Zacks Research Predicts Stronger Earnings for First Solar

Key Points

• Zacks Research raised its FY2025 earnings per share estimate for First Solar to $14.35, up from $14.29, indicating a positive outlook for the solar manufacturer.
• First Solar reported a quarterly EPS of $3.18, exceeding analyst expectations of $2.68, with revenue increasing 8.6% year-over-year to $1.10 billion.
• Recent research reports have boosted First Solar's stock price targets, with several analysts issuing "buy" ratings, reflecting strong market confidence.

First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR - Free Report) - Investment analysts at Zacks Research increased their FY2025 EPS estimates for First Solar in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, September 11th. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the solar cell manufacturer will post earnings per share of $14.35 for the year, up from their previous estimate of $14.29. The consensus estimate for First Solar's current full-year earnings is $13.05 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for First Solar's Q4 2025 earnings at $5.43 EPS and Q4 2026 earnings at $7.95 EPS.

FSLR has been the subject of several other research reports. Hsbc Global Res raised shares of First Solar to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, August 1st. Wall Street Zen raised shares of First Solar from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, August 2nd. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their target price on shares of First Solar from $188.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of First Solar from $194.00 to $203.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, August 1st. Finally, Glj Research reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $214.06 target price (up previously from $172.53) on shares of First Solar in a research report on Tuesday, August 12th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have assigned a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $225.84.

First Solar Stock Down 0.8%

Shares of FSLR stock traded down $1.61 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $201.70. 1,238,781 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,731,442. The stock has a market cap of $21.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.25, a PEG ratio of 0.40 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a quick ratio of 1.41, a current ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $187.50 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $159.44. First Solar has a 12-month low of $116.56 and a 12-month high of $262.72.

First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The solar cell manufacturer reported $3.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.68 by $0.50. First Solar had a net margin of 28.95% and a return on equity of 15.57%. The firm had revenue of $1.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.03 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $3.25 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. First Solar has set its FY 2025 guidance at 13.500-16.500 EPS.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CAO Nathan B. Theurer sold 686 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.03, for a total value of $124,872.58. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Mark R. Widmar sold 2,321 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $199.44, for a total transaction of $462,900.24. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 81,861 shares in the company, valued at $16,326,357.84. The trade was a 2.76% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 32,315 shares of company stock worth $6,021,305 in the last 90 days. 0.48% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On First Solar

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. TD Private Client Wealth LLC boosted its position in First Solar by 126.9% in the 2nd quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 152 shares of the solar cell manufacturer's stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the period. Strategic Wealth Investment Group LLC purchased a new stake in First Solar in the 2nd quarter valued at about $26,000. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC boosted its position in First Solar by 138.9% in the 2nd quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC now owns 172 shares of the solar cell manufacturer's stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. Hantz Financial Services Inc. boosted its position in First Solar by 69.4% in the 2nd quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 183 shares of the solar cell manufacturer's stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the period. Finally, Garde Capital Inc. purchased a new stake in First Solar in the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. 92.08% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About First Solar

First Solar, Inc, a solar technology company, provides photovoltaic (PV) solar energy solutions in the United States, France, Japan, Chile, and internationally. The company manufactures and sells PV solar modules with a thin film semiconductor technology that provides a lower-carbon alternative to conventional crystalline silicon PV solar modules.