First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) Issues FY 2024 Earnings Guidance

First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) issued an update on its FY 2024 earnings guidance on Wednesday morning. The company provided EPS guidance of 13.000-14.000 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of 13.570. The company issued revenue guidance of $4.4 billion-$4.6 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $4.5 billion. First Solar also updated its FY24 guidance to $13.00-14.00 EPS.

First Solar Price Performance

Shares of FSLR stock traded up $1.28 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $177.58. 2,472,955 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,062,322. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $164.33 and a 200 day moving average of $157.70. The company has a quick ratio of 2.92, a current ratio of 3.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. First Solar has a 52-week low of $129.21 and a 52-week high of $232.00. The company has a market cap of $19.01 billion, a PE ratio of 22.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.31 and a beta of 1.41.

First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 27th. The solar cell manufacturer reported $3.25 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.19 by $0.06. First Solar had a net margin of 25.03% and a return on equity of 13.80%. The firm had revenue of $1.16 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.31 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned ($0.07) EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 15.5% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts anticipate that First Solar will post 13.55 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently weighed in on FSLR shares. Janney Montgomery Scott started coverage on shares of First Solar in a research report on Friday, April 12th. They set a buy rating and a $236.00 price target for the company. Bank of America upped their price target on shares of First Solar from $187.00 to $194.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 10th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of First Solar from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and increased their price objective for the company from $187.00 to $250.00 in a report on Friday, April 19th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of First Solar from $224.00 to $227.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, April 19th. Finally, Evercore ISI upgraded shares of First Solar from an in-line rating to an outperform rating and set a $227.00 price objective for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 23rd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-two have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $233.92.

Insider Buying and Selling at First Solar

In other First Solar news, Director R Craig Kennedy sold 1,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $157.76, for a total value of $236,640.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 15,641 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,467,524.16. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, Director R Craig Kennedy sold 1,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $157.76, for a total value of $236,640.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 15,641 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,467,524.16. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Kuntal Kumar Verma sold 250 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, March 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.34, for a total transaction of $37,085.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 5,170 shares in the company, valued at $766,917.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 26,620 shares of company stock valued at $4,269,540 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.58% of the company’s stock.

About First Solar

First Solar, Inc, a solar technology company, provides photovoltaic (PV) solar energy solutions in the United States, France, Japan, Chile, and internationally. The company manufactures and sells PV solar modules with a thin film semiconductor technology that provides a lower-carbon alternative to conventional crystalline silicon PV solar modules.