First Solar’s (FSLR) Hold Rating Reiterated at HSBC

HSBC restated their hold rating on shares of First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. HSBC currently has a $211.00 price objective on the solar cell manufacturer’s stock, down from their previous price objective of $280.00.

Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the company. Robert W. Baird reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $205.00 target price (down from $264.00) on shares of First Solar in a research report on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of First Solar from $278.00 to $303.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, October 31st. BMO Capital Markets set a $263.00 price objective on shares of First Solar in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Evercore lifted their price objective on shares of First Solar from $240.90 to $241.00 in a report on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Raymond James Financial started coverage on shares of First Solar in a report on Monday, January 12th. They issued a “market perform” rating on the stock. Twenty research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $257.91.

First Solar Stock Down 1.4%

Shares of NASDAQ FSLR opened at $197.20 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.55, a current ratio of 2.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03. The firm has a market cap of $21.16 billion, a PE ratio of 13.88, a P/E/G ratio of 0.28 and a beta of 1.60. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $241.94 and its 200 day simple moving average is $235.98. First Solar has a 12-month low of $116.56 and a 12-month high of $285.99.

First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 24th. The solar cell manufacturer reported $4.84 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $5.22 by ($0.38). The company had revenue of $1.68 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.59 billion. First Solar had a net margin of 29.28% and a return on equity of 17.32%. First Solar’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $3.65 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that First Solar will post 13.05 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On First Solar

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in FSLR. SFE Investment Counsel raised its stake in First Solar by 9.1% in the second quarter. SFE Investment Counsel now owns 69,810 shares of the solar cell manufacturer’s stock valued at $11,556,000 after purchasing an additional 5,852 shares in the last quarter. Joule Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of First Solar during the 3rd quarter valued at $950,000. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of First Solar by 22.0% during the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 77,155 shares of the solar cell manufacturer’s stock worth $17,015,000 after acquiring an additional 13,904 shares during the last quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp purchased a new position in First Solar in the second quarter worth $1,323,000. Finally, Belpointe Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in First Solar in the third quarter worth $1,193,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.08% of the company’s stock.

More First Solar News

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

• Positive Sentiment: U.S. tariffs on Indian solar manufacturers reduce potential low-cost competition for U.S. demand, which could benefit domestic suppliers like First Solar. India Tariff Article
• Positive Sentiment: Some analysts and commentators view the post-earnings pullback as a buying opportunity — a “buy the weakness” thesis highlighting long-term project backlog and subsidy support (45X tax credits) for near-term profitability. Seeking Alpha Buy Thesis
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage noting First Solar’s role in clean-energy gains on the Nasdaq could support positive sentiment among sector-focused investors. Kalkine Media
• Neutral Sentiment: Wells Fargo trimmed its price target (to $255) but kept an overweight stance — a mixed signal that reduces upside expectations while retaining conviction. Wells Fargo/PT Cut
• Neutral Sentiment: Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan also lowered price targets (Goldman to $300, JPM to $256) but maintained buy/overweight ratings, signaling confidence in medium-term fundamentals despite near-term revisions. Goldman/JPM PT Changes
• Neutral Sentiment: Market-wide weakness in the S&P 500 and tech dragged sentiment this week, amplifying pressure on cyclical/clean-energy names including FSLR. S&P 500 Weekly
• Neutral Sentiment: Short-interest data reported is effectively negligible/ambiguous (zero shares reported), so short squeezes are unlikely to be a driver at present.
• Negative Sentiment: Management issued weak sales/guidance for 2026 and disappointing Q1 guidance, which triggered a sharp share decline as investors reassess revenue and backlog trajectory. Weak Guidance
• Negative Sentiment: First Solar reported Q4 EPS below consensus despite revenue beat; margin reliance on tax credits (45X) and tapering backlog raise longer-term risk concerns. Earnings Risks
• Negative Sentiment: Wolfe Research downgraded FSLR from “strong-buy” to “hold,” and other outlets note gap-down trading and steep short-term losses — analyst skepticism is pressuring sentiment. Wolfe Research Downgrade
• Negative Sentiment: Pomerantz law firm opened an investor investigation, introducing potential legal/financial risk and adding to short-term uncertainty. Investor Investigation

First Solar Company Profile

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.