GLJ Research downgraded First Solar from Buy to Hold due to weak 2026 guidance
First Solar's 2026 revenue guidance was $4.9B-$5.2B, 17% below Street expectations
The company's forward narrative depends on Section 232 polysilicon decision and technology performance
Multiple other firms have also downgraded First Solar or reduced price targets recently
First Solar faces challenges meeting market expectations and navigating policy pressures
📖 Full Retelling
Financial research firm GLJ Research downgraded First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) stock from Buy to Hold on March 4, 2026, citing the company's weak 2026 guidance that missed expectations across all metrics, including revenue, volumes, and EBITDA. The downgrade follows a series of negative analyst reactions to First Solar's recent earnings report, which showed the company reporting fourth-quarter earnings that missed expectations by 6%. GLJ analyst Gordon Johnson emphasized that the guidance fell short even of the low end of buyside expectations, significantly impacting the stock's forward narrative which now depends heavily on the Section 232 polysilicon decision due at the end of March, as well as whether the company's CuRe technology can deliver the expected backlog uplift for 2027-2028. First Solar's 2026 revenue guidance of $4.9 billion to $5.2 billion came in 17% below Street expectations, prompting widespread analyst downgrades across the industry. Other financial institutions including Deutsche Bank, HSBC, Jefferies, Barclays, and RBC Capital have all adjusted their ratings or price targets downward, reflecting growing concerns about the company's ability to meet market expectations amid policy pressures and changing market dynamics in the renewable energy sector.
🏷️ Themes
Solar Industry, Market Analysis, Financial Performance, Policy Impact
Radiant light and heat from the Sun, harnessed with technology
Solar energy is the radiant energy from the Sun's light and heat, which can be harnessed using a range of technologies such as solar electricity, solar thermal energy (including solar water heating) and solar architecture. It is an essential source of renewable energy, and its technologies are broad...
First Solar, Inc. is a publicly traded American manufacturer of solar panels. First Solar uses rigid thin-film modules for its solar panels, and produces CdTe panels using cadmium telluride (CdTe) as a semiconductor.
try{ var _=i o; . if(!_||_&&typeof _==="object"&&_.expiry Iran conflict latest: NATO downs Iran missile heading for Turkey Gold prices bounce after hefty drop; Iran conflict complicates central bank plans South Korean stock trading temporarily halted as KOSPI slides over 11% Barclays sees European stocks falling 10% if oil hits $100 (South Africa Philippines Nigeria) GLJ Research downgrades First Solar stock rating on weak 2026 guidance By Analyst Ratings Published 03/04/2026, 07:48 AM GLJ Research downgrades First Solar stock rating on weak 2026 guidance 0 FSLR -1.17% Investing.com - GLJ Research downgraded First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) to Hold from Buy. Analyst Gordon Johnson cited the company’s 2026 guidance as a significant miss across all metrics. The guidance fell short of expectations for revenue, volumes, and EBITDA. The results missed even the low end of buyside expectations, according to the analyst. Johnson noted that the stock’s forward narrative now depends largely on the Section 232 polysilicon decision, which is due at the end of March. The analyst also pointed to whether CuRe and technology adjusters can deliver the $600 million of backlog uplift management outlined for 2027-2028. In other recent news, First Solar has faced several changes in analyst ratings and price targets following its latest earnings report and guidance. The company reported fourth-quarter earnings that missed expectations by 6%, with a 2026 revenue guidance between $4.9 billion and $5.2 billion, which is 17% below Street expectations. Deutsche Bank responded by downgrading First Solar from Buy to Hold and reducing its price target to $245, citing the weak outlook. Similarly, HSBC downgraded the stock to Hold, setting a price target of $211 due to lower-than-expected fiscal 2026 guidance. Jefferies also lowered its price target to $205 while maintaining a Hold rating, noting that First Solar’s guidance fell short of already reduced expectations. Barclays reduced its price target to ...