First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) Posts Earnings Results, Misses Estimates By $0.38 EPS

First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday. The solar cell manufacturer reported $4.84 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.22 by ($0.38), FiscalAI reports. First Solar had a net margin of 27.73% and a return on equity of 16.61%. The business had revenue of $1.68 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.59 billion.

First Solar Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ FSLR traded up $1.06 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $243.21. 3,148,746 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,473,492. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $245.75 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $235.90. The company has a market cap of $26.10 billion, a PE ratio of 18.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.31 and a beta of 1.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a quick ratio of 1.55 and a current ratio of 1.91. First Solar has a 1-year low of $116.56 and a 1-year high of $285.99.

Key First Solar News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Needham raised its price target to $303 and kept a Buy rating, signaling upside vs. current levels and reinforcing buy‑side sentiment. Needham adjusts price target
• Positive Sentiment: First Solar published an economic‑impact study showing it could support ~40,000 U.S. jobs and add $7.8B to U.S. GDP by 2027—positive PR that supports expectations for strong U.S. demand and political support for domestic manufacturing. First Solar economic impact study
• Positive Sentiment: First Solar’s PV recycling program and circular‑economy capabilities are highlighted as a competitive edge as installations age—this supports margin and aftermarket service narratives over the medium term. PV recycling leadership story
• Positive Sentiment: Broader market demand tailwinds: reporting shows ~93% of new U.S. power capacity in 2026 is expected from solar, wind and batteries, which supports First Solar’s long‑term growth opportunity. Renewables share of new U.S. capacity
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts have been revising forecasts ahead of the Q4 call—this concentrates expectations and could amplify moves depending on the print; revisions don’t uniformly signal direction. Analyst forecast revisions
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation/price action context: after a strong 1‑year return, short‑term momentum has cooled and the stock is roughly flat over the past month—this suggests the rally may be pausing into the earnings event. Valuation and performance note
• Negative Sentiment: Earnings risk: multiple previews note Q4 results and guidance are the primary near‑term catalyst—any revenue, margin or backlog disappointment, or cautious 2026 commentary, could trigger a pullback and higher intraday volatility. Earnings preview and risk

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages recently commented on FSLR. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $300.00 price target on shares of First Solar in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Guggenheim upped their target price on First Solar from $289.00 to $312.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “buy” rating and issued a $316.00 price target on shares of First Solar in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Bank of America lowered their price objective on First Solar from $291.00 to $271.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, UBS Group raised their price target on shares of First Solar from $275.00 to $330.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have issued a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, First Solar currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $276.24.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in FSLR. Strategic Wealth Investment Group LLC acquired a new stake in First Solar in the second quarter valued at approximately $26,000. DV Equities LLC bought a new position in shares of First Solar in the 4th quarter valued at $40,000. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of First Solar during the 4th quarter valued at $49,000. MUFG Securities EMEA plc acquired a new position in First Solar in the 2nd quarter worth about $52,000. Finally, HM Payson & Co. raised its position in First Solar by 188.7% in the fourth quarter. HM Payson & Co. now owns 205 shares of the solar cell manufacturer’s stock valued at $54,000 after purchasing an additional 134 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.08% of the company’s stock.

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.