First Solar
(FSLR) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock’s performance in the near term.
Shares of this largest U.S. solar company have returned +2.4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite’s +3.5% change. The Zacks Solar industry, to which First Solar belongs, has gained 19.4% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?
While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company’s business prospects usually make its stock ‘trending’ and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.
Revisions to Earnings Estimates
Rather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company’s earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.
Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock’s fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.
First Solar is expected to post a loss of $0.15 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -112.2%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -12.1%.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of -$0.48 points to a change of -111% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed -1.3%.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $4.82 indicates a change of +1,104.5% from what First Solar is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -1.2%.
With an impressive
externally audited track record
, our proprietary stock rating tool — the Zacks Rank — is a more conclusive indicator of a stock’s near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other
factors related to earnings estimates
, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for First Solar.
The chart below shows the evolution of the company’s forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Revenue Growth Forecast
Even though a company’s earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It’s almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company’s potential revenue growth is crucial.
In the case of First Solar, the consensus sales estimate of $989.04 million for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +9%. The $2.62 billion and $3.45 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of -10.5% and +32%, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise History
First Solar reported revenues of $628.93 million in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +7.8%. EPS of -$0.46 for the same period compares with $0.42 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $770.26 million, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -18.35%. The EPS surprise was -100%.
Over the last four quarters, First Solar surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates just once over this period.
Valuation
Without considering a stock’s valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock’s future price performance, it’s crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company’s growth prospects.
Comparing the current value of a company’s valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.
The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an An is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
First Solar is graded D on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers.
Click here
to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
Bottom Line
The facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it’s worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about First Solar. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
Just Released: Zacks Unveils the Top 5 EV Stocks for 2022
For several months now, electric vehicles have been disrupting the $82 billion automotive industry. And that disruption is only getting bigger thanks to sky-high gas prices. Even titans in the financial industry including George Soros, Jeff Bezos, and Ray Dalio have invested in this unstoppable wave. You don’t want to be sitting on your hands while EV stocks break out and climb to new highs. In a new free report, Zacks is revealing the top 5 EV stocks for investors. Next year, don’t look back on today wishing you had taken advantage of this opportunity.
>>Send me my free report revealing the top 5 EV stocks
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
