance financing conditions for renewable energy projects [5]. Potential Risks - If the Section 45X tax credits are lost, it could significantly impact First Solar's profitability, although the likelihood of this occurring under a Trump presidency remains uncertain [4]. - Trump's pro-manufacturing stance may provide some protections for First Solar, as he aims to support domestic manufacturers through tariffs and regulatory easing [4].

In my First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR ) Q3 earnings preview , I outlined that there were headwinds from utility project delays and India's overcapacity entering America, but in honesty, I did not expect such a weak quarter for Oliver Rodzianko is an investment analyst specializing in the technology sector, grounded in timeless value principles. His expertise spans AI, semiconductors, software, and renewable energy, with a focus on companies that demonstrate resilient management and lasting competitive advantages. ...