Despite a respectable fourth quarter for First Solar (FSLR +5.42%), with normalized earnings per share beating estimates by $0.31, the stock sunk 15%. So what was the bad news? In this video, Motley Fool energy analyst Joel South tells us that increased competition from companies that are creating more efficient solar panels, and also competing on cost, are threatening First Solar's dominance in the industry. Margins continue to be pinched, and with project backlogs declining, the future looks rocky.
Is First Solar Burnt Out?
By Joel South and Taylor Muckerman – Feb 27, 2013 at 3:14PM
NASDAQ: FSLR
First Solar
Market Cap
$26B
Today's Change
(5.42%) $12.41
Current Price
$241.41
Price as of October 24, 2025 at 4:00 PM ET
Has the sun set on First Solar?
About the Author
Joel is a University of Washington graduate and covers energy and materials for The Motley Fool. Be sure to follow The Motley Fool's energy and materials Twitter for all your energy and materials coverage.
Follow @tmfenergy