First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) Shares Up 0.7% - Should You Buy?

First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR - Get Free Report)'s stock price traded up 0.7% on Monday . The stock traded as high as $135.00 and last traded at $132.26. 906,833 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 65% from the average session volume of 2,568,889 shares. The stock had previously closed at $131.32.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently commented on FSLR shares. StockNews.com raised First Solar from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, January 2nd. Guggenheim cut their price target on shares of First Solar from $335.00 to $304.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on shares of First Solar from $307.00 to $267.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $265.00 price objective on shares of First Solar in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on First Solar from $282.00 to $268.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note 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 assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $262.08.

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First Solar Trading Up 0.8 %

The company has a market capitalization of $13.90 billion, a PE ratio of 11.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.19 and a beta of 1.52. The company has a quick ratio of 1.44, a current ratio of 2.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $155.16 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $187.25.

First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data 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). First Solar had a return on equity of 17.56% and a net margin of 32.41%. The business had revenue of $1.51 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.48 billion. Sell-side analysts anticipate that First Solar, Inc. will post 13.05 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at First Solar

In other First Solar news, CTO Markus Gloeckler sold 380 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $133.75, for a total value of $50,825.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief technology officer now directly owns 17,594 shares in the company, valued at $2,353,197.50. This trade represents a 2.11 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Mark R. Widmar sold 21,542 shares of the company'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 owns 103,403 shares in the company, valued at $14,589,129.27. This trade represents a 17.24 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 34,311 shares of company stock valued at $4,767,158. 0.58% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Larson Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in First Solar by 214.0% in the third 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 in the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of First Solar by 31.7% in the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 262 shares of the solar cell manufacturer's stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 63 shares during the period. Crews Bank & Trust bought a new position in shares of First Solar in the 4th quarter worth about $53,000. Hudson Edge Investment Partners Inc. purchased a new position in First Solar during the 4th quarter valued at about $53,000. Finally, Banque Transatlantique SA bought a new stake in First Solar during the fourth quarter worth about $53,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.08% 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.