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Latest First Solar Inc News and Updates

The major sub-industries of the global power equipment industry
The power generation equipment industry is made up of various sub-industries, each with a structure of its own.

Canadian Solar Beat Analysts’ 3Q17 Revenue Estimates
Canadian Solar’s revenues from the sale of electricity in 3Q17 totaled $9.6 million, which was marginally lower than $9.8 million in 2Q17.

Analyzing JA Solar’s Leverage and Liquidity Position
JA Solar Holdings (JASO) reported $12.1 million as interest expense for 3Q17 compared to $12.4 million in 2Q17 and $11.3 million in 3Q16.

SUNE’s TerraForm Global Goes Public, to Focus on Emerging Markets
After launching TerraForm Power (TERP) in 2014, SunEdison (SUNE) launched an IPO of its much hyped emerging market yieldco, TerraForm Global (GLBL), in July 2015.

How the World Is Dealing with the Climate Challenge
Extreme climate change events hamper productivity, thus affecting industries such as agriculture, fishing, energy, trade, transportation, and tourism.

First Solar Clinches Top SPY Position
First Solar (FSLR) rose 5.7% yesterday after 195 nations attending the Paris climate change conference reached a historic agreement to cut emissions to address climate change.

What to Expect From First Solar’s 2Q16 Earnings
First Solar (FSLR) is expected to announce its 2Q16 earnings results on August 4, 2016, after market hours.

Introducing SolarCity, a Powerhouse in Solar Technology
SolarCity is a vertically-integrated solar company. Despite advancing technology and expanding reach, it has seen negative earnings most years since 2007.

SunEdison’s Solar Energy and Semiconductor Businesses
On December 2, 2016, GlobalWafers completed the acquisition of SunEdison Semiconductor for $683.0 million.

Solar Stocks: Analyzing the Top Gainers of 2019
Solar stocks have been a sweet spot among equities this year. On average, they’ve gained 50% this year, notably outperforming broader markets.

Yieldco: A Green Investment Option That Pays
While REITs started trading in 1951 and MLPs started off in 1981, the first yieldco was floated in 2005 by Seaspan Corporation, a shipping company.

First Solar faces some must-know challenges
While First Solar has traditionally been manufacturing thin-film CdTe modules, which don’t require polysilicon, their prices have fallen in recent years.

Consumer Stocks and the Technology Sector See Huge Gains
The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) rose 1.0% and 0.5%, respectively, in yesterday’s trade.

A Closer Look at Trina Solar’s 2Q16 Shipments
Trina Solar (TSL) had given shipment guidance of 1,500 MW (megawatts) to 1,600 MW for 2Q16. However, the company reported 1,658.3 MW of solar (TAN) module shipments recognized in its revenue for 2Q16.

Trina Solar and Canadian Solar See Gains on April 21
The Guggenheim Solar ETF (TAN) gained 0.9% on April 21. American solar stocks account for 47% of the fund’s holdings, and Chinese solar stocks account for another 44%.

Brookfield Renewable Energy: Biggest Yieldco by Asset Base
With over 6,700 MW of hydro and wind capacity under operation, Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners (BEP) dwarfs all other yieldcos we’ve looked at.

SunEdison or FirstSolar? Diversification or a Strong Focus?
FirstSolar (FSLR) nailed its 2Q15 earnings. The company’s focus on solar power differentiates it from SunEdison (SUNE).

Solar Stocks and ETFs Drop Following EU Decision
The European Union decided to review a minimum import price agreement for Chinese solar panels, pulling the solar stocks down.

First Solar Stock Rises on Earnings Beat — Is It a Buy?

Why Canadian Solar’s Shipments Rose during 3Q17
In 4Q17, Canadian Solar expects its solar module shipments to reach ~1.7–1.8 GW.

Where Does Yingli Solar’s Valuation Stand among Peers?
As of December 9, 2016, among its major peers, Yingli Solar had the highest forward EV-to-EBITDA multiple of 14.3x.

JA Solar’s Costs in 3Q17 and How That Affected Its Bottom Line
JA Solar’s total cost of sales for 3Q17 was $575.4 million compared to $778.9 million in 2Q17 and $539.3 million in 3Q16.

Where Could SunPower Stock Go from Here?
Wall Street analysts have given SunPower stock a mean target price of $8.56, which indicates a potential upside of 11.5% for the next 12 months.

