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First Solar is changing how it defends its patents for TOPCon, a specific technology used to make solar cells more efficient. The company is withdrawing a complaint it filed with the US International Trade Commission, which is a government body that can block imports that break trade rules.
This is a shift in tactics rather than a retreat. The company plans to keep pursuing its current lawsuits in US district courts against competitors it claims are using its technology without permission. For a long-term owner, this shows the company is still aggressive about protecting its tech edge, but is narrowing its focus to the legal paths it thinks will be most effective.
Source: Business Wire
Oil prices rose sharply after an attack shut down a major pipeline in Saudi Arabia, adding new pressure to global energy supplies. When traditional energy costs rise or become less reliable, it often speeds up the shift toward solar power for large-scale electricity projects.
For First Solar, this kind of global energy tension reinforces the value of its US-based manufacturing. Because the company builds its panels domestically and sells them for utility-scale projects, it is well-positioned when power providers look for energy sources that are not tied to volatile global oil markets.
Source: Bloomberg Markets and Finance
BMO Capital upgraded its rating on the company to outperform, a signal that they expect the stock to do better than the broader market. The firm set a price target of $265, which is about 29 percent higher than where the stock is trading today.
This move comes as other analysts have also nudged their targets higher, bringing the average across all firms to $273. The upgrade reflects a view that the company's position as a domestic manufacturer remains a key advantage, especially as it works through a large backlog of orders that stretches several years into the future.
Source: BMO Capital
Deutsche Bank raised its price target for First Solar from $272 to $299 on Wednesday. This new target is about 45 percent higher than where the stock trades today, though the bank still maintains a neutral rating on the company. The move follows a similar target hike from Morgan Stanley earlier in the week. Analysts are currently weighing First Solar's large backlog of signed contracts against a broader market that has been cautious about solar stocks lately. The average analyst target across all firms now sits at $273.
Source: Deutsche Bank
Morgan Stanley raised its price target for the solar panel maker from $245 to $323 while keeping its overweight rating, a sign it expects the stock to perform better than the broader market. This new target is significantly higher than the average analyst target of $265. The move suggests confidence in the company's ability to turn its large backlog of orders into profit. While the stock has struggled this year, analysts at the firm see a path for the price to rise about 50 percent from where it trades today.
Source: Morgan Stanley
Management has been conservative with its forecasts lately, leading to two straight quarters where profits significantly outran what they told analysts to expect.
| Expectation | |
|---|---|
| EPS | $4.59 |
| Revenue | $1.28B |
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