First Solar Raises 2026 Sales Forecast to $5.2B Amid Strong Demand
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 hour ago
0mins
Should l Buy FSLR?
Source: seekingalpha
- Sales Forecast Increase: First Solar projects 2026 sales to reach $5.2 billion, driven by the rapid ramp-up of CuRe and perovskite technologies, indicating strong demand and the company's innovative capabilities in the renewable energy market.
- EBITDA Expectations: The company anticipates EBITDA for 2026 to be between $2.6 billion and $2.8 billion, reflecting robust profitability that suggests sustainable financial growth for First Solar in the coming years.
- Q4 Performance Miss: Despite missing expectations in Q4 2025, which led to a stock price decline, the company's long-term strategies and strong market demand indicate resilience and growth potential even in challenging circumstances.
- Strategic Initiatives: First Solar is actively advancing its technology innovation and market expansion strategies to address future market challenges and ensure its leading position in the global renewable energy sector.
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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: 242.150
Low
150.00
Averages
280.35
High
335.00
Current: 242.150
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 to Host Q4 2025 Earnings Call on February 24, 2026
- Earnings Call Announcement: First Solar will host a conference call on February 24, 2026, at 4:30 PM ET to discuss its Q4 2025 earnings results, aiming to provide investors with the latest performance insights and future outlook.
- Webcast Access: Investors can participate in the live webcast by visiting https://investor.firstsolar.com/events-and-presentations/default.aspx, ensuring transparency and timely information dissemination.
- Investor Relations Focus: This meeting underscores First Solar's commitment to investor relations, enhancing interaction with investors through regular earnings communications to boost market confidence.
- Future Performance Insights: While specific financial data has not yet been disclosed, this call will offer investors insights into the company's future performance, aiding the market in assessing First Solar's growth potential.
See More
First Solar Raises 2026 Sales Forecast to $5.2B Amid Strong Demand
- Sales Forecast Increase: First Solar projects 2026 sales to reach $5.2 billion, driven by the rapid ramp-up of CuRe and perovskite technologies, indicating strong demand and the company's innovative capabilities in the renewable energy market.
- EBITDA Expectations: The company anticipates EBITDA for 2026 to be between $2.6 billion and $2.8 billion, reflecting robust profitability that suggests sustainable financial growth for First Solar in the coming years.
- Q4 Performance Miss: Despite missing expectations in Q4 2025, which led to a stock price decline, the company's long-term strategies and strong market demand indicate resilience and growth potential even in challenging circumstances.
- Strategic Initiatives: First Solar is actively advancing its technology innovation and market expansion strategies to address future market challenges and ensure its leading position in the global renewable energy sector.
See More
First Solar Faces Margin Pressure from Tariffs
- Gross Margin Decline: First Solar's CFO Alex Bradley reported a decrease in gross margin to 41% for the full year 2025, down from 44% the previous year, primarily driven by rising tariff costs and increased warehousing expenses, which have pressured profits and led to a fourth-quarter earnings miss.
- Sales Strategy Adjustment: Due to tariff uncertainties, Bradley noted that products manufactured in India are expected to be sold primarily in the domestic market rather than exported, which may impact the company's international market share and growth potential.
- Increasing Industry Challenges: CEO Mark Widmar stated that headwinds beyond reciprocal tariffs and commodity cost increases are intensifying, including tighter trade enforcement and potential retroactive tariffs, which will further raise costs and compliance risks for developers relying on crystalline silicon products linked to China.
- Investor Sentiment Shift: Despite the challenges, retail sentiment on First Solar surged from 'bullish' to 'extremely bullish' on Stocktwits, indicating investor confidence in the company's future, although there is disappointment regarding the 2026 guidance.
See More
Axon Reports Q4 Revenue and Earnings Beat Estimates
- Significant Revenue Growth: Axon reported fourth-quarter revenue of $796.72 million, surpassing analyst expectations of $755.40 million, indicating strong market performance and sustained growth potential for the company.
