First Solar (FSLR) Exceeds Market Returns: Some Facts to Consider

First Solar (FSLR) closed the most recent trading day at $185.32, moving +2.55% from the previous trading session. The stock outpaced the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.4%. At the same time, the Dow added 0.47%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.24%. The largest U.S. solar company's stock has climbed by 16.12% in the past month, exceeding the Oils-Energy sector's gain of 1.98% and the S&P 500's gain of 4.61%.The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of First Solar in its upcoming release. The company is slated to reveal its earnings on July 31, 2025. The company is expected to report EPS of $2.68, down 17.54% from the prior-year quarter. Meanwhile, the latest consensus estimate predicts the revenue to be $1.03 billion, indicating a 1.89% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year. For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $14.81 per share and revenue of $4.98 billion, which would represent changes of +23.21% and +18.47%, respectively, from the prior year. Investors should also pay attention to any latest changes in analyst estimates for First Solar. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability. Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system. The Zacks Rank system, stretching from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has a noteworthy track record of outperforming, validated by third-party audits, with stocks rated #1 producing an average annual return of +25% since the year 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 2.15% higher. At present, First Solar boasts a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). From a valuation perspective, First Solar is currently exchanging hands at a Forward P/E ratio of 12.2. This expresses a discount compared to the average Forward P/E of 15.86 of its industry. Meanwhile, FSLR's PEG ratio is currently 0.35. The PEG ratio bears resemblance to the frequently used P/E ratio, but this parameter also includes the company's expected earnings growth trajectory. The Solar was holding an average PEG ratio of 0.57 at yesterday's closing price. The Solar industry is part of the Oils-Energy sector. This industry, currently bearing a Zacks Industry Rank of 157, finds itself in the bottom 37% echelons of all 250+ industries. The strength of our individual industry groups is measured by the Zacks Industry Rank, which is calculated based on the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within these groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. Keep in mind to rely on Zacks.com to watch all these stock-impacting metrics, and more, in the succeeding trading sessions. #1 Semiconductor Stock to Buy (Not NVDA)The incredible demand for data is fueling the market's next digital gold rush. As data centers continue to be built and constantly upgraded, the companies that provide the hardware for these behemoths will become the NVIDIAs of tomorrow.One under-the-radar chipmaker is uniquely positioned to take advantage of the next growth stage of this market. It specializes in semiconductor products that titans like NVIDIA don't build. It's just beginning to enter the spotlight, which is exactly where you want to be.See This Stock Now for Free >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report First Solar, Inc. (FSLR): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks