Caroline Stockdale Sells 12,406 Shares of First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) Stock

First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) insider Caroline Stockdale sold 12,406 shares of First Solar stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $205.00, for a total value of $2,543,230.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 22,025 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,515,125. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink.

First Solar Stock Up 18.7 %

NASDAQ FSLR opened at $251.75 on Thursday. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $177.74 and its 200 day moving average is $162.86. 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, Inc. has a 12 month low of $129.21 and a 12 month high of $253.99. The stock has a market cap of $26.95 billion, a PE ratio of 26.39, a P/E/G ratio of 0.28 and a beta of 1.37.

First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) last posted its quarterly earnings results 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. First Solar had a return on equity of 16.24% and a net margin of 28.75%. The company had revenue of $794.10 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $718.19 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.40 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 44.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that First Solar, Inc. will post 13.56 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Oppenheimer lifted their price objective on First Solar from $269.00 to $271.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, May 2nd. Mizuho lifted their price objective on First Solar from $196.00 to $209.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, May 2nd. Guggenheim reduced their price objective on First Solar from $359.00 to $356.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, May 2nd. Barclays lifted their price objective on First Solar from $227.00 to $228.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 15th. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott initiated coverage on First Solar in a report on Friday, April 12th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $236.00 price objective for the company. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $239.16.

Institutional Trading of First Solar

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of First Solar during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. University of Texas Texas AM Investment Managment Co. purchased a new stake in shares of First Solar during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Baystate Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of First Solar during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Estabrook Capital Management bought a new position in shares of First Solar during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, Riverview Trust Co bought a new position in shares of First Solar during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $32,000. 92.08% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.