First Solar: Noise Down, Stock Up

Vince Martin 7.89K Followers Follow Summary Despite reiterated guidance and positive policy moves, First Solar (FSLR) has underperformed, lagging the S&P 500 since February. Ex-45X valuation is reasonable, with EV/EBITDA in the range of 20x-25x, while both revenue and margins are set for sharp improvement. Regulatory and political uncertainty has diminished, allowing market focus to return to FSLR's core business fundamentals. I maintain a bullish stance, expecting FSLR to outperform as external volatility subsides and fundamentals take precedence. Chris Draper/iStock via Getty Images Broadly speaking, an equity investment can underperform in two ways. The business can disappoint relative to an investor's expectations — or the market can react in ways the investor didn't anticipate. Personally, First Solar ( This article was written by Vince Martin 7.89K Followers Follow I've been contributing to Seeking Alpha and other investment websites since 2011, with a general (though far from rigid) focus on value over growth. I got my Series 7 and 63 back in 1999, and watched the dot-com bubble peak and then burst in real time at a small, tech-focused retail brokerage in NYC. Now co-host of The Atlantic Current podcast, with twice-weekly cross-border conversations on politics, finance, and culture. Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of FSLR either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.