NASDAQ$FSLR

First Solar, Inc. · Q4 2021 earnings

Q4 2021 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

Announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2021.

First Solar reported Q4 net sales of $0.9 billion and net income per diluted share of $1.23. The company's full year earnings per diluted share came in above the mid-point of the guidance range. Year-end cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and marketable securities decreased to $1.8 billion.

  • Net sales of $2.9 billion for 2021 and $0.9 billion for the fourth quarter
  • Net income per diluted share of $4.38 for 2021 and $1.23 for the fourth quarter
  • Year-end 2021 cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and marketable securities of $1.8 billion
  • 17.5 GWDC of 2021 net bookings; 11.8 GWDC since third quarter earnings call

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$907M

Previous: $609M+48.9%
EPS (adj)

$1.23

Previous: $1.08+13.9%
Capital Expenditures

$195M

Previous: $89.4M+118.1%
Free Cash Flow

-$160M

Previous: $97M-265.4%
Net Income

$131M

Previous: $116M+13.5%
Operating Income

$173M

Previous: $57.8M+199.7%
Gross Profit

$246M

Previous: $160M+54.2%
Cash & Equivalents

$1.45B

Previous: $1.23B+18.2%
Total Assets

$7.41B

Previous: $7.11B+4.3%
Stock-Based Comp

$5.93M

Previous: $11.1M-46.5%

Revenue & EPS history

First Solar · Revenue · Quarterly

$907M

Q4 2021+48.9%vs Q4 2020
Beat estimate in 7 of 16 quarters(44%)
ActualEstimate

Forward guidance

Forecasted net sales for 2022 are $2.4 billion to $2.6 billion. Operating income is forecasted to be $55 million to $150 million. Forecasted net income per diluted share is $0.00 to $0.60. The year-end 2022 ending net cash balance is projected to be in the range of $1.1 billion to $1.35 billion.

Tailwinds

  • Net Sales $2.4B to $2.6B
  • Gross Margin $155M to $215M
  • Operating Income $55M to $150M
  • Earnings per Diluted Share $0.00 to $0.60
  • Net Cash Balance $1.1B to $1.35B

Headwinds

  • Includes $10 million to $15 million of underutilization losses
  • Includes $85 million to $90 million of production start-up expense
  • Includes $95 million to $105 million of production start-up expense and underutilization losses
  • Includes $270 million to $290 million pre-tax gain related to the potential sale of the Japan project development and O&M platform
  • Capital Expenditures $850M to $1.1B

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 Q4 2021

Historical avgQ4 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%

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