First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) Given Consensus Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by Brokerages

Key Points

• Market consensus is a Moderate Buy from 32 analysts (18 buys, 13 holds, 1 sell) with an average 12‑month target of $245.47.
• First Solar posted a Q1 beat — $3.22 EPS vs. $2.87 consensus and record revenue of ~$1.04B — and management reaffirmed FY2026 guidance (net sales $4.9B–$5.2B; adjusted EBITDA $2.6B–$2.8B) while citing strong bookings (1.9 GW) and sustained demand momentum.
• Notable risks remain, including heavy insider selling (76,562 shares, roughly $15M sold in the last 90 days) and ongoing trade/tariff and policy uncertainty that could amplify volatility despite the upbeat results.

First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR - Get Free Report) has received a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from the thirty-two ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, thirteen have given a hold recommendation and eighteen have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $245.4748.

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Zacks Research raised shares of First Solar from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, April 27th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on shares of First Solar from $205.00 to $187.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 7th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of First Solar from $275.00 to $230.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 28th. Needham & Company LLC boosted their price objective on shares of First Solar from $286.00 to $303.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Finally, TD Cowen lowered their price objective on shares of First Solar from $320.00 to $253.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 25th.

Key Stories Impacting First Solar

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 earnings and margins beat expectations: First Solar reported $3.22 GAAP EPS vs. consensus ~$2.87 and record quarterly revenue (~$1.04B), with notable margin expansion that improves near‑term earnings visibility. Company Press Release
• Positive Sentiment: Guidance reaffirmed: Management reconfirmed FY2026 net sales ($4.9B–$5.2B) and adjusted EBITDA ($2.6B–$2.8B), removing some uncertainty around full‑year expectations and supporting valuation models. Quiver Quant Article
• Positive Sentiment: Strong bookings and demand mix: Management highlighted gross bookings (1.9 GW) and growth in key markets (India and U.S. utility scale), signaling continued sales momentum. Earnings Transcript (The Motley Fool)
• Positive Sentiment: Secular demand thesis reinforced by management: CEO Mark Widmar discussed rising power demand (including AI data centers) and U.S. manufacturing scale on TV, underscoring long‑term growth drivers. CEO Interview (YouTube)
• Neutral Sentiment: Guidance nuance — midpoint slightly below some sell‑side estimates: while guidance was reaffirmed, the midpoint was reported modestly under some analyst models, which could temper upside expectations. Yahoo Finance Recap
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst and institutional positioning mixed: median price target sits well above current levels but firms have recently trimmed or raised targets unevenly; institutional flows show major rebalances. These mixed signals can limit conviction. Quiver Quant — analyst & institutional data
• Negative Sentiment: Heavy insider selling: recent disclosures show numerous insider sales (no purchases) over the past six months, which some investors view as a governance or timing concern. Quiver Quant — insider trading
• Negative Sentiment: Ongoing trade/tariff and policy risk: multiple reports note management is navigating tariff and regulatory uncertainty; this remains a tail risk that could widen volatility despite the beat. MSN — Tariffs Article

First Solar Price Performance

FSLR opened at $211.71 on Friday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $198.46 and a 200 day moving average of $231.80. First Solar has a 52-week low of $122.47 and a 52-week high of $285.99. The company has a quick ratio of 2.35, a current ratio of 2.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03. The stock has a market cap of $22.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.68, a PEG ratio of 0.48 and a beta of 1.57.

First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 30th. The solar cell manufacturer reported $3.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.87 by $0.35. First Solar had a return on equity of 18.44% and a net margin of 30.73%.The company had revenue of $1.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.03 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.95 EPS. First Solar's revenue was up 23.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that First Solar will post 17.33 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at First Solar

In related news, CEO Mark R. Widmar sold 1,937 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $200.80, for a total value of $388,949.60. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 102,798 shares in the company, valued at approximately $20,641,838.40. The trade was a 1.85% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, General Counsel Jason E. Dymbort sold 9,022 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $199.62, for a total value of $1,800,971.64. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel owned 9,850 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,966,257. This represents a 47.81% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 76,562 shares of company stock valued at $15,042,232 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.39% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of First Solar

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in FSLR. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in First Solar in the fourth quarter worth about $392,040,000. Viking Global Investors LP lifted its position 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 purchasing an additional 854,919 shares during the period. Polar Capital Holdings Plc purchased a new stake in shares of First Solar in the 4th quarter worth approximately $200,109,000. Lightrock Netherlands B.V. lifted its position in shares of First Solar by 2,663.8% in the 4th quarter. Lightrock Netherlands B.V. now owns 666,307 shares of the solar cell manufacturer's stock worth $174,059,000 after purchasing an additional 642,199 shares during the period. Finally, Amundi lifted its position in shares of First Solar by 38.6% in the 3rd quarter. Amundi now owns 2,025,835 shares of the solar cell manufacturer's stock worth $459,917,000 after purchasing an additional 564,032 shares during the period. 92.08% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About First Solar

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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