Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich Trims Stake in First Solar, Inc. $FSLR

Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich reduced its stake in First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) by 8.7% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 111,185 shares of the solar cell manufacturer’s stock after selling 10,547 shares during the quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich’s holdings in First Solar were worth $29,045,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of FSLR. Aventura Private Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of First Solar during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Strategic Wealth Investment Group LLC purchased a new stake in First Solar in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Pinpoint Asset Management Singapore Pte. Ltd. purchased a new stake in First Solar in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $44,000. Torren Management LLC bought a new stake in First Solar during the 4th quarter worth approximately $47,000. Finally, NBT Bank N A NY raised its stake in First Solar by 550.0% during the 3rd quarter. NBT Bank N A NY now owns 221 shares of the solar cell manufacturer’s stock worth $49,000 after acquiring an additional 187 shares during the period. 92.08% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

First Solar News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Argus raised its price target on First Solar to $275 from $250 and reiterated a buy rating, reinforcing upside expectations for FSLR. Argus Issues Positive Forecast for First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) Stock Price
• Positive Sentiment: Solar stocks are broadly stronger, with peers such as Enphase Energy and SolarEdge moving sharply higher, suggesting favorable sector sentiment that can spill over into First Solar. Enphase Energy and SolarEdge Jump 11%, Canadian Solar Sinks 10% in Lopsided Solar Stock Trade
• Positive Sentiment: First Solar’s last quarterly report beat estimates on both earnings and revenue, which continues to support the stock’s fundamental outlook. First Solar price performance and earnings data
• Neutral Sentiment: CEO Mark Widmar disclosed Rule 10b5-1 share sales, which were pre-planned but can still create a modest sentiment drag for investors. First Solar insider trading disclosure
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage discussing China’s clean-tech retreat from the U.S. highlights the policy backdrop for solar, but the impact on FSLR is indirect and mixed. China’s $3 Billion US Clean Tech Exit Is an Investment Warning

First Solar Stock Down 1.3%

Shares of FSLR stock opened at $231.62 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $24.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.96, a PEG ratio of 0.52 and a beta of 1.57. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $199.81 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $231.39. The company has a quick ratio of 2.15, a current ratio of 2.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02. First Solar, Inc. has a 52 week low of $135.50 and a 52 week high of $285.99.

First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 30th. The solar cell manufacturer reported $3.22 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.87 by $0.35. First Solar had a return on equity of 18.01% and a net margin of 30.73%.The company had revenue of $1.04 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.03 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.95 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 23.6% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that First Solar, Inc. will post 17.63 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on FSLR shares. Robert W. Baird restated a “neutral” rating and set a $205.00 target price (down from $264.00) on shares of First Solar in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. Freedom Capital raised First Solar from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, May 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on First Solar from $303.00 to $256.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 25th. Guggenheim dropped their price objective on First Solar from $312.00 to $269.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 17th. Finally, Argus increased their target price on First Solar from $250.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have assigned a Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $247.03.

Insider Buying and Selling at First Solar

In related news, insider Patrick James Buehler sold 235 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $215.63, for a total value of $50,673.05. Following the sale, the insider owned 7,406 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,596,955.78. The trade was a 3.08% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, insider Michael Koralewski sold 215 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $215.63, for a total transaction of $46,360.45. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 14,642 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,157,254.46. The trade was a 1.45% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 92,430 shares of company stock worth $18,670,055. Company insiders own 0.39% of the company’s stock.

First Solar 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.