These Solar Stocks Offer a Strong Gain Potential for 2020
Overall, 2019 turned out to be volatile for solar stocks. However, there were some bright spots among broader markets last year.

How’s First Solar Stock Placed before 2020?
Wall Street analysts have given First Solar a mean target price of $70.9, which indicates a potential upside of 22% for the next 12 months.

What’s in Store for First Solar Stock?
First Solar stock lost 3.4% last week after the US Court of International Trade blocked the Trump administration from withdrawing a tariff exemption.

Will the US Solar Industry Get Trump’s Support?
To boost the domestic solar industry, Trump imposed a 30% tariff on imported panels last year. However, the policy severely impacted the sector.

Is First Solar Stock Attractive Again after a Steep Fall?
The recent uptrend in First Solar (FSLR) stock might have soothed investors, but the worst may not be over yet. Here’s why.
Why net capacity additions are important
Capacity is defined as the potential power output that power plants can generate. Each power plant has a shelf life. After the shelf life, they’re replaced with new power plants.

Where Enphase Energy Stock Might Be Heading
Enphase Energy stock fell almost 4% on Monday. The company announced its supply agreement with Sunrun to provide seventh-generation IQ microinverters.

Tesla Solar: Will Innovative Products Lead to Success?
Innovation will be the competitive advantage for Tesla Solar. Tesla launched a solar roof tile last month that’s more efficient and is easier to install.

Where First Solar Stock Might Go from Here
First Solar stock has an EV-to-EBITDA valuation of 6.4x its estimated earnings for the next 12 months. The industry’s mean valuation is greater than 11x.

Is Enphase Energy Attractive after Its 50% Fall?
Since reaching an all-time high in August, Enphase Energy stock has almost halved in value. However, its recent quarterly earnings weren’t so bad.

Will SunPower’s Spin-Off Plan Help Its Stock?
SunPower announced its plans to spin-off businesses into global solar panel manufacturing and US distributed solar generation and storage.

First Solar Stock Still Looks Weak after Q3 Earnings
First Solar’s (FSLR) third-quarter earnings didn’t boost its stock. Investors were disappointed with wide misses on the revenues and earnings front.

SunPower Stock Surges after Strong Q3 Earnings
SunPower (SPWR) surprised investors with strong third-quarter earnings on October 30. It reported EPS of $0.07, beating analysts’ consensus estimate.

First Solar Stock Could Rally despite Q3 Earnings Miss
Yesterday, First Solar (FSLR) returned to profits in Q3 after reporting deep losses in Q2. FSLR missed analysts’ estimates and posted EPS of $0.29.

Why Enphase Energy Stock Is Rising Today
Solar inverter maker Enphase Energy (ENPH) stock was up more than 4% at 11:10 ET today. ENPH recovered after it fell more than 8% yesterday.

How Is First Solar Stock Placed ahead of Its Q3 Earnings?
Solar panel maker First Solar (FSLR) plans to report its Q3 earnings on October 24. Analysts expect the company to report earnings per share of $1.19.

Solar Stocks: Paying Too Much for a Rosy Outlook?
Solar stocks highlighted the top-rallied sectors this year. After hitting multiyear highs, many solar stocks have fallen as much as 40% since August.

Will Solar Tech Power Self-Driving Cars?
In this video interview, Ben Lenail of Alta Devices talks about the future of solar power in next-generation vehicles and beyond.

Solar Stocks with Bright Upside Potential: FSLR, ENPH
Solar stocks have had a great run this year. Strong demand, falling costs, and higher corporate investments have supported these renewables in 2019.

Is the Recent Weakness in Solar Stocks an Opportunity?
Almost all solar stocks fell sharply on September 26. First Solar (FSLR) fell about 7% yesterday while this year’s top gainer, Enphase Energy, fell 7.5%.

Why First Solar Stock Could Continue to Climb
Top solar stock First Solar (FSLR) has surged about 10% in September. FSLR is trading close to its 52-week high and might continue to march upward.

Where Could First Solar Stock Go from Here?
Almost all the solar stocks have had a fantastic run so far this year, and First Solar (FSLR) is no exception. FSLR stock is up more than 45% year-to-date.

