First Solar Stock Price, News & Analysis

First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) is described in its public disclosures as America’s leading photovoltaic (PV) solar technology and manufacturing company and the only US‑headquartered company among the world’s largest solar manufacturers. Headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, First Solar focuses on competitively and reliably enabling power generation needs with advanced thin film PV technology that it characterizes as uniquely American. Its technology is developed at research and development (R&D) labs in California and Ohio and is positioned as the next generation of solar power generation, offering a competitive, high‑performance, and responsibly produced alternative to conventional crystalline silicon PV modules.

According to company descriptions and industry classifications, First Solar operates in the Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing industry within the broader manufacturing sector. The company designs and manufactures solar photovoltaic modules and related technology, with a focus on serving utility‑scale power generation. Its solar modules use cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin film semiconductor technology to convert sunlight into electricity, often referred to as thin‑film technology. First Solar states that its PV modules are produced using a fully integrated, continuous process that does not rely on Chinese crystalline silicon supply chains.

First Solar has manufactured in the United States since 2002 and is described in recent communications as the Western Hemisphere’s largest solar manufacturer. The company highlights a large solar technology manufacturing and R&D footprint in the Western Hemisphere, which includes multiple fully vertically integrated manufacturing facilities and dedicated R&D centers. These facilities include three fully vertically integrated manufacturing facilities in Ohio and additional facilities in Alabama and Louisiana, along with R&D centers in Ohio and California. The company also references international production lines and notes that certain US facilities onshore final production processes for modules initiated by its international fleet.

In its own materials, First Solar emphasizes that it is America’s largest and most established solar module manufacturer and the country’s only fully vertically integrated producer among major solar manufacturers. Vertical integration in this context refers to the company’s control over key stages of module production, from semiconductor deposition through module assembly, using a continuous manufacturing process. The company also notes that it has a significant network of domestic supply chain vendors and that its manufacturing footprint and technology are intended to support utility‑scale solar power generation.

Technology and Products

First Solar’s core product offering is its thin film PV solar modules based on cadmium telluride semiconductor materials. The company describes these modules as providing a competitive, high‑performance alternative to conventional crystalline silicon PV modules. Its technology is developed in R&D labs in California and Ohio and is characterized as representing the next generation of solar power generation. First Solar states that its modules are produced using a fully integrated, continuous manufacturing process and that this process does not rely on Chinese crystalline silicon supply chains.

The company’s product roadmap includes Series 6, Series 6 Plus, and Series 7 module platforms referenced in its news releases. Certain US facilities are described as onshoring final production processes for Series 6 and Series 6 Plus modules initiated by the company’s international fleet, while a fully vertically integrated facility in Louisiana produces Series 7 modules using American materials. First Solar also references thin film bifacial PV solar panels in the context of a long‑term quantum dot supply agreement, indicating ongoing R&D collaboration aimed at optimizing the performance of utility‑scale solar modules.

Manufacturing Footprint and Capacity

First Solar highlights a growing US manufacturing footprint. The company has three fully vertically integrated manufacturing facilities in Ohio and additional facilities in Alabama and Louisiana. A fully vertically integrated manufacturing facility in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, began production in 2025 and is described as one of the most advanced solar manufacturing facilities in the world. This facility is enabled by artificial intelligence (AI), using computer vision and deep learning to automatically detect defects in solar panels during production, while technicians and operators use AI‑powered tools to make operating adjustments and guide decision making.

The Louisiana facility is expected, once fully ramped, to add 3.5 gigawatts (GW) of annual nameplate capacity. Together with other US facilities, First Solar expects its American manufacturing footprint to reach 14 GW of nameplate capacity in 2026 and 17.7 GW in 2027, based on company statements. The company also announced plans to establish a new facility in Gaffney, Cherokee County, South Carolina, to onshore final production processes for Series 6 Plus modules initiated by its international fleet. This South Carolina facility is expected to increase First Solar’s capacity to produce American‑made solar technology that is fully compliant with anticipated Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC) guidance, contributing to a projected 17.7 GW of annual US nameplate capacity in 2027.

Beyond the US, First Solar’s earlier public description notes that it has production lines in Vietnam, Malaysia, the United States, and India. These international operations support the company’s module production and enable certain processes that are later completed in US facilities, as referenced in its description of onshoring final production steps for Series 6 and Series 6 Plus modules.

