First Solar, Inc. (FSLR)

In early April 2025, First Solar's stock experienced a rally, climbing approximately 4.5% over five days, attributed to the company's compelling valuation and strong fundamentals. In February 2025, First Solar sold $857 million in Inflation Reduction Act transferable tax credits. First Solar's Q1 2025 earnings per diluted share came in below the low end of its guidance range, primarily due to a greater portion of Q1 sales and the impact of new tariff initiatives. Leading up to its Q2 2025 earnings report in late July 2025, FSLR stock was trading down about 10% from its year-to-date high set in January, underperforming the broader equities market.

The demand for solar products and services typically experiences seasonal trends, with peak demand during the spring and summer months due to longer days and more abundant sunshine. Conversely, fall and winter are considered off-peak seasons due to shorter days and increased cloud cover, which can reduce immediate interest in solar investments.

First Solar, Inc. is an American solar technology company specializing in photovoltaic (PV) solar energy solutions, headquartered in Tempe, Arizona. It operates within the renewable energy sector, designing, manufacturing, and selling solar panels, particularly rigid thin-film modules that utilize cadmium telluride (CdTe). The company provides comprehensive solar power system solutions, encompassing engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services, as well as operations and maintenance (O&M) services for solar power plants. First Solar also offers end-of-life panel recycling at its manufacturing facilities.

First Solar has a significant global presence with its headquarters in Tempe, Arizona, United States. The company has three operational factories in Ohio, a new facility in Alabama inaugurated in September 2024, and another plant under construction in Louisiana, expected to be operational in late 2025 or the first half of 2026. Once the Louisiana facility is online, First Solar anticipates having over 14 GW of domestic capacity by 2026. It also has manufacturing facilities in Kulim, Malaysia, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Chennai, India. The company also provides PV solar energy solutions in other international markets, including France and Chile.

First Solar maintains a strong brand reputation, particularly for its commitment to responsible manufacturing and sustainability. The company is recognized as the only US-headquartered company among the world's largest solar manufacturers that does not manufacture in China. The inauguration of its new manufacturing facility in Alabama in September 2024, and the ongoing construction of another in Louisiana, further solidify its image as a leader in domestic solar manufacturing and job creation in the US. The company's 2023 Sustainability Report highlighted its focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics.

First Solar, Inc. is a public company with a diverse ownership structure that includes institutional, retail, and individual investors. Major institutional owners include Vanguard Group Inc., BlackRock, Inc., State Street Corp., Price T Rowe Associates Inc /md/, Susquehanna International Group, Llp, Jane Street Group, Llc, and Citadel Advisors Llc. Notable individual owners include the Estate of John T. Walton and Lukas T. Walton, and Michael J. Ahearn is listed as an insider owner.