First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Shares of First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) have been given an average rating of “Moderate Buy” by the twenty-five brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and twenty-three have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $238.16.

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of First Solar from $245.00 to $248.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 2nd. Evercore ISI upgraded First Solar from an “in-line” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $227.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 23rd. Susquehanna reiterated a “positive” rating and issued a $258.00 target price on shares of First Solar in a research report on Friday, April 5th. Guggenheim lowered their target price on First Solar from $359.00 to $356.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 2nd. Finally, Barclays raised their price target on shares of First Solar from $224.00 to $227.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, April 19th.

First Solar Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of FSLR opened at $194.67 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 2.41, a quick ratio of 1.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06. First Solar has a 12 month low of $129.21 and a 12 month high of $232.00. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $168.55 and its 200-day moving average is $158.92. The stock has a market capitalization of $20.84 billion, a PE ratio of 20.41, a P/E/G ratio of 0.33 and a beta of 1.37.

First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 1st. The solar cell manufacturer reported $2.20 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.90 by $0.30. The firm had revenue of $794.10 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $718.19 million. First Solar had a return on equity of 16.24% and a net margin of 28.75%. The company’s revenue was up 44.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.40 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that First Solar will post 13.55 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at First Solar

In other First Solar news, insider Georges Antoun sold 16,667 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.55, for a total value of $2,592,551.85. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 42,041 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,539,477.55. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, insider Kuntal Kumar Verma sold 250 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.34, for a total value of $37,085.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 5,170 shares in the company, valued at approximately $766,917.80. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Georges Antoun sold 16,667 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $155.55, for a total value of $2,592,551.85. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 42,041 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,539,477.55. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 28,620 shares of company stock valued at $4,663,000. Corporate insiders own 0.58% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On First Solar

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in FSLR. Family Legacy Inc. grew its position in First Solar by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. Family Legacy Inc. now owns 4,950 shares of the solar cell manufacturer’s stock valued at $836,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares during the period. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC lifted its stake in shares of First Solar by 36.0% in the first quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC now owns 272 shares of the solar cell manufacturer’s stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 72 shares in the last quarter. Atticus Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of First Solar by 15.6% during the first quarter. Atticus Wealth Management LLC now owns 534 shares of the solar cell manufacturer’s stock worth $90,000 after acquiring an additional 72 shares in the last quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. raised its holdings in shares of First Solar by 10.7% in the 1st quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 765 shares of the solar cell manufacturer’s stock worth $129,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bard Financial Services Inc. lifted its position in First Solar by 2.9% in the 1st quarter. Bard Financial Services Inc. now owns 2,700 shares of the solar cell manufacturer’s stock valued at $456,000 after acquiring an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.08% of the company’s stock.

First Solar Company Profile

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.