First Solar Scores on Earnings, But No Guidance Yet (FSLR)

THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED AFTER THE COMPANY OFFERED GUIDANCE & SUPPLY PACT DATA.  THE FULL STORY CAN BE SEEN HERE: 

First Solar Saves The Solar Power Sector (FSLR, SPWRA, STP, LDK, CSIQ, SOLR, ESLR)

First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) posted earnings of $1.20 per share on$348.69 million in revenue.  First Call had estimates for this quarterof $1.01 per share and $339.29 million in revenue.

If the company offers guidance in its conference call, its nextquarter’s estimates are $1.23 EPS and $409.27 million in revenue,and Fiscal DEC-2009 estimates are $6.71 EPS and $2.13 billion inrevenue. 

If the company’s targets are met for 2008 at $3.68 EPS and $1.21billion in revenue, First Solar will trade at 32.7-times earnings and8.1-times revenues.  So this is still trading at much higher multiplesthan many growth stocks, but it is no longer at levels which cannot besustained.

Shares closed up almost 1.5% at $115.75 and shares are floating up anddown between positive and negative right after the earnings.

Jon C. Ogg
October 29, 2008