First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) Insider Kuntal Kumar Verma Sells 7,475 Shares

First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR - Get Free Report) insider Kuntal Kumar Verma sold 7,475 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $136.60, for a total transaction of $1,021,085.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 3,549 shares of the company's stock, valued at $484,793.40. The trade was a 67.81 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink.

First Solar Stock Down 6.3 %

Shares of First Solar stock traded down $8.55 during trading on Monday, hitting $127.63. 4,694,070 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,661,246. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $172.38 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $197.69. First Solar, Inc. has a twelve month low of $126.54 and a twelve month high of $306.77. The stock has a market cap of $13.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.99, a PEG ratio of 0.19 and a beta of 1.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a quick ratio of 1.44 and a current ratio of 2.14.

First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 25th. The solar cell manufacturer reported $3.65 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.81 by ($1.16). The company had revenue of $1.51 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.48 billion. First Solar had a net margin of 32.41% and a return on equity of 17.56%. Equities research analysts predict that First Solar, Inc. will post 13.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. Citigroup cut their target price on shares of First Solar from $254.00 to $236.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 26th. Barclays dropped their price target on First Solar from $273.00 to $236.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday. UBS Group reduced their price objective on First Solar from $360.00 to $285.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 26th. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $230.00 target price (down from $260.00) on shares of First Solar in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on First Solar from $282.00 to $268.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-three have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $262.08.

Institutional Trading of First Solar

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC acquired a new position in First Solar during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. Kennebec Savings Bank bought a new position in shares of First Solar in the third quarter worth about $29,000. Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its position in shares of First Solar by 214.0% during the 3rd quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 157 shares of the solar cell manufacturer's stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares during the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in First Solar by 31.7% during the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 262 shares of the solar cell manufacturer's stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares during the period. Finally, Crews Bank & Trust acquired a new stake in First Solar in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $53,000. 92.08% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About First Solar

First Solar, Inc, a solar technology company, provides photovoltaic (PV) solar energy solutions in the United States, France, Japan, Chile, and internationally. The company manufactures and sells PV solar modules with a thin film semiconductor technology that provides a lower-carbon alternative to conventional crystalline silicon PV solar modules.

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