Fact based stock research
First Solar (NasdaqGS:FSLR)
US3364331070
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For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
First Solar stock research in summary
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 85 (better than 85% compared with investment alternatives), First Solar (Semiconductors, USA) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of First Solar are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 49 (worse than 51% of alternatives). But they show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 83) and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 85, which means below-average debt burdens). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 85, is a strong buy recommendation based on First Solar's financial characteristics. Investors looking for growth and low financial risk may find this stock attractive. While the company First Solar exhibits low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 49), which means that the stock price is rather high, it also demonstrates above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 83). This is a typical case, as high-growth companies are often expensive. Good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 85) are a double-edged sword: if the company continues growing, low debt limits shareholder returns. But if the company increases its debt, it will also increase risk. In other words, this is an investment on the safer side, despite the above-average price (low value). Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
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360° Viewnew| Country | USA |
| Industry | Semiconductors |
| Index | Energy Efficient, Human Rights, Low Waste, Recycling, Solar Tech, NASDAQ, S&P MIDCAP |
| Size class | Large |
This stock has achievements: Top 10 Stock.
14-Nov-2024. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.
Analysts rarely agree on a stock’s future. So, who do you believe? Obermatt translates those collective views into a single Sentiment Rank. That plus the financial ranks give you the ultimate 360° View. Sign up to access them.
It’s easier said than done. When your stock drops, it’s easy to want to sell it and find a better performer. Think twice, or even three times, before trading. Those fees (especially the hidden ones) can eat up your gains.
Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.
Research History: First Solar
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 64 |
|
51 |
|
61 |
|
49 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 16 |
|
7 |
|
81 |
|
83 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 95 |
|
88 |
|
43 |
|
85 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
1 |
|
67 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | n/a |
|
11 |
|
77 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 85 (better than 85% compared with investment alternatives), First Solar (Semiconductors, USA) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of First Solar are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 49 (worse than 51% of alternatives). But they show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 83) and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 85, which means below-average debt burdens). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 85, is a strong buy recommendation based on First Solar's financial characteristics. Investors looking for growth and low financial risk may find this stock attractive. While the company First Solar exhibits low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 49), which means that the stock price is rather high, it also demonstrates above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 83). This is a typical case, as high-growth companies are often expensive. Good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 85) are a double-edged sword: if the company continues growing, low debt limits shareholder returns. But if the company increases its debt, it will also increase risk. In other words, this is an investment on the safer side, despite the above-average price (low value). Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 64 |
|
51 |
|
61 |
|
49 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 16 |
|
7 |
|
81 |
|
83 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 95 |
|
88 |
|
43 |
|
85 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 68 |
|
46 |
|
74 |
|
85 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 49 (worse than 51% compared with alternatives), First Solar shares are more expensive than the average comparable stock. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with half of the indicators below and half above average for First Solar. Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) is 92 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is lower than for 92% of comparable companies, indicating a good value concerning First Solar's profit levels. The same is valid for Price-to-Book Capital (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Book Rank of 55, which means that the stock price is lower as regards to invested capital than for 55% of comparable investments. On the other hand, Price-to-Sales is less favorable than for 65% of alternatives (only 35% of peers have an even less favorable ratio). The same is valid for dividend yield, which is lower than for 99% of comparable companies, making the stock more expensive compared with the company's expected dividend payouts. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 49, is a hold recommendation based on First Solar's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. This is a puzzling picture, because it means that profits are high while dividends are low. Since the stock price is low compared with invested capital but high concerning expected revenues, the company has more invested capital than peers for generating the same amount of revenue. Since profits are higher, it could be a "cash cow" situation (using the classic Boston Consulting Group or BCG matrix naming convention) where the company is on a downward trend, still living from the profits of past products. As the company pays low dividends, it may harbor the opinion that a turnaround is possible, and it rather invests the cash than distribute it to shareholders through dividends, thus sealing the company's fate early. Any investment optimism should only be a buy trigger once thorough research is completed. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision, which is especially important in this case, as the financial indicators are inconclusive. ...read more
| VALUE METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | 55 |
|
61 |
|
45 |
|
35 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | 79 |
|
25 |
|
90 |
|
92 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | 90 |
|
85 |
|
66 |
|
55 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | 1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | 64 |
|
51 |
|
61 |
|
49 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 83 (better than 83% compared with alternatives) for 2024, First Solar shows one of the highest growth dynamics in its industry. Investors also speak of high momentum. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all but one indicator above average for First Solar. Sales Growth has a rank of 88 which means that currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 88% of its competitors. Both Profit Growth, with a rank of 88, and Stock Returns, with a rank of 79, are also above average. But Capital Growth only has a rank of 9, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow its invested capital less than 91% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 83, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. That may be a good sign if the company is already well positioned and doesn't require more investments at this time. They may focus on growing the top (revenues) and bottom (profits) lines, recently rewarded with above-average stock returns for shareholders. But it may also be a sign of danger as the company is falling back with capital investment activities concerning competition. This requires further analysis of corporate communications. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case. ...read more
| GROWTH METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 2 |
|
1 |
|
84 |
|
88 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 8 |
|
19 |
|
100 |
|
88 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | n/a |
|
48 |
|
49 |
|
9 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 61 |
|
29 |
|
43 |
|
79 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 16 |
|
7 |
|
81 |
|
83 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 85 (better than 85% compared with alternatives) for 2024, the company First Solar has safe financing practices, which means that their overall debt burden is low. This doesn't mean that the business of First Solar is safe, it only means that the company is on the safer side regarding possible bankruptcy, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with two out of three indicators above average for First Solar. Leverage is at a rank of 64, meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 64% of its competitors. Liquidity is also good at a rank of 93, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 93% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is on the safer side when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is lower at a rank of 39, which means that the portion of the debt that is about to be refinanced is above-average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 61% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 85 (better than 85% compared with alternatives), First Solar has a financing structure that is significantly safer than that of its competitors. The refinancing issues could be a short-term problem, especially if the company has reputation issues. Banks and investors don't like to refinance debt if there are clouds on the horizon. For this reason, investors should look at the refinancing environment for First Solar. Does it look safe that debt that is coming due can be covered with new debt? If that is the case, then the financing situation of the company is on the safer side. If not, it may be better to wait until refinancing has been completed and the Refinancing rank is good again. Investors may have a short-term debt challenge with First Solar and should also compare Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks before making a decision. ...read more
| SAFETY METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 90 |
|
74 |
|
76 |
|
64 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 55 |
|
77 |
|
47 |
|
39 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 84 |
|
67 |
|
9 |
|
93 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 95 |
|
88 |
|
43 |
|
85 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
15 |
|
84 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | n/a |
|
30 |
|
64 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | n/a |
|
50 |
|
83 |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | n/a |
|
4 |
|
8 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
1 |
|
67 |
|
new |
|
Free stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for First Solar from November 14, 2024.
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