First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) Stock Position Lessened by Erste Asset Management GmbH

Erste Asset Management GmbH decreased its holdings in First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR - Free Report) by 1.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 261,496 shares of the solar cell manufacturer's stock after selling 3,026 shares during the quarter. Erste Asset Management GmbH owned 0.24% of First Solar worth $47,757,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Tredje AP fonden grew its stake in shares of First Solar by 13.2% in the fourth quarter. Tredje AP fonden now owns 17,910 shares of the solar cell manufacturer's stock worth $3,156,000 after purchasing an additional 2,091 shares in the last quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. boosted its stake in First Solar by 105.5% during the fourth quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 5,210 shares of the solar cell manufacturer's stock valued at $918,000 after buying an additional 2,675 shares in the last quarter. Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP boosted its stake in First Solar by 77.1% during the fourth quarter. Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP now owns 49,602 shares of the solar cell manufacturer's stock valued at $8,742,000 after buying an additional 21,601 shares in the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its stake in First Solar by 14.1% during the fourth quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 687 shares of the solar cell manufacturer's stock valued at $121,000 after buying an additional 85 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its stake in First Solar by 6.8% during the fourth quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,692 shares of the solar cell manufacturer's stock valued at $298,000 after buying an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.08% of the company's stock.

First Solar Stock Down 2.2 %

FSLR opened at $136.04 on Thursday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $164.63 and a 200-day moving average of $192.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a current ratio of 2.14 and a quick ratio of 1.44. First Solar, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $124.96 and a fifty-two week high of $306.77. The company has a market capitalization of $14.56 billion, a PE ratio of 11.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.19 and a beta of 1.52.

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Bank of America decreased their target price on First Solar from $246.00 to $236.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 28th. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $230.00 target price (down previously from $260.00) on shares of First Solar in a research note on Wednesday, February 26th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on First Solar from $280.00 to $251.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 26th. UBS Group reduced their target price on First Solar from $360.00 to $285.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 26th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on First Solar from $240.00 to $209.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-three have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, First Solar has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $262.08.

Insider Activity at First Solar

In related news, CEO Mark R. Widmar sold 21,542 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $141.09, for a total value of $3,039,360.78. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 103,403 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $14,589,129.27. This trade represents a 17.24 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Kuntal Kumar Verma sold 7,475 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $136.60, for a total value of $1,021,085.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 3,549 shares in the company, valued at $484,793.40. The trade was a 67.81 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 30,739 shares of company stock valued at $4,289,403. Corporate insiders own 0.58% of the company's stock.

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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