First Solar(FSLR) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Q1 earnings per diluted share was $1.95, which was below the low end of the guidance range, primarily due to a higher proportion of international sales compared to U.S. sales [5][39] - The total contracted backlog as of March 31, 2025, was 66.1 gigawatts, with an aggregate value of approximately$19.8 billion, reflecting a decrease from the previous quarter [35][39] - Gross margin for Q1 was 41%, up from 37% in the prior quarter, driven by a higher mix of U.S. manufactured modules qualifying for Section 45X tax credits [40][41] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1, the company recorded 2.9 gigawatts of module sales, with 1.75 gigawatts being domestically produced [39] - The company produced 4.0 gigawatts in Q1, split evenly between Series 6 and Series 7 modules [5][6] - Approximately 32.5 gigawatts of contracted volume included potential adjustments that could generate additional revenue of up to $600 million [36] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company secured net bookings of 0.6 gigawatts at a base ASP of$0.305 per watt since the previous earnings call [4] - The mid to late stage bookings opportunities increased by approximately 2.6 gigawatts to 23.7 gigawatts, driven by demand in India [37][38] - The company anticipates a significant increase in domestic India bookings due to the PM Kusum initiative, which aims to add 30 gigawatts of solar capacity by March 2026 [38] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to pivot its India facility to focus more on the domestic market due to expected tariff impacts on U.S. exports [15][17] - The company is positioned as the only U.S. headquartered PV manufacturer of scale with a fully vertically integrated manufacturing presence across three states [19][20] - The company continues to advocate for maintaining key tax policies and strengthening domestic content provisions to support U.S. manufacturing [24][25] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the long-term prospects for U.S. solar demand despite near-term challenges from new tariffs [33][63] - The company highlighted the importance of enforcing U.S. trade laws to counter unfair practices from Chinese manufacturers [34][21] - Management noted that the recent tariff regime has introduced significant uncertainty, impacting operational and financial guidance [50][62] Other Important Information - The company completed a limited commercial production run of modules employing CURE technology, with initial data confirming expected performance improvements [6][7] - The company is facing challenges related to increased capital expenditure costs and production costs due to the new tariff regime [49][50] - The company anticipates a decrease in cash balance due to increased accounts receivable and inventory levels [44][45] Q&A Session Summary Question: Outlook for bookings and impact of tariffs - Management noted that there has been increased customer engagement and momentum for bookings, but pricing dynamics remain uncertain due to tariff implications [66][68] Question: Underperformance of modules - Management confirmed that third-party reports validated root causes of production issues and corrective actions have been implemented [70] Question: Expected resolution of warehousing expenses - Management indicated that the resolution of warehousing expenses may extend into 2026, depending on production and delivery schedules [66][70]