First Solar Reports $349M Q4 Profit Amidst Strong U.S. Demand

29 Feb 2024 CW Team

U.S.-based solar module giant First Solar announced a remarkable turnaround in its fourth-quarter performance, reporting a net income of $349 million. This marks a significant shift from the previous year's loss of $7.5 million. The surge in profit was attributed to robust demand for its modules, particularly in the United States.

CEO Mark Widmar highlighted the company's resilience amidst industry challenges during a post-earnings conference call with analysts. Despite global oversupply and pricing volatility, First Solar remains bullish on long-term U.S. demand.

In Q4 2023, net sales soared 33% to $1.2 billion, driven by higher module volumes and average selling prices. Cost of sales dropped by approximately 30%, further bolstering bottom-line figures. However, the gross margin slightly decreased to 43% due to factors including tax credit sales and a higher mix of non-U.S. factory sales.

The company also reported a $23 million impairment charge from its investment in CubicPV, a solar-wafer technology firm. CubicPV's decision to abandon plans for a U.S. manufacturing facility due to rising construction costs and declining wafer prices triggered the impairment.

For the full year 2023, First Solar posted a net income of $831 million, a significant improvement from the $464 million loss in 2022. Net sales surged 27% to $3.3 billion, driven by increased module volumes and ASPs.

First Solar's expansion plans include ramping up manufacturing capacity to 25 GW by 2026, with a focus on U.S. operations. The company recently inaugurated a solar manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu, India, with a capacity of 3.3 GW, adding to its existing factories in the U.S., Malaysia, and Vietnam.

In addition, First Solar entered into tax credit transfer agreements, generating significant revenue from the sale of solar modules and advanced manufacturing production tax credits. These strategic moves position First Solar for continued growth and innovation in the renewable energy sector.