First Solar (FSLR) Sold Off After the Tariffs. It’s the Solar Stock Built to Benefit From Them
First Solar (FSLR) shares faced selling pressure following the US announcement of Section 232 solar tariffs on August 6, 2026. The new regulations impose a $0.38-per-watt minimum import price on finished modules and a 15% tariff on certain polysilicon derivatives, effective December 4. Despite the...
Bullish Signals
- Largest domestic manufacturer with unique cadmium-telluride process avoiding polysilicon.
- Q2 EPS hit $3.92 vs $2.84 estimate with 57% gross margins.
- Holds $13.6B backlog of 45.1 GW through 2030 ensuring visibility.
- BMO upgraded to Outperform with $263 target citing structural advantage.
- Tariffs boost US module prices enhancing pricing power on new bookings.
Bearish Signals
- Shares trade 36% below high at ~12x earnings.
- Malaysia/Vietnam plants underutilized with $115–$135M costs.
- Margins expected to bottom through 2027.
- Litigation and policy shifts drove 36% valuation drop.
- Hedge fund holdings dropped slightly to 64 in Q2.