Vontobel Holding Ltd. Buys 19,240 Shares of First Solar, Inc. $FSLR

Key Points

• Vontobel Holding increased its First Solar stake by 42.4% in the third quarter, adding 19,240 shares to own 64,624 shares worth approximately $11.32 million. Institutional investors collectively hold 92.08% of the company.
• First Solar shares opened at $172.64, near their one-year low of $168.60 and well below the 50-day and 200-day moving averages. The company’s latest quarterly EPS of $3.92 exceeded estimates, although revenue declined 3.4% year over year.
• Analysts maintain a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating with an average price target of $265.87, despite some recent target cuts and broader pressure on solar stocks from higher interest rates.

Vontobel Holding Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR - Free Report) by 42.4% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 64,624 shares of the solar cell manufacturer's stock after acquiring an additional 19,240 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd. owned 0.06% of First Solar worth $11,320,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new stake in First Solar in the 2nd quarter valued at $3,310,298,000. Hill City Capital LP bought a new stake in First Solar during the 2nd quarter valued at $620,133,555. Deutsche Bank AG bought a new stake in First Solar during the 2nd quarter valued at $212,626,000. Bank of America Corp DE acquired a new position in First Solar during the second quarter worth $171,043,000. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp acquired a new position in First Solar during the second quarter worth $164,962,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.08% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other First Solar news, EVP Samantha L. Sloan sold 127 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $222.95, for a total value of $28,314.65. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 2,018 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $449,913.10. This represents a 5.92% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, General Counsel Jason E. Dymbort sold 3,700 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $249.38, for a total transaction of $922,706.00. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel directly owned 5,624 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,402,513.12. The trade was a 39.68% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders sold 16,681 shares of company stock valued at $3,756,286 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.39% of the company's stock.

First Solar News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Investor attention remains focused on First Solar’s strong annual revenue growth, positive free cash flow, improving returns on capital and expanding market share. These factors support the long-term investment case despite near-term market volatility. How Investors Are Reacting To First Solar Strong Fundamentals And Market Share Gains
• Positive Sentiment: High trading volume in First Solar call options suggests some traders are positioning for a potential rebound or increased volatility ahead of the company’s earnings report, although options activity is not a guarantee of future gains. Traders Purchase High Volume of First Solar Call Options
• Neutral Sentiment: First Solar will release third-quarter 2026 results after the market closes on October 29 and host an investor webcast. The report could provide important updates on demand, margins, production and guidance. First Solar to Announce Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results
• Negative Sentiment: Higher interest rates are pressuring clean-tech valuations and encouraging investors to rotate away from growth-oriented renewable-energy stocks. This macro backdrop has weighed on the Guinness Sustainable Energy Fund and the broader solar group. Guinness Sustainable Energy Fund Discusses First Solar Amid Solar Industry Weakness
• Negative Sentiment: First Solar declined more sharply than the broader market in the latest session, reflecting continued sector weakness and risk aversion rather than a newly reported company-specific deterioration. First Solar Falls More Steeply Than Broader Market

First Solar Trading Down 3.5%

Shares of NASDAQ:FSLR opened at $172.64 on Friday. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $198.70 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $218.97. First Solar, Inc. has a 1-year low of $168.60 and a 1-year high of $320.95. The stock has a market cap of $18.55 billion, a PE ratio of 10.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.47 and a beta of 1.80.

First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 30th. The solar cell manufacturer reported $3.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.90 by $1.02. First Solar had a net margin of 32.47% and a return on equity of 18.02%. The firm had revenue of $1.06 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.06 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $3.18 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was down 3.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that First Solar, Inc. will post 17.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have weighed in on FSLR. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of First Solar from $279.00 to $259.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut shares of First Solar from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, August 27th. Glj Research decreased their target price on shares of First Solar from $315.00 to $250.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, September 22nd. Guggenheim reissued a "buy" rating on shares of First Solar in a research report on Monday, September 28th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of First Solar from $300.00 to $313.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, August 7th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have issued a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $265.87.

About First Solar

First Solar, Inc is a solar technology and manufacturing company that designs and produces photovoltaic (PV) solar modules for utility-scale power projects. Unlike conventional crystalline-silicon panels, its modules use thin-film semiconductor technology based on cadmium telluride (CdTe), which the company says can provide advantages in energy yield, temperature performance and lifecycle sustainability.

The company's product portfolio includes its Series 6 and Series 7 thin-film solar modules, along with related services such as technical support, module recycling and end-of-life collection.

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