Zacks Research Has Weak Outlook for First Solar Q1 Earnings

First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) – Equities research analysts at Zacks Research cut their Q1 2025 EPS estimates for First Solar in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, March 18th. Zacks Research analyst A. Dutta now expects that the solar cell manufacturer will post earnings of $2.37 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $3.78. 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 Q3 2025 earnings at $5.00 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $6.27 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $17.81 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $2.82 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $6.43 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $7.71 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $8.48 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $25.44 EPS.

A number of other research analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Redburn Atlantic initiated coverage on shares of First Solar in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. They set a “neutral” rating on the stock. Seaport Res Ptn raised shares of First Solar from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 15th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of First Solar from $297.00 to $238.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of First Solar from $240.00 to $209.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Roth Mkm reissued a “buy” rating and set a $280.00 target price on shares of First Solar in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-three have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, First Solar presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $262.08.

First Solar Trading Down 0.7 %

Shares of FSLR stock opened at $128.46 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $13.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.19 and a beta of 1.52. The company has a quick ratio of 1.44, a current ratio of 2.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. First Solar has a fifty-two week low of $124.96 and a fifty-two week high of $306.77. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $157.42 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $188.89.

First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 25th. The solar cell manufacturer reported $3.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.81 by ($1.16). The company had revenue of $1.51 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.48 billion. First Solar had a net margin of 32.41% and a return on equity of 17.56%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On First Solar

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Larson Financial Group LLC grew its position in shares of First Solar by 214.0% during the third quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 157 shares of the solar cell manufacturer’s stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 107 shares during the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of First Solar by 31.7% during the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 262 shares of the solar cell manufacturer’s stock worth $47,000 after acquiring an additional 63 shares during the last quarter. Crews Bank & Trust bought a new position in shares of First Solar during the fourth quarter worth about $53,000. Hudson Edge Investment Partners Inc. bought a new position in shares of First Solar during the fourth quarter worth about $53,000. Finally, Banque Transatlantique SA bought a new position in shares of First Solar during the fourth quarter worth about $53,000. Institutional investors own 92.08% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other First Solar news, CFO Alexander R. Bradley sold 599 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, March 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $133.75, for a total transaction of $80,116.25. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 45,717 shares in the company, valued at $6,114,648.75. The trade was a 1.29 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CTO Markus Gloeckler sold 380 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, March 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $133.75, for a total transaction of $50,825.00. Following the sale, the chief technology officer now owns 17,594 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,353,197.50. The trade was a 2.11 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 34,311 shares of company stock worth $4,767,158. Insiders own 0.58% of the company’s stock.

First Solar Company Profile

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.