First Solar Q4 Earnings Preview: Strong Growth Expected
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 hour ago
0mins
Should l Buy FSLR?
Source: seekingalpha
- Strong Earnings Expectations: First Solar is projected to report Q4 earnings per share of $5.24, reflecting a year-over-year increase of approximately 44%, with expected revenues of $1.57 billion, indicating robust growth potential in the solar market.
- Manufacturing Capacity Expansion: The company is establishing a new 3.7-GW panel facility in Gaffney, South Carolina, expected to commence operations in the second half of 2026, while also opening an $1.1 billion plant in Louisiana, aiming to increase total annual capacity to 17.7 GW by 2027.
- Growing Market Demand: Alphabet's acquisition of Intersect for $4.75 billion to enhance data center power capacity highlights the increasing energy demand linked to infrastructure served by First Solar, further driving business growth.
- Solid Financial Position: Analysts note that First Solar's EPS has grown at a 44.2% CAGR over the past five years, with a robust $16.4 billion contracted backlog, indicating a strong financial profile and a positive outlook for Q4 earnings.
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Analyst Views on FSLR
Wall Street analysts forecast FSLR stock price to rise
23 Analyst Rating
18 Buy
4 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 241.880
Low
150.00
Averages
280.35
High
335.00
Current: 241.880
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 459 watts and 531 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.
First Solar Q4 Earnings Preview: Strong Growth Expected
- Strong Earnings Expectations: First Solar is projected to report Q4 earnings per share of $5.24, reflecting a year-over-year increase of approximately 44%, with expected revenues of $1.57 billion, indicating robust growth potential in the solar market.
- Manufacturing Capacity Expansion: The company is establishing a new 3.7-GW panel facility in Gaffney, South Carolina, expected to commence operations in the second half of 2026, while also opening an $1.1 billion plant in Louisiana, aiming to increase total annual capacity to 17.7 GW by 2027.
- Growing Market Demand: Alphabet's acquisition of Intersect for $4.75 billion to enhance data center power capacity highlights the increasing energy demand linked to infrastructure served by First Solar, further driving business growth.
- Solid Financial Position: Analysts note that First Solar's EPS has grown at a 44.2% CAGR over the past five years, with a robust $16.4 billion contracted backlog, indicating a strong financial profile and a positive outlook for Q4 earnings.
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- Market Rebound: First Solar's shares have more than doubled since last April, while Enphase's stock has rallied 78% since November, reflecting strong market confidence in solar and battery storage solutions, particularly amid surging electricity demand.
- Policy-Driven Project Acceleration: The phaseout of federal tax credits has prompted developers to accelerate project launches to lock in incentives before expiration, pulling forward years of planned installations and further driving renewable adoption.
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- Strong Earnings Expectations: First Solar is projected to report Q4 earnings per share of $5.24, reflecting a year-over-year increase of approximately 44%, with expected revenues of $1.57 billion, indicating robust growth potential in the solar market.
- Manufacturing Capacity Expansion: The company is establishing a new 3.7-GW panel facility in Gaffney, South Carolina, expected to commence operations in the second half of 2026, while also opening an $1.1 billion plant in Louisiana, aiming to increase total annual capacity to 17.7 GW by 2027.
- Growing Market Demand: Alphabet's acquisition of Intersect for $4.75 billion to enhance data center power capacity highlights the increasing energy demand linked to infrastructure served by First Solar, further driving business growth.
- Solid Financial Position: Analysts note that First Solar's EPS has grown at a 44.2% CAGR over the past five years, with a robust $16.4 billion contracted backlog, indicating a strong financial profile and a positive outlook for Q4 earnings.
See More
U.S. Power Grid Transformation: Solar Leads the Charge
- New Generation Capacity: U.S. developers are set to add 86 gigawatts of utility-scale generating capacity by 2026, with solar accounting for 51%, highlighting the dominance of renewables in power supply and driving strong demand for companies like First Solar and Enphase.
- Market Rebound: First Solar's shares have more than doubled since last April, while Enphase's stock has rallied 78% since November, reflecting strong market confidence in solar and battery storage solutions, particularly amid surging electricity demand.
- Policy-Driven Project Acceleration: The phaseout of federal tax credits has prompted developers to accelerate project launches to lock in incentives before expiration, pulling forward years of planned installations and further driving renewable adoption.
- Surging Electricity Demand: The rapid expansion of data centers and AI infrastructure has led to a sharp increase in electricity demand, compelling utilities to pivot to solar and battery storage for faster deployment of new power sources, as traditional energy cannot meet this urgent need.
See More
Earnings Reports Week for Major Companies
- Earnings Reporting Schedule: This week features earnings reports from the world's largest publicly traded companies across energy, retail, and tech sectors, with investors keenly observing performance and market reactions.
- JOBY Stock Movement: JOBY stock is experiencing volatility, and investor sentiment remains cautious ahead of upcoming earnings, particularly given the broader market context.
- Lucid Group Expectations: Lucid Group is set to report after Tuesday's close, with analysts forecasting a quarterly loss of $2.64 per share on revenue of approximately $473 million, focusing on gross margin and cash runway.
- AI Infrastructure Spending: Analysts anticipate a tech company's fourth-quarter revenue of around $65.6 billion and adjusted EPS of $1.52, with the market keenly awaiting Q1 guidance and CEO insights on AI infrastructure spending.
See More
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Supreme Court Ruling: A significant factor in the market rise was the Supreme Court's decision to strike down some of President Trump's tariffs.
White House Response: Despite the ruling, the White House announced plans to explore alternative methods to enforce its tariff policy.
Investor Sentiment: The combination of the court ruling and the White House's response influenced investor sentiment positively, contributing to the uptick in equities.
See More
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- Nvidia Earnings Expectations: Nvidia is set to report its fiscal 2026 Q4 earnings on Wednesday, with expected revenues of $65.87 billion, reflecting a 67.5% year-over-year growth, and earnings per share of $1.53, up 72%, providing crucial insights into the state of AI development.
- Salesforce Performance Focus: Salesforce will release its quarterly results on Wednesday, with consensus EPS of $3.04 and revenue of $11.16 billion, as investors closely watch management's insights on AI and the adoption of its Agentforce offering to assess long-term competitiveness.
- Retailers' Earnings Impact: Home Depot and TJX Companies are reporting this week, with Home Depot expected to post EPS of $2.54 and revenue of $38.12 billion, discussing the impact of interest rates on consumer behavior, while TJX anticipates 3.83% same-store sales growth, focusing on changes in shopping habits.
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See More
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- Market Reaction: The US Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling against Trump's tariff regime led to a swift market rebound, with the S&P 500 rising 0.7%, indicating a moderate investor optimism regarding the policy shift despite initial losses.
- Limited Economic Impact: The ruling affects approximately 60% of tariffs under the IEEPA, and while it could lead to refund requests totaling up to $175 billion, the overall economic impact is deemed limited, resulting in a muted market response.
- Oil Price Fluctuations: Oil prices surged about 5.5% over the past week due to escalating tensions in the Middle East, with projections suggesting a potential increase of $10 to $15 per barrel if the US engages in military action, highlighting the significant geopolitical risks to energy markets.
- Upcoming Economic Data: The forthcoming Producer Price Index (PPI) will provide investors with crucial insights into inflation trends, which are expected to influence the Federal Reserve's monetary policy, particularly as inflation remains persistently above target levels.
See More
