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GuruFocus Financial Strength Rank measures how strong a company’s financial situation is. It is based on these factors

1. The debt burden that the company has as measured by its Interest coverage (current year).
2. Debt to revenue ratio. The lower, the better
3. Altman Z-score.

A company ranks high with financial strength is likely to withstand any business slowdowns and recessions.

Financial Strength : 6/10

vs
industry
vs
history
Cash to Debt 1.784
FSLR's Cash to Debt is ranked lower than
60% of the 622 Companies
in the Global Solar industry.

( Industry Median: 10000.00 vs. FSLR: 1.784 )
FSLR' s 10-Year Cash to Debt Range
Min: 0.04   Max: No Debt
Current: 1.78

Equity to Asset 0.558
FSLR's Equity to Asset is ranked lower than
55% of the 622 Companies
in the Global Solar industry.

( Industry Median: 0.59 vs. FSLR: 0.558 )
FSLR' s 10-Year Equity to Asset Range
Min: -3.04   Max: 0.78
Current: 0.56

-3.04
0.78
F-Score: 6
Z-Score: 2.46
M-Score: -3.18
GuruFocus Profitability Rank ranks how profitable a company is and how likely the company’s business will stay that way. It is based on these factors:

1. Operating Margin
2. Trend of the Operating Margin (5-year average). The company with an uptrend profit margin has a higher rank.
••3. Consistency of the profitability
4. Piotroski F-Score
5. Predictability Rank•

The maximum rank is 10. A rank of 7 or higher means a higher profitability and may stay that way. A rank of 3 or lower indicates that the company has had trouble to make a profit.

Profitability Rank is not directly related to the Financial Strength Rank. But if a company is consistently profitable, its financial strength will be stronger.

Profitability & Growth : 4/10

vs
industry
vs
history
Operating margin (%) -1.10
FSLR's Operating margin (%) is ranked higher than
86% of the 622 Companies
in the Global Solar industry.

( Industry Median: 2.60 vs. FSLR: -1.10 )
FSLR' s 10-Year Operating margin (%) Range
Min: -4517.1   Max: 35.2
Current: -1.1

-4517.1
35.2
Net-margin (%) -2.9
FSLR's Net-margin (%) is ranked higher than
86% of the 622 Companies
in the Global Solar industry.

( Industry Median: 1.40 vs. FSLR: -2.9 )
FSLR' s 10-Year Net-margin (%) Range
Min: -5351.8   Max: 31.4
Current: -2.9

-5351.8
31.4
ROE (%) -2.7
FSLR's ROE (%) is ranked higher than
81% of the 622 Companies
in the Global Solar industry.

( Industry Median: 2.00 vs. FSLR: -2.7 )
FSLR' s 10-Year ROE (%) Range
Min: -74.1   Max: 24.1
Current: -2.7

-74.1
24.1
ROA (%) -1.5
FSLR's ROA (%) is ranked higher than
81% of the 622 Companies
in the Global Solar industry.

( Industry Median: 1.20 vs. FSLR: -1.5 )
FSLR' s 10-Year ROA (%) Range
Min: -182.4   Max: 19.1
Current: -1.5

-182.4
19.1
ROC (Joel Greenblatt) (%) -1.60
FSLR's ROC (Joel Greenblatt) (%) is ranked higher than
81% of the 622 Companies
in the Global Solar industry.

( Industry Median: 4.80 vs. FSLR: -1.60 )
FSLR' s 10-Year ROC (Joel Greenblatt) (%) Range
Min: -284.1   Max: 57.2
Current: -1.6

-284.1
57.2
Revenue Growth (%) 12.4
FSLR's Revenue Growth (%) is ranked higher than
97% of the 622 Companies
in the Global Solar industry.

( Industry Median: 4.80 vs. FSLR: 12.4 )
FSLR' s 10-Year Revenue Growth (%) Range
Min: 0   Max: 125.3
Current: 12.4

0
125.3
EBITDA Growth (%) -27.8
FSLR's EBITDA Growth (%) is ranked higher than
82% of the 622 Companies
in the Global Solar industry.

( Industry Median: 5.00 vs. FSLR: -27.8 )
FSLR' s 10-Year EBITDA Growth (%) Range
Min: 0   Max: 156.5
Current: -27.8

0
156.5
» FSLR's 10-Y Financials

Financials


Revenue & Net Income
Cash & Debt
Oprt. Cash Flow & Free Cash Flow

» Details

Guru Trades

Q2 2012

FSLR Guru Trades in Q2 2012

Jim Simons 376,900 sh (New)
Jeremy Grantham 39,200 sh (+371.55%)
Paul Tudor Jones 38,100 sh (+125.44%)
Brian Rogers 1,500,000 sh (unchged)
John Hussman 430,000 sh (unchged)
Steven Cohen Sold Out
Ruane Cunniff 815,107 sh (-15.57%)
» More
Q3 2012

FSLR Guru Trades in Q3 2012

Jim Simons 942,100 sh (+149.96%)
Brian Rogers 1,500,000 sh (unchged)
John Hussman Sold Out
Ruane Cunniff 754,712 sh (-7.41%)
Paul Tudor Jones 24,800 sh (-34.91%)
Jeremy Grantham 16,320 sh (-58.37%)
» More
Q4 2012

FSLR Guru Trades in Q4 2012

Chase Coleman 1,000,000 sh (New)
Steven Cohen 11,827 sh (New)
Jeremy Grantham 14,887 sh (unchged)
Brian Rogers 1,200,000 sh (-20%)
Ruane Cunniff 536,865 sh (-28.86%)
Paul Tudor Jones 9,000 sh (-63.71%)
Jim Simons 160,100 sh (-83.01%)
» More
Q1 2013

FSLR Guru Trades in Q1 2013

Joel Greenblatt 28,015 sh (New)
Jeremy Grantham 22,314 sh (+49.89%)
Steven Cohen 14,155 sh (+19.68%)
Paul Tudor Jones 10,400 sh (+15.56%)
Chase Coleman Sold Out
Jim Simons Sold Out
Brian Rogers Sold Out
Ruane Cunniff 531,170 sh (-1.06%)
» More
» Details

Insider Trades

Latest Guru Trades with FSLR

GuruDate Trades Impact to Portfolio Price Range * (?) Current Price Change from Average Current Shares
Brian Rogers 2013-03-31 Sold Out 0.16%$24.7 - $36.13 $ 49.9867%0
Joel Greenblatt 2013-03-31 New Buy0.04%$24.7 - $36.13 $ 49.9867%28015
Ruane Cunniff 2012-12-31 Reduce -28.86%0.04%$20.07 - $33.03 $ 49.9892%536865
John Hussman 2012-09-30 Sold Out 0.12%$14 - $24.77 $ 49.98167%0
Lee Ainslie 2012-03-31 Sold Out 1.4%$24.53 - $49.03 $ 49.9849%0
Brian Rogers 2012-03-31 Add 200%0.11%$24.53 - $49.03 $ 49.9849%1500000
John Hussman 2012-03-31 Reduce -24.16%0.07%$24.53 - $49.03 $ 49.9849%430000
John Burbank 2012-03-31 Sold Out 0.0033%$24.53 - $49.03 $ 49.9849%0
Brian Rogers 2011-12-31 New Buy0.08%$30.5 - $64.73 $ 49.987%500000
Lee Ainslie 2011-09-30 Add 45.5%0.99%$64.75 - $132.87 $ 49.98-51%3579976
Lee Ainslie 2011-06-30 New Buy3.14%$114.06 - $160.4 $ 49.98-61%2460547
Ruane Cunniff 2011-06-30 Add 8033.52%1.16%$114.06 - $160.4 $ 49.98-61%977242
John Hussman 2011-06-30 Add 13.4%0.14%$114.06 - $160.4 $ 49.98-61%567000
Jean-Marie Eveillard 2011-06-30 Sold Out $114.06 - $160.4 $ 49.98-61%0
George Soros 2011-06-30 Sold Out $114.06 - $160.4 $ 49.98-61%0
John Hussman 2011-03-31 New Buy1.34%$130.14 - $170.8 $ 49.98-67%500000
Ruane Cunniff 2011-03-31 Reduce -33.19%0.01%$130.14 - $170.8 $ 49.98-67%12015
George Soros 2011-03-31 New Buy$130.14 - $170.8 $ 49.98-67%1400
George Soros 2010-12-31 Sold Out 0.14%$122.35 - $151.15 $ 49.98-63%0
George Soros 2010-09-30 Add 992.98%0.13%$120.52 - $149.27 $ 49.98-62%62300
NWQ Managers 2010-06-30 Sold Out 0.02%$103.07 - $150.87 $ 49.98-59%0
George Soros 2010-06-30 Add 58.33%0.01%$103.07 - $150.87 $ 49.98-59%5700
Ruane Cunniff 2010-06-30 Add 36.55%0.01%$103.07 - $150.87 $ 49.98-59%19035
Jean-Marie Eveillard 2010-06-30 New Buy$103.07 - $150.87 $ 49.98-59%410
Mario Gabelli 2010-06-30 Sold Out $103.07 - $150.87 $ 49.98-59%0
Richard Perry 2010-03-31 Sold Out 0.61%$102.97 - $140.48 $ 49.98-58%0
Ruane Cunniff 2010-03-31 New Buy0.02%$102.97 - $140.48 $ 49.98-58%13940
NWQ Managers 2010-03-31 Reduce -29.74%0.01%$102.97 - $140.48 $ 49.98-58%25988
George Soros 2010-03-31 Reduce -49.3%$102.97 - $140.48 $ 49.98-58%3600
Premium More recent guru trades are included for Premium Members only!!