Enphase Down 25% from All-Time High—Time to Buy?
Enphase Energy has fallen almost 20% from its all-time high of $35.4. The stock is still sitting at a huge gain of approximately 500% this year.

First Solar Stock Looks Strong Compared to Its Peers
First Solar (FSLR) stock fell more than 10% from its 52-week high early this month. In a strong solar environment, FSLR stock has gained more than 45% YTD.

Enphase Energy Stock Looks Strong, 600% 2019 Gain
Solar microinverter company Enphase Energy (ENPH) has rallied more than any other stock in the space this year with a more-than-600% gain.

Which Solar Stocks Offer Handsome Upside Potential?
Solar stocks have been on an impressive run this year. So far, Enphase Energy (ENPH) stock has risen more than 530% in 2019.

Why Solar Stocks Were Mixed Last Week
Solar stocks started last week significantly lower due to increased trade war concerns. The solar energy space is one of the hottest sectors this year.

SunEdison and FirstSolar Publish Their 2Q15 Earnings
FirstSolar (FSLR) and SunEdison (SUNE) published their 2Q15 earnings on August 4 and August 6, respectively. The results starkly contrasted with each other.

First Solar: A key player in the global solar power industry
First Solar was the first solar power company to join the S&P 500 (SPY). We’ll take a look at the company’s operations before moving on to greater details.

Solar Stocks: What Can Investors Expect?
Among the top solar stocks, First Solar broke below its 50-day moving average level, which might open a new downside for the stock in the short term.

First Solar Disappoints in Q2 but Raises Guidance
First Solar (FSLR) reported its second-quarter earnings results yesterday. It reported EPS of -$0.18 for the quarter.

Analysts Are Upbeat ahead of First Solar’s Q2 Earnings
First Solar’s second-quarter earnings on August 1 will likely decide its path going forward. The solar space is one of the hottest sectors this year.

FSLR, RUN, and SPWR: Analysts’ Recommendations
First Solar (FSLR) stock offers a potential upside of 9% for the next 12 months. The stock has a mean target price of $70.3—compared to its current market price of $61.8.

First Solar: Analysts’ Recommendations after Its Q1 Earnings
According to analysts’ consensus estimates, First Solar (FSLR) stock offers a potential upside of more than 15% for the next 12 months.

Albemarle Ups Its Quarterly Dividend for the 25th Straight Year
For the first quarter of 2019, Albemarle has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.3675 per share.

Why 2019 Could Be Better for First Solar
2019 could be a lot better and a step in a different direction for the solar energy sector as a whole. Solar stocks have already performed well so far.

How’s First Solar Stock Placed Compared to Its Peers?
First Solar stock is trading at a forward PE ratio of 18x. On average, solar stocks (TAN) are trading at a forward valuation multiple of 14x.

Comparing First Solar, SunRun, and SunPower’s Valuations
First Solar (FSLR) stock is trading at a forward EV-to-EBITDA multiple of 4x based on analysts’ earnings estimates for 2019.

What Drove APD’s Industrial Gases–Asia Segment’s Revenues?
Air Products and Chemicals’ (APD) Industrial Gases–Asia segment accounted for 27.5% of the company’s total revenues in the fourth quarter.

APD’s Industrial Gases–Asia Segment’s Operating Margin Rose in Q3
Air Products and Chemicals’ (APD) Industrial Gases–Asia segment accounted for 27.6% of APD’s total revenues in fiscal Q3 2018, expanding by 2.2 percentage points YoY from 25.4%.

Ashland Increases Maleic Anhydride Prices
On May 24, Ashland announced that it will increase maleic anhydride prices by $0.06 per pound. The price increase will be effective on June 7.

Analysts Expect Yingli Solar’s Revenue to Rise in 3Q17
In 3Q16, Yingli Solar (YGE) posted nearly $218.9 million in total revenues. Analysts estimate that it will report ~$242 million in revenues in 3Q17.

What to Expect from Yingli Solar’s 3Q17 Earnings
Yingli Solar will announce its 3Q17 earnings results on December 6 before market hours. Since its 2Q17 earnings, its stock price has fallen nearly 13.1%.

How JA Solar Beat Analysts’ 3Q17 Revenue Estimates
In 3Q17, JA Solar reported total revenues of $652.6 million compared to $878.2 million in 2Q17 and $624.3 million in 3Q16.

