Wealthfront Advisers LLC Purchases New Holdings in First Solar, Inc. $FSLR

Key Points

• Wealthfront Advisers initiated a First Solar position of 15,637 shares worth approximately $3.69 million. Institutional investors collectively own 92.08% of the company, with BlackRock and Norges Bank among other major recent buyers.
• Analyst sentiment remains positive overall, with a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $264.44. First Solar also exceeded quarterly EPS expectations, reporting $3.92 versus the $2.90 consensus estimate, although revenue declined 3.4% year over year.
• Potential positives include reduced competition from solar-industry bankruptcies and support from tariffs on imported polysilicon, while a proposed securities class action over production, relocation and tariff risks remains a key uncertainty.

Wealthfront Advisers LLC purchased a new position in First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR - Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 15,637 shares of the solar cell manufacturer's stock, valued at approximately $3,690,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. BlackRock Inc. bought a new position in First Solar in the second quarter worth approximately $3,310,298,000. Norges Bank bought a new stake in First Solar during the 4th quarter valued at $392,040,000. Deutsche Bank AG bought a new stake in First Solar during the 2nd quarter valued at $212,626,000. Viking Global Investors LP lifted its holdings in shares of First Solar by 60.6% in the 2nd quarter. Viking Global Investors LP now owns 2,266,050 shares of the solar cell manufacturer's stock worth $375,122,000 after buying an additional 854,919 shares during the period. Finally, Polar Capital Holdings Plc purchased a new stake in shares of First Solar in the 4th quarter worth $200,109,000. 92.08% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at First Solar

In related news, EVP Samantha L. Sloan sold 127 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, August 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $222.95, for a total value 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 position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, insider Michael Koralewski sold 7,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $221.51, for a total value of $1,550,570.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 7,642 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,692,779.42. This trade represents a 47.81% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold a total of 25,709 shares of company stock worth $6,386,163 in the last three months. 0.39% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently commented on FSLR shares. TD Cowen restated a "buy" rating on shares of First Solar in a research note on Monday, July 20th. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of First Solar from $213.00 to $279.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Sanford C. Bernstein dropped their target price on shares of First Solar from $217.00 to $197.00 and set an "underperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 31st. Zacks Research raised shares of First Solar from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, April 27th. Finally, Guggenheim boosted their price target on shares of First Solar from $279.00 to $282.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, August 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have assigned a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $264.44.

First Solar Price Performance

FSLR opened at $214.06 on Friday. The business's 50-day moving average is $229.93 and its two-hundred day moving average is $224.33. First Solar, Inc. has a 1 year low of $182.99 and a 1 year high of $320.95. The firm has a market capitalization of $23.00 billion, a PE ratio of 13.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.49 and a beta of 1.75.

First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The solar cell manufacturer reported $3.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.90 by $1.02. The business had revenue of $1.06 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.06 billion. First Solar had a net margin of 32.47% and a return on equity of 18.02%. The business's revenue for the quarter was down 3.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $3.18 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that First Solar, Inc. will post 17.72 EPS for the current year.

First Solar News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: First Solar could benefit from a wave of solar-industry bankruptcies if weaker competitors exit the market, potentially reducing competition and supporting demand for its domestically produced thin-film modules. First Solar stands to gain as bankruptcy wave hits solar sector
• Positive Sentiment: Some market commentary argues that First Solar may be undervalued, while a 15% tariff on imported polysilicon could support domestic pricing and cash flow. These factors offer potential offsets to the company’s legal and policy risks. First Solar Stock Could Be 30% Undervalued As Tariff News Lifts Sentiment
• Neutral Sentiment: First Solar executive Samantha Sloan sold 127 shares for approximately $28,315 to cover tax withholding on vested equity awards. The small, tax-related transaction is unlikely to represent a meaningful change in management’s view of the business.
• Negative Sentiment: Several law firms are promoting a securities class action against First Solar and certain officers. The lawsuit alleges investors were misled about Series 6 module production underutilization, the costs and challenges of moving operations to South Carolina, and related tariff and production risks during the February 26, 2025–February 24, 2026 class period. The allegations have not been proven, but potential damages, legal costs and reputational harm are weighing on sentiment. Investors have until August 24, 2026, to seek lead-plaintiff status. Pomerantz Announces First Solar Class Action

First Solar Profile

First Solar, Inc NASDAQ: FSLR is a United States–based solar technology company best known for designing and manufacturing thin‑film photovoltaic (PV) modules that use cadmium telluride (CdTe) semiconductor technology. The company supplies PV modules and delivers integrated solar power solutions for utility‑scale projects, positioning itself as a provider of both components and complete solar energy systems rather than solely a parts supplier. First Solar was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona.

Beyond module manufacturing, First Solar offers a range of project services including development support, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services, and operations and maintenance (O&M) for large-scale solar installations.

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This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.

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