Business Model and Industry Role

First Solar’s business model centers on designing, manufacturing, and selling PV solar modules based on thin film CdTe technology. Company earnings releases indicate that net sales are primarily driven by the volume of modules sold to third parties. The company also generates advanced manufacturing production tax credits under Section 45X of the Internal Revenue Code through the production of certain module components in the United States and the sale of such components to third parties, and it has entered into multiple tax credit transfer agreements to sell these credits to financial and digital payments counterparties.

In its own statements, First Solar positions itself as a utility‑scale solar leader, emphasizing that its modules are intended for utility‑scale power generation. It notes that its technology offers a cost‑competitive energy and faster time‑to‑power profile for utility‑scale solar generation and that this profile is compelling regardless of the policy environment. The company highlights its competitive position in the solar manufacturing industry, citing factors such as its status as America’s largest solar module manufacturer, its fully vertically integrated US production, its network of domestic supply chain vendors, and its proprietary CdTe‑based semiconductor technology.

Research, Development, and Partnerships

First Solar underscores its continued investment in research and development. Its technology is developed in R&D labs in California and Ohio, and the company maintains R&D centers in these states as part of what it describes as the largest solar technology manufacturing and R&D footprint in the Western Hemisphere. The company’s R&D efforts support improvements in module performance, wattage, and manufacturing processes, including the implementation of its Copper Replacement ("CuRe") program referenced in its financial disclosures.

In addition to internal R&D, First Solar engages in collaborative partnerships. A notable example is its exclusive, multi‑year agreement with UbiQD, Inc., a quantum dot nanotechnology company. Under this agreement, UbiQD will supply proprietary fluorescent quantum dot technology to First Solar, enabling the incorporation of quantum dots into First Solar’s thin film bifacial PV solar panels. The companies also expanded their photovoltaic module R&D collaboration focused on optimizing the performance of utility‑scale solar. First Solar’s chief technology officer has highlighted the potential for quantum dot technology to contribute meaningful gains to the performance of the company’s bifacial modules.

First Solar has also selected Everstream Analytics as an end‑to‑end supply chain solution for enterprise risk insight and mitigation and supplier data management. The company notes that it has a long history of establishing benchmarks in supply chain transparency and that it sought multi‑tier supply chain visibility and improved ability to identify and mitigate potential geopolitical and weather risks. This relationship supports First Solar’s efforts to manage supply chain complexity and maintain resilience in the face of evolving global conditions.

Supply Chain, Policy Environment, and Risk Factors

First Solar’s public filings and news releases discuss the impact of policy, trade, and market conditions on its business. The company notes that demand for domestically produced energy technology has been influenced by legislation such as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and by trade policies that support American‑made solar technology compliant with anticipated FEOC guidance. First Solar also discusses the impact of tariffs, export controls, and other trade remedies imposed on solar cells, modules, and related raw materials or equipment, and it has revised financial guidance to reflect the expected impact of new tariffs.

The company’s risk disclosures reference structural imbalances in global supply and demand for PV solar modules, the market for renewable energy, and changes in government subsidies, tax incentives, and renewable energy targets. They also highlight risks related to interest rate fluctuations and customer financing, the performance of solar modules upon installation, the ability to execute on technology and cost‑reduction roadmaps, environmental responsibility associated with CdTe and other semiconductor materials, and compliance with environmental, health, and safety requirements. Additional risk factors include supply chain disruptions, cybersecurity incidents, evolving corporate governance and disclosure expectations (including environmental, social, and governance matters), and the ability to construct and ramp new production facilities, such as Series 7 module manufacturing plants.

Financial Reporting and Capital Investments

First Solar files periodic financial statements and current reports with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including quarterly earnings releases furnished on Form 8‑K. These filings provide details on net sales, cost of sales, operating income, net income, cash balances, capital expenditures, and other financial metrics. The company has reported that increases in net sales in certain quarters were primarily due to higher volumes of modules sold to third parties, while changes in net cash balances have been influenced by module sales, advance payments for future sales, capital expenditures for new manufacturing facilities, and the sale of Section 45X tax credits.

First Solar has announced significant capital investments in US manufacturing and R&D infrastructure. Company communications indicate that, since 2019, it expects to have invested approximately $4.5 billion in American manufacturing and R&D infrastructure, including its facilities in Ohio, Alabama, Louisiana, and South Carolina, along with R&D centers in Ohio and California. These investments support expanded domestic production capacity and are aligned with policy‑driven demand for American‑made solar technology.

