First Solar Hits 18-Year High Amid Tariff Speculation
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 day ago
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
- Stock Surge: First Solar (FSLR) shares rose 10.8% on Thursday, marking its sixth consecutive daily gain and reaching an 18-year intraday high of $310.42, reflecting strong market anticipation for upcoming tariff policy announcements.
- Analyst Optimism: UBS analyst Catherine Gordon attributes the stock's rise to falling yields and renewed policy momentum, with expectations for a Section 232 announcement on polysilicon imports next month, potentially including minimum import prices and tariffs.
- Rating Upgrade: GLJ Research analyst Gordon Johnson upgraded First Solar's rating from Hold to Buy with a $315 price target, citing a significant reduction in debooking risk and the belief that the impending Section 232 decision will serve as a positive catalyst.
- Growing Market Demand: According to BloombergNEF, the U.S. is expected to add 183 GW of utility-scale solar capacity from 2026 to 2030, indicating increasing demand from data centers for solar energy, which further enhances First Solar's market outlook.
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Analyst Views on FSLR
Wall Street analysts forecast FSLR stock price to fall
23 Analyst Rating
18 Buy
4 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 303.380
Low
150.00
Averages
280.35
High
335.00
Current: 303.380
Low
150.00
Averages
280.35
High
335.00
About FSLR
First Solar, Inc. is a photovoltaic (PV) solar technology and manufacturing company. It is focused on enabling power generation needs with its advanced, thin film PV technology. The Company's primary segment is its modules business, which involves the design, manufacture, and sale of CdTe solar modules, which convert sunlight into electricity. Third-party customers of the segment include system developers, independent power producers, utilities, commercial and industrial companies, and other system owners and operators. The Company's products include the Series 7 Module and Series 6 Plus module. Its Series 6 Plus module is a glass laminate approximately 4ft x 6ft in size that encapsulates thin film PV semiconductor materials. Its Series 7 module has a larger form factor of approximately 4ft x 7ft in size. The Series 6 Plus and Series 7 modules had an average power output of 464 watts and 532 watts, respectively.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Analyst Upgrades First Solar Stock to Buy with 52% Price Target Increase
- Stock Price Surge: First Solar shares have risen 17.7% this week, climbing from last Friday's close of $269.95 to $300.86 yesterday, indicating increased investor confidence in the company's future prospects, which may attract more buyers into the market.
- Analyst Rating Upgrade: GLJ Research analyst Gordon Johnson upgraded First Solar's rating from hold to buy and raised the price target by 52% from $207.82 to $315, reflecting strong confidence in the company's growth potential.
- Risk Mitigation: The company has reduced operational risks by launching its Series 6 CuRe Copper Replacement program at its Ohio manufacturing campus, which not only enhances production capacity but may also improve its competitive position in the market.
- Financial Health: First Solar has experienced revenue and free cash flow growth over the past few years, and while the current policy environment in Washington may pose short-term challenges, the company's long-term growth potential remains robust, making it a compelling option for investors.
See More
First Solar Hits 18-Year High Amid Tariff Speculation
- Stock Surge: First Solar (FSLR) shares rose 10.8% on Thursday, marking its sixth consecutive daily gain and reaching an 18-year intraday high of $310.42, reflecting strong market anticipation for upcoming tariff policy announcements.
- Analyst Optimism: UBS analyst Catherine Gordon attributes the stock's rise to falling yields and renewed policy momentum, with expectations for a Section 232 announcement on polysilicon imports next month, potentially including minimum import prices and tariffs.
- Rating Upgrade: GLJ Research analyst Gordon Johnson upgraded First Solar's rating from Hold to Buy with a $315 price target, citing a significant reduction in debooking risk and the belief that the impending Section 232 decision will serve as a positive catalyst.
- Growing Market Demand: According to BloombergNEF, the U.S. is expected to add 183 GW of utility-scale solar capacity from 2026 to 2030, indicating increasing demand from data centers for solar energy, which further enhances First Solar's market outlook.
See More
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Analyst Upgrades First Solar Stock to Buy with 52% Price Target Increase
- Stock Price Surge: First Solar shares have risen 17.7% this week, climbing from last Friday's close of $269.95 to $300.86 yesterday, indicating increased investor confidence in the company's future prospects, which may attract more buyers into the market.
- Analyst Rating Upgrade: GLJ Research analyst Gordon Johnson upgraded First Solar's rating from hold to buy and raised the price target by 52% from $207.82 to $315, reflecting strong confidence in the company's growth potential.
- Risk Mitigation: The company has reduced operational risks by launching its Series 6 CuRe Copper Replacement program at its Ohio manufacturing campus, which not only enhances production capacity but may also improve its competitive position in the market.
