7,376 First Solar, Inc. $FSLR Shares Sold by Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc.

Key Points

• Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group cut its First Solar stake by 3.2%, selling 7,376 shares; it retained 220,888 shares valued at about $38.7 million. Institutional investors collectively own 92.08% of the company.
• First Solar reported quarterly EPS of $5.30, beating analysts’ $4.67 estimate, but revenue of $1.23 billion missed expectations and fell 22.8% year over year.
• Analysts’ consensus rating was Moderate Buy, with an average price target of $257.38; recent views included upgrades or reaffirmations as well as price-target cuts.

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. cut its stake in shares of First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR - Free Report) by 3.2% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 220,888 shares of the solar cell manufacturer's stock after selling 7,376 shares during the period. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. owned about 0.21% of First Solar worth $38,691,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. BlackRock Inc. bought a new stake in shares of First Solar during the second quarter worth $3,310,298,000. ABS Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of First Solar during the second quarter worth approximately $1,297,780,000. Hill City Capital LP acquired a new stake in First Solar in the second quarter valued at about $620,133,555. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its position in First Solar by 7.0% during the 2nd quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 1,535,836 shares of the solar cell manufacturer's stock worth $362,396,000 after purchasing an additional 100,694 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its holdings in First Solar by 4.5% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,305,471 shares of the solar cell manufacturer's stock worth $257,441,000 after acquiring an additional 56,300 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.08% of the company's stock.

First Solar Stock Performance

First Solar stock opened at $194.51 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $20.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.26, a P/E/G ratio of 0.50 and a beta of 1.73. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $187.38 and a 200 day moving average price of $215.40. First Solar, Inc. has a 52 week low of $165.86 and a 52 week high of $320.95.

First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 29th. The solar cell manufacturer reported $5.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $4.67 by $0.63. The firm had revenue of $1.23 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.29 billion. First Solar had a return on equity of 18.33% and a net margin of 37.12%. The company's revenue was down 22.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $4.24 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that First Solar, Inc. will post 17.66 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts recently commented on FSLR shares. UBS Group restated a "buy" rating on shares of First Solar in a research report on Friday, October 30th. Susquehanna reaffirmed a "positive" rating and issued a $246.00 price target on shares of First Solar in a research report on Friday, October 30th. Raymond James Financial assumed coverage on First Solar in a research note on Thursday, August 27th. They issued a "market perform" rating for the company. BMO Capital Markets reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a $255.00 target price on shares of First Solar in a research report on Friday, October 30th. Finally, Barclays decreased their price target on shares of First Solar from $259.00 to $230.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have given a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $257.38.

First Solar News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting First Solar this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Investors anticipate that Democratic control of Congress could improve prospects for federal support of renewable energy and domestic solar manufacturing, lifting First Solar and other clean-energy shares. The extent and timing of any policy changes remain uncertain. Article: First Solar Jumps as Democratic Sweep Revives Clean-Energy Hopes
• Positive Sentiment: First Solar’s U.S. manufacturing footprint may also benefit from existing tariffs that support its competitive position against imported solar products. Article: First Solar Jumps After Democratic Sweep, but Tariffs Already Favor It
• Positive Sentiment: Options activity pointed to bullish positioning: traders bought 67,156 FSLR call options, 128% above the average volume reported in the article.
• Neutral Sentiment: The rally was part of a broader market rotation into clean-energy stocks after the election. The policy shift may change investor expectations, but it does not immediately alter company earnings, and the legislative path remains uncertain. Article: “Blue Trade” Sends First Solar and Sunrun Soaring
• Negative Sentiment: Barclays and Guggenheim each cut their price target on First Solar, providing a counterpoint to the election-driven optimism. The available reports do not specify the revised targets. Article: First Solar Price Target Cut by Barclays Article: First Solar Price Target Cut by Guggenheim

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, General Counsel Jason E. Dymbort sold 3,700 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $249.38, for a total value of $922,706.00. Following the transaction, the general counsel owned 5,624 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,402,513.12. This trade represents a 39.68% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, EVP Samantha L. Sloan sold 127 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $222.95, for a total transaction of $28,314.65. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 2,018 shares of the company's stock, valued at $449,913.10. This represents a 5.92% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Insiders sold a total of 5,427 shares of company stock worth $1,250,221 in the last three months. 0.39% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

First Solar Profile

First Solar, Inc is a vertically integrated solar technology and manufacturing company that designs, manufactures and sells photovoltaic (PV) solar modules. Its modules use advanced thin-film semiconductor technology based on cadmium telluride (CdTe), rather than the crystalline-silicon technology used by most solar manufacturers. The company serves utility-scale solar developers, commercial and industrial customers, and other large-scale energy users.

Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, First Solar operates research and development, manufacturing and recycling facilities in the United States and internationally.

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