Section 1: Company Overview and Fundamentals Insights

Company Overview: First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) is a solar technology company that offers photovoltaic cells (PV) solar energy solutions worldwide. It makes and sells PV solar modules using semiconductor technology, offering an alternative to regular crystalline silicon PV solar modules. The primary segment of the company is modules business. Kalkine’s Global Green Report covers the Investment Highlights, Management Insights, Key Financial Metrics, Risks, and Technical Analysis along with the Valuation, Target Price, and Recommendation on the stock.

1.2 The Key Positives, Negatives, Investment Highlights, and Risks

1.3 Top 10 Shareholders:

The top 10 shareholders together form ~44.70% of the total shareholding. The Vanguard Group, Inc., and BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., hold maximum stakes in the company at ~11.23% and ~6.68%, respectively.

1.4 Key Metrics: FSLR’s EBITDA Margin of 44.1% in 3QFY23 vs 34.6% in 2QFY23. Below are captured other metrics:

Section 2: Business Updates, Financial and Operational Highlights

2.1 Recent Business Updates:

2.2 3QFY23 Results Highlights (for the period ended 30 September 2023): Below mentioned are some key financial highlights:   

2.3 Historical Financial Trend

Section 3: Key Risks and Outlook:

Section 4: Stock Recommendation Summary

4.1 Price Performance and Technical Summary

The stock has decreased by ~28.04% in the last 6 months, whereas over the last 1 year, the stock has witnessed a dip of ~15.74%. The stock has a 52-week low and 52-week high of USD 129.215 and USD 232.000, respectively, and is currently trading below the average of 52-week high and low.

4.2 Fundamental Valuation

Valuation Methodology: EV/EBITDA Multiple Based Relative Valuation (Illustrative)

Markets are trading in a highly volatile zone currently due to certain macro-economic issues and geopolitical tensions prevailing. Therefore, it is prudent to follow a cautious approach while investing.

Note 1: Past performance is neither an indicator nor a guarantee of future performance.

Note 2: The reference date for all price data, currency, technical indicators, support, and resistance levels is 6 February 2024. The reference data in this report has been partly sourced from REFINITIV.

Note 3: Investment decisions should be made depending on an individual's appetite for upside potential, risks, holding duration, and any previous holdings. An 'Exit' from the stock can be considered if the Target Price mentioned as per the Valuation and or the technical levels provided has been achieved and is subject to the factors discussed above.

Note 4: Dividend Yield may vary as per the stock price movement.

Technical Indicators Defined: -

Support: A level at which the stock prices tend to find support if they are falling, and a downtrend may take a pause backed by demand or buying interest. Support 1 refers to the nearby support level for the stock and if the price breaches the level, then Support 2 may act as the crucial support level for the stock.

Resistance: A level at which the stock prices tend to find resistance when they are rising, and an uptrend may take a pause due to profit booking or selling interest. Resistance 1 refers to the nearby resistance level for the stock and if the price surpasses the level, then Resistance 2 may act as the crucial resistance level for the stock.

Stop-loss: It is a level to protect further losses in case of unfavourable movement in the stock prices.