- Financial Health: First Solar has experienced revenue and free cash flow growth over the past few years, and while the current policy environment in Washington may pose short-term challenges, the company's long-term growth potential remains robust, making it a compelling option for investors.
See More
First Solar Hits 18-Year High Amid Tariff Speculation
- Stock Surge: First Solar (FSLR) shares rose 10.8% on Thursday, marking its sixth consecutive daily gain and reaching an 18-year intraday high of $310.42, reflecting strong market anticipation for upcoming tariff policy announcements.
- Analyst Optimism: UBS analyst Catherine Gordon attributes the stock's rise to falling yields and renewed policy momentum, with expectations for a Section 232 announcement on polysilicon imports next month, potentially including minimum import prices and tariffs.
- Rating Upgrade: GLJ Research analyst Gordon Johnson upgraded First Solar's rating from Hold to Buy with a $315 price target, citing a significant reduction in debooking risk and the belief that the impending Section 232 decision will serve as a positive catalyst.
- Growing Market Demand: According to BloombergNEF, the U.S. is expected to add 183 GW of utility-scale solar capacity from 2026 to 2030, indicating increasing demand from data centers for solar energy, which further enhances First Solar's market outlook.
See More
Analysis of Vanguard S&P 500 ETF Investment
- Massive Asset Base: The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, along with its mutual fund counterpart, boasts total assets of $1.6 trillion, indicating widespread recognition and usage as an investment vehicle, reflecting investors' preference for low-cost options.
- Expense Ratio Advantage: With an expense ratio of just 0.03%, this ETF offers a highly cost-effective way to gain exposure to the performance of U.S. large-cap companies, attracting many investors looking to minimize investment costs.
- Concentration Risk Issue: The top 10 companies in the S&P 500 account for 40% of the index's weight, with Nvidia and Apple making up 8% and 6.5%, respectively, which exposes investors to significant concentration risk, particularly if these companies underperform.
- Alternative Investment Option: The Invesco Equal Weight S&P 500 ETF mitigates concentration risk by investing equally across 500 companies, and historically, it has slightly outperformed the traditional S&P 500, providing similar wealth-building potential with reduced exposure to mega-cap tech stocks.
See More
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- Massive Asset Base: The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO) and its mutual fund version boast a total asset size of $1.6 trillion, reflecting widespread recognition and trust among investors, making it a cornerstone of many portfolios.
- Significant Cost Advantage: With an expense ratio of just 0.03%, the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF allows investors to gain broad exposure to large-cap U.S. companies at an extremely low cost, thereby enhancing potential investment returns.
- Concentration Risk Issue: Currently, the top 10 companies in the S&P 500 account for 40% of the index's weight, with Nvidia and Apple making up 8% and 6.5%, respectively, indicating that investors face significant concentration risk, as poor performance from any of these companies could substantially drag down the index.
- Balanced Investment Option: The Invesco Equal Weight S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: RSP) offers a way to invest in the S&P 500 without concentration risk, as it allocates equal investment across all 500 companies, ensuring that even poor performance from smaller firms does not significantly impact overall performance.
See More
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- Surge in Options Volume: Warner Bros Discovery Inc (WBD) has seen an options volume of 131,118 contracts today, equating to approximately 13.1 million shares, which represents a significant 84.2% of its average daily trading volume over the past month.
- High Interest in Put Options: Among WBD's options, the $25 strike put option stands out with 46,002 contracts traded today, representing about 4.6 million shares, indicating market expectations for potential price declines.
- Eli Lilly Options Activity: Concurrently, Eli Lilly (LLY) has recorded an options volume of 27,644 contracts today, approximately 2.8 million shares, which constitutes 80.1% of its average daily trading volume over the past month, reflecting sustained investor interest.
- Active Call Options Trading: For LLY, the $1100 strike call option has seen 3,650 contracts traded today, representing around 365,000 shares, suggesting increased market confidence in the stock's future upward movement.
See More
Corning's Solar Segment Sees Rapid Growth Driven by Strong Demand
- Revenue Surge: Corning's solar revenues soared 80% year-over-year to $370 million in Q1 2026, driven by robust demand across its polysilicon, wafer, and module manufacturing operations, marking a key contributor to the company's Springboard growth strategy.
- Vertical Integration Platform: The company has established a vertically integrated U.S. solar manufacturing platform encompassing polysilicon, ingot, wafer production, and solar module assembly, which is expected to enhance operational efficiency and market competitiveness.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: Corning aims to achieve approximately $2.5 billion in annual revenues from its Solar Market-Access Platform by 2028, and with strong demand trends, it plans to raise the revenue outlook for this platform, reflecting its high return and low-risk potential in the solar industry.
- Industry Growth Trends: According to a report from Mordor Intelligence, the U.S. solar market is projected to witness a compound annual growth rate of 10.96% between 2026 and 2031, further driving Corning's investments and expansion in the solar sector.
See More