Why JA Solar Stock Fell after Its 3Q17 Earnings Release
On November 15, 2017, after market hours, JA Solar Holdings (JASO) announced its 3Q17 results for the quarter ended September 30, 2017.

Why Canadian Solar’s Stock Price Fell after Its 3Q17 Results
Canadian Solar (CSIQ) reported its 3Q17 earnings results on November 9. CSIQ declared earnings per share of $0.22, slightly below the analyst consensus estimate of $0.26.

Why Vivint Solar Stock Fell after 3Q17 Results
Vivint Solar posted $75.1 million in revenues in 3Q17, up by 82% on a YoY (year-over-year) basis.

Why SunPower Reported Lower 3Q17 Revenues
SunPower (SPWR) reports its revenue under the power plant, residential, and commercial segments. The latter two segments are together called the distributed generation segments.

SunPower Stock Surges 15% after 3Q17 Earnings Release
SunPower (SPWR) announced its 3Q17 earnings before market hours on November 2. In this series, we’ll examine SunPower’s 3Q17 results in detail and compare the results with analysts’ estimates.

First Solar: A Key Player in the Global Solar Power Industry
First Solar (FSLR) produces solar energy equipment. In this series, we’ll look at its performance and the outlook for the industry.

First Solar: A Guide to Valuation
Relative valuation PE (price-to-earnings) and EV-to-EBITDA multiples are commonly used to determine relative valuation. The forward PE multiple considers a company’s equity based on earnings forecasts for the next 12 months. On September 29, 2017, First Solar’s forward PE multiple was reported to be 21.9x. This PE multiple was higher than JA Solar’s (JASO) 9.1x and Canadian Solar’s […]

First Solar’s Strong Balance Sheet Sets It Apart from Peers
Debt profile As of December 31, 2016, First Solar (FSLR) had total debt of $188.4 million, lower than its debt of $289 million at the end of 2015. The company’s debt is denominated in various currencies, including the US dollar, Malaysian ringgit, and euros. Credit metrics With a net worth of over $5 billion and $555.8 […]

First Solar’s Profits Impacted by Heavy Restructuring Charges
Pre-tax loss First Solar’s (FSLR) pretax loss in 2016 was $471.7 million, compared with a profit of $519.8 million in 2015. The loss could be attributed to the huge $729 million restructuring pre-tax charges faced by the company in the fourth quarter of 2016. Net loss in 2016 First Solar reported a net loss of $358.0 […]

Why First Solar’s Gross Margins Contracted in 2016
Cost of sales First Solar’s (FSLR) Components segment saw its cost of sales rise 6% to $1.1 billion in fiscal 2016, from $1.0 billion in fiscal 2015. On the other hand, despite higher volumes, the Systems segment’s cost of sales fell 29% to $1.1 billion in fiscal 2016 from $1.6 billion in fiscal 2015. Overall, the company’s cost […]

First Solar’s Components Segment Offsets Fall in Systems Revenue
Revenue trend First Solar’s (FSLR) revenue is primarily from turn-key projects, project maintenance, project sales, PV (photovoltaic) module sales to third parties, and PPAs (power purchase agreements) for sale of electricity. In this part, we’ll examine First Solar’s financial performance. As we discussed previously, First Solar has two main business segments: Components and Systems. The design, […]

Southern and Nextera Energy: First Solar’s Key Customers
High customer concentration In 2016, First Solar (FSLR) sold solar modules to customers in the United States, India, and the United Arab Emirates. Approximately 23% of its total revenue was from third-party module sales. The majority of First Solar’s customer base is in the United States, which makes up to more than 80% of total […]

How India Became First Solar’s Second-Biggest Market
India’s rising electricity demand According to the EIA’s (U.S. Energy Information Administration) 2017 International Energy Outlook, India’s electricity generation is expected to increase by 3.2% per year through 2040, to meet increasing electricity demand in rural areas. Solar outlook Even though coal is the primary fuel used for electricity generation in India, the focus on renewable […]

First Solar’s Global Market Strategy
The Americas The US PV (photovoltaic) market made up ~83% ($2.9 billion) of First Solar’s (FSLR) revenue. The United States has typically been First Solar’s largest market, and where many of its prominent projects and customers are located. First Solar has completed the construction of Del Sur, a 26 MW (megawatt) solar project in Honduras. It commenced […]

