Report
Valens Research

FSLR - Embedded Expectations Analysis - 2017 11 06

- First Solar, Inc. (FSLR:USA) currently trades near recent averages relative to UAFRS-based (Uniform) Assets, with a 1.0x UAFRS-based P/B, implying muted expectations for the firm. While management's negative sentiment suggests the potential for near-term headwinds, suppressed valuations and potential market tailwinds suggest longer-term upside remains warranted

- Specifically, management's concerns about growth, bookings, and module prices imply near-term equity upside may be limited. However, given long-term industry tailwinds, and the firm's leadership position in its space, it is likely they can outperform bearish market expectations in the long-term, and in that scenario, material equity upside would be warranted

Underlying
First Solar Inc.

First Solar is a provider of photovoltaic (PV) solar energy solutions. The company designs, manufactures and sells PV solar modules with a thin film semiconductor technology, and also develops and sells PV solar power systems that mainly use the modules it manufactures. The company also provides operations and maintenance (O&M) services to system owners. The company's modules segment involves the design, manufacture and sale of cadmium telluride solar modules, which convert sunlight into electricity. The company's second segment is its systems segment, through which it provides power plant solutions, which include project development, engineering, procurement, and construction services and O&M services.

Provider
Valens Research
Valens Research

In 2009, just as the dust was settling from the last major equity and credit market crises, we launched a boutique research firm with the intention of breaking Wall Street’s biases and broken incentives:

  • GAAP and IFRS have failed to provide rules for reliable financial statement reporting
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Many years later, our business model remains because little has changed on Wall Street.

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Valens Research

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