Employment and Economic Impact

First Solar’s public statements describe its role as an employer and contributor to local and national economies. The company expects to directly employ over 5,500 people in the United States by the end of 2026 and projects that it will support over 30,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs across the country by 2027, representing more than $3 billion in labor income, based on its own estimates. The Louisiana facility alone is expected to employ hundreds of people and to contribute to local economic growth, including a forecast increase in Iberia Parish’s gross domestic product in its first full year of operations at capacity.

These employment and economic impact figures are presented by the company as part of its broader narrative about US reindustrialization, American energy technology manufacturing, and the role of utility‑scale solar in meeting power generation needs. They also underscore First Solar’s emphasis on domestic supply chains and American materials in its manufacturing operations.

Stock Information and Regulatory Status

First Solar’s common stock is registered under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and trades on The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC under the ticker symbol FSLR, as indicated in its SEC filings. The company files current reports on Form 8‑K to disclose material events, such as financial results and tax credit transfer agreements, and it references its Annual Report on Form 10‑K and other SEC filings for detailed discussions of risk factors and management’s analysis of financial condition and results of operations.

FAQs about First Solar, Inc. (FSLR)

• What does First Solar, Inc. do?
  First Solar, Inc. designs and manufactures photovoltaic (PV) solar modules based on thin film cadmium telluride technology. The company describes itself as America’s leading PV solar technology and manufacturing company, focused on enabling power generation needs with its advanced thin film PV technology as an alternative to conventional crystalline silicon PV modules.
• In which industry and sector does First Solar operate?
  First Solar is classified in the Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing industry within the broader manufacturing sector. Its activities center on the design and manufacture of PV solar modules and related technology for power generation.
• Where is First Solar headquartered?
  First Solar is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, as indicated in its SEC filings and company descriptions. Its principal executive offices are located in Tempe, and it maintains R&D centers in California and Ohio.
• On which exchange does FSLR trade and what is its ticker symbol?
  First Solar’s common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC under the ticker symbol FSLR. This information is provided in the company’s current reports on Form 8‑K and other SEC filings.
• What technology does First Solar use in its solar modules?
  First Solar’s PV solar modules use cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin film semiconductor technology to convert sunlight into electricity. The company describes this technology as advanced, uniquely American thin film PV that provides a competitive, high‑performance, and responsibly produced alternative to conventional crystalline silicon PV modules.
• How is First Solar’s manufacturing footprint structured?
  First Solar describes a large solar technology manufacturing and R&D footprint in the Western Hemisphere, including three fully vertically integrated manufacturing facilities in Ohio and additional facilities in Alabama and Louisiana, along with R&D centers in Ohio and California. It also references international production lines in Vietnam, Malaysia, the United States, and India, and has announced plans for a new facility in Gaffney, South Carolina, to onshore final production processes for certain modules.
• What is meant by First Solar being a fully vertically integrated producer?
  In its public statements, First Solar notes that it is the country’s only fully vertically integrated producer among the world’s largest solar manufacturers. This refers to its control over key stages of the PV module production process, using a fully integrated, continuous manufacturing process that does not rely on Chinese crystalline silicon supply chains.
• How does First Solar describe its role in utility‑scale solar?
  First Solar characterizes itself as a utility‑scale leader and emphasizes that its thin film PV modules are designed for utility‑scale solar generation. The company highlights what it views as a cost‑competitive energy and faster time‑to‑power profile for its technology, which it believes supports a compelling case for utility‑scale solar generation.
• What kinds of partnerships does First Solar engage in?
  First Solar engages in technology and supply chain partnerships, such as its exclusive multi‑year agreement with UbiQD, Inc. to supply quantum dot technology for thin film bifacial PV solar panels and its selection of Everstream Analytics for supply chain risk insight and mitigation. These collaborations support module performance optimization and multi‑tier supply chain visibility.
• How can investors learn more about First Solar’s financial performance and risks?
  Investors can review First Solar’s SEC filings, including Annual Reports on Form 10‑K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10‑Q, and current reports on Form 8‑K, which provide detailed information on financial results, risk factors, and management’s discussion and analysis. The company also issues earnings press releases and holds conference calls to discuss quarterly financial results.