Traders Purchase Large Volume of First Solar Call Options (NASDAQ:FSLR)

First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) was the target of unusually large options trading on Tuesday. Stock investors purchased 48,646 call options on the company. This represents an increase of approximately 97% compared to the typical volume of 24,675 call options.

More First Solar News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Truist upgraded FSLR to Buy from Hold and raised its price target to $270 from $229. Analyst Christopher Souther cited a stronger pricing outlook into the 2030s, including higher projected U.S. module average selling prices and support from domestic utility-scale demand. First Solar rating upgraded to Strong Buy at Truist
• Positive Sentiment: A Section 232 trade decision that establishes a floor under imported-panel pricing could improve First Solar’s competitive position and reduce pressure from lower-priced foreign supply. The policy is viewed as more favorable for U.S. manufacturers than for some solar peers. First Solar climbs as tariff policy supports panel pricing
• Positive Sentiment: Options activity is unusually bullish, with investors purchasing about 48,646 call options—roughly double the typical volume—signaling increased speculative interest in further gains.
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts expect high-single-digit bottom-line growth in the company’s upcoming third-quarter report, giving investors a potential near-term catalyst. First Solar earnings preview
• Neutral Sentiment: Morningstar reduced its estimated value for First Solar to $191, warning that expiring tax benefits and intense competition could offset the long-term opportunity from rising electricity demand tied to artificial intelligence. Morningstar trims First Solar valuation

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently weighed in on FSLR. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their target price on shares of First Solar from $310.00 to $272.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 8th. Evercore reaffirmed a “positive” rating and set a $218.00 price target on shares of First Solar in a research report on Monday, August 17th. BMO Capital Markets downgraded First Solar from a “hold” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 27th. Citigroup downgraded First Solar from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 27th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein lowered their price objective on First Solar from $217.00 to $197.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, July 31st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-three have issued a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $266.33.

First Solar Stock Up 4.1%

FSLR stock traded up $7.28 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $187.00. The company had a trading volume of 1,643,219 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,364,580. First Solar has a fifty-two week low of $168.60 and a fifty-two week high of $320.95. The firm has a market capitalization of $20.09 billion, a PE ratio of 11.53, a P/E/G ratio of 0.48 and a beta of 1.80. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $203.85 and a 200 day moving average price of $219.47.

First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 30th. The solar cell manufacturer reported $3.92 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.90 by $1.02. First Solar had a return on equity of 18.02% and a net margin of 32.47%. The firm had revenue of $1.06 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.06 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $3.18 EPS. The firm’s revenue was down 3.4% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that First Solar will post 17.68 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at First Solar

In related news, CTO Markus Gloeckler sold 800 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $174.00, for a total value of $139,200.00. Following the transaction, the chief technology officer owned 5,042 shares in the company, valued at approximately $877,308. The trade was a 13.69% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, EVP Samantha L. Sloan sold 127 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $222.95, for a total transaction of $28,314.65. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 2,018 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $449,913.10. The trade was a 5.92% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Insiders have sold 16,681 shares of company stock valued at $3,756,286 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.39% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On First Solar

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of FSLR. BlackRock Inc. bought a new position in First Solar in the second quarter valued at approximately $3,310,298,000. Hill City Capital LP bought a new position in First Solar in the second quarter valued at approximately $620,133,555. Deutsche Bank AG bought a new position in First Solar in the second quarter valued at about $212,626,000. Polar Capital Holdings Plc acquired a new stake in First Solar during the 4th quarter worth approximately $200,109,000. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE bought a new position in First Solar during the 2nd quarter worth $171,043,000. Institutional investors own 92.08% of the company’s stock.

About First Solar

First Solar, Inc is a solar technology and manufacturing company that designs and produces photovoltaic (PV) solar modules for utility-scale power projects. Unlike conventional crystalline-silicon panels, its modules use thin-film semiconductor technology based on cadmium telluride (CdTe), which the company says can provide advantages in energy yield, temperature performance and lifecycle sustainability.

The company’s product portfolio includes its Series 6 and Series 7 thin-film solar modules, along with related services such as technical support, module recycling and end-of-life collection.