Is the reported First Solar (FSLR) share sale by the CTO a tax withholding transaction?

Yes. A footnote explains that the 420 shares were sold by the issuer to satisfy tax withholding obligations tied to the RSU vesting. This type of transaction is compensation-related and does not represent a discretionary open-market sale decision by the executive.

First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) CTO details RSU vesting and tax-related share sale

Filing Impact

(Neutral)

Filing Sentiment

(Negative)

Form Type

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

FIRST SOLAR, INC. Chief Technology Officer Markus Gloeckler reported routine equity-compensation activity involving restricted stock units and related tax withholding.

On May 4, 2026, 968 restricted stock units granted on May 1, 2025 vested, and 968 shares of common stock were issued. These units are part of an annual equity grant that vests 25% on each anniversary of the grant date under the company’s 2020 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan.

In connection with this vesting, 420 shares of common stock were sold at $215.63 per share by the issuer to satisfy tax withholding obligations, rather than as a discretionary open-market sale. After these transactions, Gloeckler directly owns 10,896 shares of First Solar common stock and continues to hold 2,904 restricted stock units.

Insider Trade Summary

Net Seller: 420 shares ($90,565)

Net Sell 3 txns

Insider Gloeckler Markus

Role Chief Technology Officer

Sold 420 shs ($91K)

Type	Security	Shares	Price	Value
Sale	Common Stock	420	$215.63	$91K
Exercise	Restricted Stock Units	968	$0.00	--
Exercise	Common Stock	968	$0.00	--

Holdings After Transaction: Common Stock — 10,896 shares (Direct, null); Restricted Stock Units — 2,904 shares (Direct, null)

Footnotes (1)

Represents shares of common stock issued upon vesting of 25% of the restricted stock units granted on May 1, 2025. Represents shares of common stock sold by the Issuer to satisfy certain tax withholding obligations with the vesting of the restricted stock units. Each restricted stock unit represents the right to receive, upon vesting, one share of the Issuer's common stock in accordance with the Issuer's 2020 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan. The restricted stock units were granted on May 1, 2025 as part of the Issuer's annual equity grant to executive officers. The restricted stock units granted on May 1, 2025 vest annually at a rate of 25% on each anniversary of the grant date, commencing on the first anniversary of the grant date.

Key Figures

Shares sold for taxes: 420 shares Sale price: $215.63 per share RSUs vested and converted: 968 units/shares +2 more

5 metrics

Shares sold for taxes 420 shares Common stock sold to satisfy tax withholding obligations

Sale price $215.63 per share Price for 420 First Solar shares sold for tax withholding

RSUs vested and converted 968 units/shares Restricted stock units granted May 1, 2025 that vested May 4, 2026

Shares owned after transactions 10,896 shares Direct First Solar common stock holdings after reported Form 4 activity

RSUs remaining 2,904 units Restricted stock units held after 968 units vested and converted

Key Terms

restricted stock units, tax withholding obligations, 2020 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, annual equity grant

4 terms

restricted stock units financial

"Represents shares of common stock issued upon vesting of 25% of the restricted stock units granted on May 1, 2025."

Restricted stock units are a type of company reward where employees are promised shares of stock, but they only fully own these shares after meeting certain conditions, like staying with the company for a set time. They matter because they can become valuable assets and are often used to motivate employees to help the company succeed.

tax withholding obligations financial

"Represents shares of common stock sold by the Issuer to satisfy certain tax withholding obligations with the vesting of the restricted stock units."

2020 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan financial

"Each restricted stock unit represents the right to receive, upon vesting, one share of the Issuer's common stock in accordance with the Issuer's 2020 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan."

annual equity grant financial

"The restricted stock units were granted on May 1, 2025 as part of the Issuer's annual equity grant to executive officers."

Form 4 Insider Transactions: What Each Field Means →

05/05/2026 - 07:48 PM

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:			0.5

Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Gloeckler Markus

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

C/O FIRST SOLAR, INC.

4300 E CAMELBACK ROAD, SUITE 220

(Street)

PHOENIX

ARIZONA

85018

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

UNITED STATES

(Country)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
FIRST SOLAR, INC. [ FSLR ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director	10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)	Other (specify below)
	Chief Technology Officer

2a. Foreign Trading Symbol

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
05/04/2026

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Common Stock	05/04/2026		M		968⁽¹⁾	A	$0	11,316	D
Common Stock	05/05/2026		S		420⁽²⁾	D	$215.63	10,896	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)		10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Restricted Stock Units	⁽³⁾	05/04/2026		M			968	⁽⁴⁾	⁽⁴⁾	Common Stock	968	$0	2,904	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Represents shares of common stock issued upon vesting of 25% of the restricted stock units granted on May 1, 2025.

2. Represents shares of common stock sold by the Issuer to satisfy certain tax withholding obligations with the vesting of the restricted stock units.

3. Each restricted stock unit represents the right to receive, upon vesting, one share of the Issuer's common stock in accordance with the Issuer's 2020 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan.

4. The restricted stock units were granted on May 1, 2025 as part of the Issuer's annual equity grant to executive officers. The restricted stock units granted on May 1, 2025 vest annually at a rate of 25% on each anniversary of the grant date, commencing on the first anniversary of the grant date.

	/s/ Jason E. Dymbort, attorney-in-fact	05/05/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.
* Form 4: SEC 1474 (03-26)

Source: View Original Filing on SEC EDGAR

FAQ

What insider transactions did FSLR CTO Markus Gloeckler report on this Form 4?

Markus Gloeckler reported vesting of 968 restricted stock units into common shares and a related sale of 420 shares. The sale was made by the issuer solely to cover tax withholding obligations tied to the RSU vesting event.

How many First Solar (FSLR) shares did the CTO sell, and at what price?

A total of 420 First Solar common shares were sold at $215.63 per share. According to the filing, these shares were sold by the issuer to satisfy tax withholding obligations from the RSU vesting, not as a discretionary market sale.

How many First Solar (FSLR) shares does Markus Gloeckler hold after these transactions?

Following the reported transactions, Markus Gloeckler directly owns 10,896 shares of First Solar common stock. He also continues to hold 2,904 restricted stock units, which represent additional potential shares that may be delivered upon future vesting.

What is the source of the 968 First Solar (FSLR) shares acquired by the CTO?

The 968 shares came from restricted stock units granted on May 1, 2025 that vested on May 4, 2026. Each unit converts into one share of common stock under First Solar’s 2020 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan as part of annual executive equity awards.

How do the restricted stock units for FSLR’s CTO vest over time?

The restricted stock units granted on May 1, 2025 vest in four equal annual installments of 25% each. Vesting occurs on each anniversary of the grant date, reflecting First Solar’s standard annual equity compensation structure for executive officers.