NASDAQ$FSLR

First Solar, Inc. · Q2 2021 earnings

Q2 2021 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

First Solar reported mixed results, with decreased net sales offset by increased cash reserves and strategic capacity expansions.

First Solar announced mixed Q2 2021 results with net sales of $629 million and net income per share of $0.77. The company is expanding manufacturing capacity in Ohio and India, aiming for 16 GWDC by 2024. They also validated a world record CdTe module efficiency and updated their 2021 guidance.

  • Net sales for the second quarter were $629 million.
  • Net income per diluted share for the second quarter was $0.77.
  • Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and marketable securities totaled $2.1 billion.
  • Year-to-date net bookings reached 9.0 GWDC, with 4.1 GWDC since the prior earnings call.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$629M

Previous: $642M-2.1%
EPS (adj)

$0.77

Previous: $0.39+97.4%
Capital Expenditures

-$181M

Previous: -$221M+18.2%
Free Cash Flow

-$98.3M

Previous: -$184M+46.6%
Net Income

$82.4M

Previous: $36.9M+123.4%
Operating Income

$110M

Previous: $50.9M+116.9%
Gross Profit

$174M

Previous: $137M+26.7%
Cash & Equivalents

$1.35B

Previous: $1.05B+27.9%
Total Assets

$7.25B

Previous: $7.07B+2.5%
Stock-Based Comp

$5.43M

Previous: $3.78M+43.8%

Revenue & EPS history

First Solar · Revenue · Quarterly

$629M

Q2 2021-2.1%vs Q2 2020
Beat estimate in 9 of 16 quarters(56%)
ActualEstimate

Forward guidance

First Solar updated its 2021 guidance, projecting net sales between $2.875B and $3.1B, and earnings per share between $4.00 and $4.60, while reducing the net cash balance forecast to $1.35B to $1.45B and increasing capital expenditure expectations to $825M to $875M.

Tailwinds

  • Net Sales: $2.875B to $3.1B
  • Gross Margin: $695M to $760M
  • Operating Expenses: Unchanged
  • Operating Income: $545M to $625M
  • Shipments: 7.6GW to 8.0GW

Headwinds

  • Earnings per Share: $4.00 to $4.60
  • Net Cash Balance: $1.35B to $1.45B
  • Capital Expenditures: $825M to $875M
  • Freight Costs: Earnings guidance lowered primarily due to freight costs
  • Underutilization and Reduced Throughput: $40 million impact

Historical earnings impact

How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.

Avg. return before/after earnings

Based on 20 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q2 2021

Historical avgQ2 2021

+0.1%

Avg return

Earnings day

+1.4%

Avg return

5 days after

+5.7%

Avg return

30 days after

46%

33 / 72 earnings

Positive

+29.2%

Q2 2022

Best reaction

-17.4%

Q4 2012

Worst reaction

Earnings price reactions
QuarterReport dateReaction (Day 0)+5 days+30 days
Q1 2026+5.9%+15.1%+60.7%
Q4 2025-3.5%-17.8%-21.8%
Q3 2025+10.0%+18.8%+16.8%
Q1 2025-8.3%-7.3%+15.2%
Q4 2024+6.4%-13.4%-13.7%
Q3 2024-3.7%-0.0%-6.1%
Q2 2024-2.0%-3.3%+1.2%
Q1 2024+2.4%+9.9%+54.1%
Q4 2023+3.2%+9.3%+16.8%
Q3 2023+4.8%+11.5%+15.7%
Q2 2023+5.6%+2.7%-10.1%
Q1 2023-8.5%-11.6%+1.1%
Q4 2022+17.8%+26.5%+28.4%
Q3 2022+1.0%+13.1%+30.5%
Q2 2022+29.2%+29.9%+58.6%
Q1 2022+1.2%+4.1%-0.2%
Q4 2021-7.7%-4.6%+11.2%
Q3 2021-0.4%-2.3%-15.9%
Q2 2021+3.1%+10.6%+13.1%
Q1 2021-13.7%-16.8%-14.2%
Q4 2020-8.0%-5.5%-2.7%
Q3 2020+11.4%+3.9%+10.4%
Q2 2020+11.0%+6.8%+9.6%
Q1 2020+2.4%-6.4%+19.2%
Q4 2019-11.8%-15.3%-41.3%
Q3 2019-4.7%-3.6%-1.6%
Q2 2019+3.3%-2.6%-3.8%
Q1 2019+1.5%+1.3%-4.6%
Q4 2018+3.9%+0.4%+1.4%
Q3 2018-7.2%-6.2%+2.1%
Q2 2018-4.4%-3.1%-3.6%
Q1 2018+5.9%-8.2%-7.2%
Q4 2017-7.4%-4.8%+5.9%
Q3 2017+21.7%+15.7%+27.9%
Q2 2017+7.5%+9.3%+4.4%
Q1 2017+14.8%+16.9%+29.7%
Q4 2016-3.6%+8.8%-18.0%
Q3 2016-15.9%-17.8%-26.6%
Q2 2016-8.5%-8.3%-20.1%
Q1 2016-6.9%
Q4 2015+8.1%
Q3 2015+12.2%
Q2 2015+18.8%
Q1 2015-7.4%
Q4 2014+17.9%
Q3 2014-10.6%
Q2 2014+3.9%
Q1 2014-7.1%
Q4 2013-8.7%
Q3 2013+15.1%
Q2 2013-15.4%
Q1 2013-5.6%
Q4 2012-17.4%
Q3 2012-7.2%
Q2 2012+15.4%
Q1 2012-7.0%
Q4 2011-16.4%
Q3 2011-0.9%
Q2 2011-7.5%
Q1 2011+3.2%
Q4 2010-5.4%
Q3 2010-0.0%
Q2 2010+1.0%
Q1 2009+12.4%
Q1 2010+2.5%
Q4 2009-8.8%
Q4 2007-8.8%
Q3 2008-3.8%
Q3 2009-3.8%
Q2 2008-4.2%
Q2 2009-4.2%
Q4 2008-4.2%

Discussion

Share your read of this quarter. Sign-in carries your eToro identity.

Join the conversation

Sign in with eToro to post your read of this quarter and vote on others'.

Sign in with eToro