Ratios

vs
industry
vs
history
P/E(ttm) 10.60
FSLR's P/E(ttm) is ranked higher than
95% of the 622 Companies
in the Global Solar industry.

( Industry Median: 18.76 vs. FSLR: 10.60 )
FSLR' s 10-Year P/E(ttm) Range
Min: 5.39   Max: 716.38
Current: 10.6

5.39
716.38
P/B 1.21
FSLR's P/B is ranked higher than
76% of the 622 Companies
in the Global Solar industry.

( Industry Median: 1.28 vs. FSLR: 1.21 )
FSLR' s 10-Year P/B Range
Min: 0.31   Max: 22.05
Current: 1.21

0.31
22.05
P/S 1.21
FSLR's P/S is ranked higher than
58% of the 622 Companies
in the Global Solar industry.

( Industry Median: 1.10 vs. FSLR: 1.21 )
FSLR' s 10-Year P/S Range
Min: 0.33   Max: 51.11
Current: 1.21

0.33
51.11
PFCF 8.43
FSLR's PFCF is ranked lower than
51% of the 622 Companies
in the Global Solar industry.

( Industry Median: 15.69 vs. FSLR: 8.43 )
FSLR' s 10-Year PFCF Range
Min: 4.27   Max: 5418
Current: 8.43

4.27
5418
EV-to-EBIT 7.91
FSLR's EV-to-EBIT is ranked higher than
89% of the 622 Companies
in the Global Solar industry.

( Industry Median: 14.70 vs. FSLR: 7.91 )
FSLR' s 10-Year EV-to-EBIT Range
Min: 3.8   Max: 719
Current: 7.91

3.8
719
Shiller P/E 13.56
FSLR's Shiller P/E is ranked higher than
93% of the 622 Companies
in the Global Solar industry.

( Industry Median: 14.80 vs. FSLR: 13.56 )
FSLR' s 10-Year Shiller P/E Range
Min: 3.82   Max: 55.16
Current: 13.56

3.82
55.16

Valuation & Return

vs
industry
vs
history
Price/Net Current Asset Value 4.7
FSLR's Price/Net Current Asset Value is ranked higher than
72% of the 622 Companies
in the Global Solar industry.

( Industry Median: 6.80 vs. FSLR: 4.7 )
FSLR' s 10-Year Price/Net Current Asset Value Range
Min: 2.9   Max: 318
Current: 4.7

2.9
318
Price/Tangible Book 1.3
FSLR's Price/Tangible Book is ranked lower than
58% of the 622 Companies
in the Global Solar industry.

