Shares of First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) skyrocketed on Tuesday after the solar maker provided better-than-expected earnings and revenue outlook for fiscal 2013, thanks to its growing power-plant business in emerging markets and expectations over a new kind of panel, which the Company will soon unveil.
The upbeat forecast comes at a time when overall solar industry reels under pressure. Just last month, China based Suntech Power Holdings Co filed for bankruptcy protection, having defaulted on $541 bond payment. Besides, solar energy forms have also felt the heat on their financials due to glut of solar panel makers, over capacity and falling prices.
Nonetheless, booming demand for solar power plant has benefited First Solar, lately. First Solar developed thin-filmed solar panels and constructs massive solar power plants and sells it large energy companies.
For the fiscal 2013, First Solar expects earnings to come in the range of $4 and $4.50 a share on revenue range of $3.8 billion to $4 billion. Analysts’ consensus estimate is for earnings of $3.51 a share on revenue of $3.12 billion.
Addressing analysts through webcast presentation, First Solar CEO James Hughes said, “We believe in the company, we believe in the industry [and] we believe that the energy world is just beginning to understand the capabilities of photovoltaic products,” First Solar Chief Executive James Hughes said during a webcast presentation.”
The Company expects total shipments of solar panels in 2013 will be between 1.6 gigawatts and 1.8 gigawatts while system sales, in which panels are sold to power plants developed by First Solar, are expected to generate about $3.6 billion of the total revenue.
Gross margin in 2013 is anticipated between 20% and 22% compared to 27% in 2012, according to Company’s CFO, Mark Wildmar. Operating expenses for the year are expected between $380 million and $400 million, said Wildmar.
For the year 2014, First Solar anticipates earnings to be in the range of $2.50 to $4 a share on revenue of $3.5 billion to $4 billion. Analysts’ consensus estimate was for earnings of $3.27 a share on revenue of $3.35 billion.
For the year 2015, the Company anticipates earnings to come in the range of $4 to $6 a share on revenue range of $4.2 billion to $4.8 billion, taking in account that it will start making solar panels using silicon technology once it acquires TetraSun Inc. The Company said it was in the process of acquiring the San Jose Calif. based company o Tuesday.
Recent Comments