- Improved Profitability: The company posted adjusted earnings of $2.15 per share, significantly exceeding the analyst estimate of $1.60 per share, reflecting Axon's success in cost control and operational efficiency.
- Stock Price Surge: Axon's shares jumped 16.2% in pre-market trading to $514.21, demonstrating a positive market reaction to its earnings report and indicating increased investor confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Market Impact Analysis: This earnings beat not only enhances Axon's market valuation but may also attract more investor attention, further solidifying the company's leadership position in the security technology sector.
See More
First Solar Misses Q4 Earnings Expectations, Lowers 2026 Revenue Guidance
- Earnings Miss: First Solar reported Q4 GAAP earnings of $520.9 million, or $4.84 per share, which, despite a year-over-year increase, fell short of expectations, resulting in a 12.7% drop in after-hours trading.
- Revenue Guidance Shortfall: The company projected 2026 revenues between $4.9 billion and $5.2 billion, significantly below the $6.16 billion consensus estimate, reflecting challenges such as permitting delays impacting customer demand.
- Strategic Underutilization: CEO Mark Widmar indicated that the strategic underutilization of Southeast Asian factories contributed to the lowered guidance, highlighting a cautious approach while awaiting the resolution of tariff policies.
- Patent Litigation and Collaboration: First Solar has filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission against 10 foreign manufacturers for alleged TOPCon patent infringement, while also entering a licensing agreement with Oxford Photovoltaics to enhance the development of perovskite semiconductor solar devices.
See More
First Solar Reports Record Sales and Strategic Expansion in Q4 2025 Earnings Call
- Record Sales Achievement: First Solar achieved module sales of 17.5 gigawatts in 2025, with net sales reaching $5.2 billion, reflecting a 24% year-over-year increase, demonstrating the company's ability to capitalize on differentiated product demand, thereby enhancing the forward earnings outlook.
- Manufacturing Expansion Plans: The company initiated commercial production at its fifth U.S. factory in Louisiana and announced a new finishing facility in South Carolina, targeting operational readiness by Q4 2026, further solidifying its manufacturing capabilities in the U.S. market.
- Significant Technological Progress: CuRe technology has shown expected energy advantages based on lab and field testing results, with a phased rollout expected to begin next month at the Ohio factory, alongside the launch of a perovskite module development line aimed for operational readiness in early 2027.
- Optimistic Financial Outlook: The company guided net sales for 2026 between $4.9 billion and $5.2 billion, with adjusted EBITDA guidance of $2.6 billion to $2.8 billion, indicating strong financial flexibility despite ongoing tariff and supply chain challenges.
See More
First Solar to Host Q4 2025 Earnings Call on February 24, 2026
- Earnings Call Announcement: First Solar will host a conference call on February 24, 2026, at 4:30 PM ET to discuss its Q4 2025 earnings results, aiming to provide investors with the latest performance insights and future outlook.
- Webcast Access: Investors can participate in the live webcast by visiting https://investor.firstsolar.com/events-and-presentations/default.aspx, ensuring transparency and timely information dissemination.
- Investor Relations Focus: This meeting underscores First Solar's commitment to investor relations, enhancing interaction with investors through regular earnings communications to boost market confidence.
- Future Performance Insights: While specific financial data has not yet been disclosed, this call will offer investors insights into the company's future performance, aiding the market in assessing First Solar's growth potential.
See More
First Solar Raises 2026 Sales Forecast to $5.2B Amid Strong Demand
- Sales Forecast Increase: First Solar projects 2026 sales to reach $5.2 billion, driven by the rapid ramp-up of CuRe and perovskite technologies, indicating strong demand and the company's innovative capabilities in the renewable energy market.
- EBITDA Expectations: The company anticipates EBITDA for 2026 to be between $2.6 billion and $2.8 billion, reflecting robust profitability that suggests sustainable financial growth for First Solar in the coming years.
- Q4 Performance Miss: Despite missing expectations in Q4 2025, which led to a stock price decline, the company's long-term strategies and strong market demand indicate resilience and growth potential even in challenging circumstances.