( Industry Median: 1.40 vs. FSLR: 1.3 )
FSLR' s 10-Year Price/Tangible Book Range
Min: 0.8   Max: 19.6
Current: 1.3

0.8
19.6
Price/DCF (Projected) 1.5
FSLR's Price/DCF (Projected) is ranked higher than
87% of the 622 Companies
in the Global Solar industry.

( Industry Median: 1.10 vs. FSLR: 1.5 )
FSLR' s 10-Year Price/DCF (Projected) Range
Min: 0.9   Max: 4.7
Current: 1.5

0.9
4.7
Price/Median PS Value 0.3
FSLR's Price/Median PS Value is ranked higher than
68% of the 622 Companies
in the Global Solar industry.

( Industry Median: 0.80 vs. FSLR: 0.3 )
FSLR' s 10-Year Price/Median PS Value Range
Min: 0.2   Max: 7.9
Current: 0.3

0.2
7.9
Earnings Yield (Greenblatt) 12.60
FSLR's Earnings Yield (Greenblatt) is ranked higher than
93% of the 622 Companies
in the Global Solar industry.

( Industry Median: 5.60 vs. FSLR: 12.60 )
FSLR' s 10-Year Earnings Yield (Greenblatt) Range
Min: 0.1   Max: 26.4
Current: 12.6

0.1
26.4
Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) -0.38
FSLR's Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) is ranked higher than
99% of the 622 Companies
in the Global Solar industry.

( Industry Median: 2.30 vs. FSLR: -0.38 )
FSLR' s 10-Year Forward Rate of Return (Yacktman) Range
Min: -0.9   Max: 308
Current: -0.38

-0.9
308

Business Description

First Solar, Inc. was incorporated as a Delaware corporation on February 22, 2006. It manufactures and sells solar modules with an advanced thin film semiconductor technology, and it designs, constructs and sells photovoltaic (PV) solar power systems. The Company is the PV solar module manufacturer and produced more than 1.1 gigawatts (GW) of solar modules in 2009, becoming the first PV Company to attain this production volume in a single year. It manufactures its solar modules on high-throughput production lines and performs all manufacturing steps ourselves in an automated, proprietary, continuous process. Its solar modules employ a thin layer of semiconductor material to convert sunlight into electricity. The Company designs, manufactures and sells solar electric power modules, which it produces at its plants in Perrysburg, Ohio, Frankfurt/Oder, Germany and Kulim, Malaysia. It also develop sites or other solar power project sites for building solar power systems using its solar modules and provide engineering, procurement and construction services. The Company operates its business in two segments: Components segment and Systems segment. Its components segment designs, manufactures and sells solar modules to solar project developers and system integrators. Its solar module is a single-junction polycrystalline thin film structure that uses cadmium telluride as the absorption layer and cadmium sulfide as the window layer. It has integrated its manufacturing processes into a continuous, integrated production line with the following three stages: the 'deposition' stage, the 'cell definition' stage, and the 'assembly and test' stage. Its manufacturing facilities in Perrysburg, Ohio, Frankfurt/Oder, Germany and Kulim, Malaysia have each received both an ISO 9001:2000 quality system certification and ISO 14001:2004 environmental system certification. Through its systems segment, it has the capability to provide a complete PV solar power system for utility-scale or large commercial systems, which includes project development, EPC, O&M services and, when required, project finance. The Company views the sale of solar modules from the components segment as the core driver of its profitability, return on net assets and cash throughput, and it views its systems segment as an enabler to drive module throughput. Its systems business is dependent upon successful completion of project development activities including: site selection and acquisition, obtaining in a timely manner the requisite interconnection and transmission studies, environmental and land use permits, maintaining effective site control, and entering into a power purchase agreement with an off-taker of the power to be generated by the project. The renewable energy, solar energy and solar module sectors are highly competitive and continually evolving as participants strive to distinguish themselves within their markets and compete within the larger electric power industry. The C
Company Website
SEC Reports
Industry: Solar
Compare:SPWR, SOL, CSSXF, TSL, LDK
Traded in other countries:F3A.Germany

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