Companies /Technology

First Solar Inc

NASDAQ: FSLR Solar
$204.45
▼ $2.97 (−1.43%) today
Markets closed · 8:12pm ET

Q2 2025 Earnings

Reported Jul 31, 2025, 4:05pm ET · SEC source
$3.18
Beat +21.26%
EPS · est. $2.62
$1.1B
Beat +5.98%
Revenue · est. $1.0B
+6.0%
Beating market
FSLR vs S&P since report
2 quarters
Consecutive EPS beats

Market Reaction

% change · around the report
−6%−3%0Jul 31Aug 1report 4:05pm ETearnings−1.7%−0.2%
−6%−3%0Jul 31Aug 1earnings−1.7%−0.2%
FSLR −0.2%S&P 500 −1.7%
−6%−3%0Jul 31Aug 1report 4:05pm ETearnings−2.0%−0.2%
−6%−3%0Jul 31Aug 1earnings−2.0%−0.2%
FSLR −0.2%NASDAQ −2.0%
−6%−3%0+3%Jul 30Aug 8report 4:05pm ETearnings+1.0%+1.2%
−6%−3%0+3%Jul 30Aug 8earnings+1.0%+1.2%
FSLR +1.2%S&P 500 +1.0%
−6%−3%0+3%Jul 30Aug 8report 4:05pm ETearnings+2.0%+1.2%
−6%−3%0+3%Jul 30Aug 8earnings+2.0%+1.2%
FSLR +1.2%NASDAQ +2.0%
+5.29%
Day of report
−0.30%
Next session
+0.37%
One week
+9.52%
30 days

S&P 500 over the same 30 days: +3.54%.

Did FSLR Beat Earnings? Q2 2025 Results

First Solar posted a standout second quarter, with earnings per share of $3.18 beating the Wall Street consensus of $2.62 by 21.26% and revenue of $1.10 billion coming in 5.98% ahead of expectations, up 8.6% year over year. The primary engine behind the beat was a sharp improvement in gross profit, which climbed to $499.85 million from $344.40 million in Q1, driven by higher module volumes and the monetization of Section 45X advanced manufacturing tax credits; the company sold $312.00 million of those credits for $296.00 million in cash proceeds, directly lifting its net cash balance to approximately $600.00 million. CEO Mark Widmar pointed to tariffs on foreign-made panels as a structural tailwind that reinforces First Solar's domestic manufacturing advantage, a view consistent with the company raising its full-year net sales guidance to $4.90 billion to $5.70 billion and tightening its EPS range to $13.50 to $16.50. The company's 64.0 GW expected sales backlog extending through 2030, including 2.1 GW booked in July alone, underscores durable demand visibility heading into the second half.

Key Takeaways
  • Increased volume of modules sold to third parties driving net sales growth
  • Section 45X advanced manufacturing production tax credits monetization providing cash proceeds
  • Gross profit expansion from $344M in Q1 to $500M in Q2
  • Favorable policy and trade developments strengthening competitive position

“In our view, the recent policy and trade developments have, on balance, strengthened First Solar's relative position in the solar manufacturing industry.”

First Solar CEO, on the earnings call

Forward Guidance & Outlook

First Solar updated its full-year 2025 guidance: net sales of $4.9B to $5.7B (up from $4.5B to $5.5B), gross margin of $2.05B to $2.35B, operating expenses of $480M to $520M, operating income of $1.53B to $1.87B, EPS of $13.50 to $16.50 (midpoint maintained but range narrowed from $12.50 to $17.50), net cash balance of $1.3B to $2.0B (up from $0.4B to $0.9B), capital expenditures unchanged at $1.0B to $1.5B, and volume sold of 16.7 GW to 19.3 GW (up from 15.5 GW to 19.3 GW). For Q3 2025, the company forecasts module sales of 5.0 to 6.0 GW, Section 45X tax credits of $390M to $425M, and EPS of $3.30 to $4.70. Guidance assumes $95M to $180M of ramp and underutilization costs, $65M to $75M of production start-up expense, and $1.575B to $1.625B of Section 45X tax credits for the full year.

FSLR YoY Financials

Q2 2025 vs Q2 2024 · SEC filings Q2 2024 Q2 2025
$0$400.0M$800.0M$1.2B$1.0B$1.1BRevenue$498.9M$499.9MGross Profit$372.5M$361.6MOperating Income$349.3M$341.9MNet Income
$0$400.0M$800.0M$1.2BRevenueGross ProfitOperating IncomeNet Income

Figures from SEC filings and company reports. Not investment advice.