- Strategic Initiatives: First Solar is actively advancing its technology innovation and market expansion strategies to address future market challenges and ensure its leading position in the global renewable energy sector.
See More
First Solar Faces Margin Pressure from Tariffs
- Gross Margin Decline: First Solar's CFO Alex Bradley reported a decrease in gross margin to 41% for the full year 2025, down from 44% the previous year, primarily driven by rising tariff costs and increased warehousing expenses, which have pressured profits and led to a fourth-quarter earnings miss.
- Sales Strategy Adjustment: Due to tariff uncertainties, Bradley noted that products manufactured in India are expected to be sold primarily in the domestic market rather than exported, which may impact the company's international market share and growth potential.
- Increasing Industry Challenges: CEO Mark Widmar stated that headwinds beyond reciprocal tariffs and commodity cost increases are intensifying, including tighter trade enforcement and potential retroactive tariffs, which will further raise costs and compliance risks for developers relying on crystalline silicon products linked to China.
- Investor Sentiment Shift: Despite the challenges, retail sentiment on First Solar surged from 'bullish' to 'extremely bullish' on Stocktwits, indicating investor confidence in the company's future, although there is disappointment regarding the 2026 guidance.
See More
Axon Reports Q4 Revenue and Earnings Beat Estimates
- Significant Revenue Growth: Axon reported fourth-quarter revenue of $796.72 million, surpassing analyst expectations of $755.40 million, indicating strong market performance and sustained growth potential for the company.
- Improved Profitability: The company posted adjusted earnings of $2.15 per share, significantly exceeding the analyst estimate of $1.60 per share, reflecting Axon's success in cost control and operational efficiency.
- Stock Price Surge: Axon's shares jumped 16.2% in pre-market trading to $514.21, demonstrating a positive market reaction to its earnings report and indicating increased investor confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Market Impact Analysis: This earnings beat not only enhances Axon's market valuation but may also attract more investor attention, further solidifying the company's leadership position in the security technology sector.
See More
First Solar Misses Q4 Earnings Expectations, Lowers 2026 Revenue Guidance
- Earnings Miss: First Solar reported Q4 GAAP earnings of $520.9 million, or $4.84 per share, which, despite a year-over-year increase, fell short of expectations, resulting in a 12.7% drop in after-hours trading.
- Revenue Guidance Shortfall: The company projected 2026 revenues between $4.9 billion and $5.2 billion, significantly below the $6.16 billion consensus estimate, reflecting challenges such as permitting delays impacting customer demand.
- Strategic Underutilization: CEO Mark Widmar indicated that the strategic underutilization of Southeast Asian factories contributed to the lowered guidance, highlighting a cautious approach while awaiting the resolution of tariff policies.
- Patent Litigation and Collaboration: First Solar has filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission against 10 foreign manufacturers for alleged TOPCon patent infringement, while also entering a licensing agreement with Oxford Photovoltaics to enhance the development of perovskite semiconductor solar devices.
See More
First Solar Reports Record Sales and Strategic Expansion in Q4 2025 Earnings Call
- Record Sales Achievement: First Solar achieved module sales of 17.5 gigawatts in 2025, with net sales reaching $5.2 billion, reflecting a 24% year-over-year increase, demonstrating the company's ability to capitalize on differentiated product demand, thereby enhancing the forward earnings outlook.
- Manufacturing Expansion Plans: The company initiated commercial production at its fifth U.S. factory in Louisiana and announced a new finishing facility in South Carolina, targeting operational readiness by Q4 2026, further solidifying its manufacturing capabilities in the U.S. market.
- Significant Technological Progress: CuRe technology has shown expected energy advantages based on lab and field testing results, with a phased rollout expected to begin next month at the Ohio factory, alongside the launch of a perovskite module development line aimed for operational readiness in early 2027.
- Optimistic Financial Outlook: The company guided net sales for 2026 between $4.9 billion and $5.2 billion, with adjusted EBITDA guidance of $2.6 billion to $2.8 billion, indicating strong financial flexibility despite ongoing tariff and supply chain challenges.
See More
