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First Solar Scales U.S. Manufacturing to Meet Rising Demand
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Key Takeaways
FSLR aims to reach 14 GW U.S. capacity by 2026 to meet growing solar module demand.
New facilities include one operational plant and another set to open in late 2025.
FSLR plans to invest $0.6B more in U.S. expansions and upgrades through 2026.
First Solar Inc. (FSLR - Free Report) , the largest solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere, has been investing heavily in ramping up the U.S. production capacity of its modules to meet the nation’s growing solar demand. The company expects to exit 2026 with installed nameplate capacity of approximately 14 gigawatts (GW) in the United States.
To achieve this target, FSLR begun commercial operations at its fourth manufacturing facility in the United States in the second quarter of 2025. It is also making significant progress on the construction of its fifth U.S. facility, expected to begin operations in the second half of 2025. First Solar projects its remaining investment in these U.S. facilities and upgrades to be approximately $0.6 billion throughout 2025 and 2026.
Such manufacturing capacity expansion plans should allow First Solar to maintain its position as the largest U.S. solar module manufacturer.
Other Solar Firms Also Scaling Up
With more and more companies turning to renewable sources to meet sustainability goals, declining cost of solar installation, government support in the form of incentives, growing electricity demand backed by data center growth and solar having emerged as a leading force in the U.S. clean energy transition, other solar stocks like Canadian Solar Inc. (CSIQ - Free Report) and SolarEdge Technologies (SEDG - Free Report) are also expanding their manufacturing capacity to keep up with rising demand.
Canadian Solar is on track to ramp up production at its module factory in Mesquite, TX. This facility is expected to contribute approximately three GW of volume delivery this year, thereby increasing the share of domestically produced products in the company’s total U.S. shipments.
SolarEdge Technologies is also expanding its U.S. manufacturing capacity to meet growing demand and take advantage of federal incentives. The company is currently increasing its manufacturing of three-phase inverters in Florida and batteries in Utah, to reap the benefits of the nation’s Inflation Reduction Act.
FSLR’s Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
Shares of FSLR have lost 45.1% in the past year compared with the industry’s 49% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The company’s shares are trading at a discount on a relative basis, with its forward 12-month Price/Earnings being 7.99X compared with its industry’s average of 14.40X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FSLR’s 2025 and 2026 earnings has gone south over the past 60 days.
Image: Bigstock
First Solar Scales U.S. Manufacturing to Meet Rising Demand
Key Takeaways
First Solar Inc. (FSLR - Free Report) , the largest solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere, has been investing heavily in ramping up the U.S. production capacity of its modules to meet the nation’s growing solar demand. The company expects to exit 2026 with installed nameplate capacity of approximately 14 gigawatts (GW) in the United States.
To achieve this target, FSLR begun commercial operations at its fourth manufacturing facility in the United States in the second quarter of 2025. It is also making significant progress on the construction of its fifth U.S. facility, expected to begin operations in the second half of 2025. First Solar projects its remaining investment in these U.S. facilities and upgrades to be approximately $0.6 billion throughout 2025 and 2026.
Such manufacturing capacity expansion plans should allow First Solar to maintain its position as the largest U.S. solar module manufacturer.
Other Solar Firms Also Scaling Up
With more and more companies turning to renewable sources to meet sustainability goals, declining cost of solar installation, government support in the form of incentives, growing electricity demand backed by data center growth and solar having emerged as a leading force in the U.S. clean energy transition, other solar stocks like Canadian Solar Inc. (CSIQ - Free Report) and SolarEdge Technologies (SEDG - Free Report) are also expanding their manufacturing capacity to keep up with rising demand.
Canadian Solar is on track to ramp up production at its module factory in Mesquite, TX. This facility is expected to contribute approximately three GW of volume delivery this year, thereby increasing the share of domestically produced products in the company’s total U.S. shipments.
SolarEdge Technologies is also expanding its U.S. manufacturing capacity to meet growing demand and take advantage of federal incentives. The company is currently increasing its manufacturing of three-phase inverters in Florida and batteries in Utah, to reap the benefits of the nation’s Inflation Reduction Act.
FSLR’s Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
Shares of FSLR have lost 45.1% in the past year compared with the industry’s 49% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The company’s shares are trading at a discount on a relative basis, with its forward 12-month Price/Earnings being 7.99X compared with its industry’s average of 14.40X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FSLR’s 2025 and 2026 earnings has gone south over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
FSLR stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.