Behind First Solar’s Operations
Operating segments Previously, we looked at First Solar’s (FSLR) history. The photovoltaic module manufacturer operates two business segments: Components and Systems. The Components segment First Solar is a manufacturer of solar (TAN) photovoltaic (or PV) modules. First Solar also designs and sells these modules. They manufacture thin-film PVs, in which the semiconductor material used is […]

Ashland Hikes Prices of 1-4 Butanediol and Other Derivatives
On September 7, 2017, Ashland (ASH) announced that it would increase the prices of 1-4 Butanediol and other derivative products.

How Will Restructuring Initiatives Impact SunPower?
SunPower expects to incur about $225 million–$275 million in restructuring charges as part of closing its Philippine-based Fab 2 manufacturing facility.

Why SunPower Stock Rose after the Restructuring Announcement
The market cheered SunPower’s restructuring initiatives. The initiatives are expected to reduce the company’s costs and improve its future margins.

How Did Trina Solar’s Costs Affect Its Gross Margin in 3Q16?
In 3Q16, Trina Solar (TSL) reported a gross profit of $125.6 million compared to $176.3 million in 2Q16. On a YoY basis, the company’s gross profit fell nearly 9.0%.

What to Expect from Canadian Solar’s Future Earnings
Following its 3Q16 results, Canadian Solar revised down its US GAAP revenue guidance for 2016 to $2.8 billion–$2.9 billion.

First Solar Will Focus on Accelerating Its Series 6 Product
On November 16, 2016, First Solar (FSLR) announced an update on its Series 6 product transition and revised its fiscal 2016 guidance.

What’s Canadian Solar’s Leverage and Liquidity Position?
Canadian Solar’s interest expenses fell considerably in 2Q16 to $11.9 million from $16.1 million at the end of 1Q16.

What to Expect from Canadian Solar’s 3Q16 Earnings
Canadian Solar (CSIQ) is set to announce its 3Q16 earnings results on November 21, 2016, before market hours.

Focusing on First Solar’s 3Q Earnings for Signs of Growth
First Solar’s adjusted EBITDA for 3Q15 came in at $466 million. For 3Q16, analysts expect First Solar’s adjusted EBITDA to be around $120 million.

What’s the Rationale behind GE’s Proposed Acquisition?
In this article, we’ll go through the rationale behind GE’s planned acquisition of LM Wind Power. According to the GWEC, worldwide wind capacity is expected to nearly double in the next five years.

How Does Trina Solar Compare to Its Peers on Valuation?
Among major upstream solar companies, First Solar (FSLR) has the lowest estimated EV-to-EBITDA multiple of 3.9x for 2016. This is followed by Trina Solar’s (TSL) estimated multiple of 6.9x.

What to Expect from Trina Solar’s Future Earnings
Analysts anticipate a decrease in gross profit and gross margin for Trina Solar. For the coming quarter, analysts anticipate that the company will report about $145 million in gross profit, which would be a ~18% decrease on a quarter-over-quarter basis.

Can Renewable Energy Get Over the Clean Power Plan Hurdle?
The Clean Power Plan could set a bigger stage for renewable energy in the energy mix of the United States. Renewable energy could outweigh energy from all fossil fuels combined by 2040.

SO’s Generation Shifts from Coal to Natural Gas and Nuclear
Southern Company expects its natural gas usage to rise to 52%, while it expects its coal usage to fall to 29% by 2020, compared to 2014 levels.

TerraForm Global Boasts a Better Balance Sheet than Peers
Compared to SunEdison and TerraForm power, TerraForm Global seems to be in a better financial position with a large part of total assets parked in cash.

An Overview of FEX’s Alpha Holdings
FEX currently manages a total portfolio of $1.76 billion distributed primarily over the financial, consumer discretionary, and industrials sectors.

A Comparative Analysis of the FEX and SPY Portfolios
FEX has performed negatively in the market with a YTD return of -1.8%. The primary reason for its poor performance is its sensitive-to-market alpha holdings.

A Structural Analysis of the Smart Beta Fund FEX
The First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX ETF (FEX) is based on the Defined Large Cap Core Index. The index provider selects stocks on the basis of alpha.