First Solar Target of Unusually High Options Trading (NASDAQ:FSLR)

First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) saw some unusual options trading activity on Monday. Investors purchased 41,672 put options on the stock. This represents an increase of 77% compared to the typical volume of 23,494 put options.

First Solar Stock Down 3.6%

First Solar stock traded down $8.20 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $217.36. 1,168,159 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,420,556. The stock has a market cap of $23.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.40, a PEG ratio of 0.49 and a beta of 1.76. First Solar has a 12 month low of $182.99 and a 12 month high of $320.95. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $233.60 and its 200-day moving average is $224.75.

First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The solar cell manufacturer reported $3.92 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.90 by $1.02. The company had revenue of $1.06 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.06 billion. First Solar had a net margin of 32.47% and a return on equity of 18.02%. First Solar’s quarterly revenue was down 3.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $3.18 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that First Solar will post 17.75 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have issued reports on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on First Solar from $300.00 to $310.00 in a report on Friday, May 1st. Weiss Ratings raised First Solar from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research report on Thursday, June 25th. TD Cowen reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of First Solar in a research note on Monday, July 20th. Zacks Research raised shares of First Solar from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, April 27th. Finally, Oppenheimer restated a “market perform” rating on shares of First Solar in a research note on Friday, July 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have issued a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $261.75.

First Solar News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: First Solar’s latest quarterly results remain a key support: second-quarter net income reached $423 million, full-year 2026 guidance was reaffirmed, and the company reported a contracted sales backlog of 45.1 gigawatts through 2030. Analysts’ median price target of $245 also remains above the recent trading level.
• Neutral Sentiment: Institutional positioning was mixed in the latest quarter, with 488 investors adding shares and 610 reducing positions. Major buyers included Capital World Investors, D. E. Shaw and JPMorgan, while Millennium Management cut its position substantially.
• Negative Sentiment: Investors continued to assess uncertainty surrounding U.S. solar trade policy. A recent White House proclamation imposed a 15% duty on imports of polysilicon derivatives and established a minimum import-price framework. Although the measures may benefit some domestic producers, they could also affect industry demand, pricing and customer purchasing decisions. First Solar’s 2026 outlook still incorporates a net tariff-related impact. First Solar Slides as Investors Weigh Tariff Uncertainty and Recent Policy Risks
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple law firms publicized a securities class-action lawsuit and an August 24 lead-plaintiff deadline. The case alleges that First Solar made misleading statements related to tariffs and production-facility utilization. These are allegations, not a court finding, but the repeated notices are adding to investor sentiment risk. FSLR Shareholder Alert
• Negative Sentiment: Put-option volume was approximately 77% above average, indicating increased demand for downside protection or bearish speculation. In addition, reported insider trading showed 141 sales and no purchases over the past six months, including sales by senior executives.

Insider Buying and Selling at First Solar

In other news, General Counsel Jason E. Dymbort sold 3,700 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 11th. The shares were 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 owned 5,624 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,402,513.12. The trade was a 39.68% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Caroline Stockdale sold 10,628 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $275.60, for a total value of $2,929,076.80. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 23,792 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,557,075.20. This trade represents a 30.88% decrease in their ownership of the stock. 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 sold 30,979 shares of company stock valued at $7,694,724 in the last quarter. Insiders own 0.39% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of First Solar

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Palogic Value Management L.P. bought a new stake in shares of First Solar in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $1,026,000. Panoramic Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of First Solar during the second quarter valued at $7,669,000. Bank of America Corp DE bought a new position in First Solar in the 2nd quarter worth about $171,043,000. Freestone Grove Partners LP bought a new position in First Solar in the second quarter worth approximately $7,185,000. Finally, Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec bought a new position in shares of First Solar during the 2nd quarter worth $36,252,000. 92.08% of the stock is currently 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.