First Solar (FSLR) Tops Q4 EPS by 6c, Offers Guidance
First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) reported Q4 EPS of ($0.25), $0.06 better than the analyst estimate of ($0.31). Revenue for the quarter came in at $339.2 million versus the consensus estimate of $459.92 million.
The Company raised its 2018 revenue, EPS, and net cash guidance for the year as a result of revised systems project sale timing, increased Series 4 production, the expected sale of 8point3 and other developments.
| 2018 GAAP Guidance | Prior | Current | ||||
| Net Sales | $2.3B to $2.5B | $2.45B to $2.65B | ||||
| Gross Margin %1 | 22% to 23% | 21.5% to 22.5% | ||||
| Operating Expenses2 | $400M to $410M | Unchanged | ||||
| Operating Income | $110M to $170M | $130M to $180M | ||||
| Earnings per Share | $1.25 to $1.75 | $1.50 to $1.90 | ||||
| Net Cash Balance3 | $1.6B to $1.8B | $2.1B to $2.3B | ||||
| Operating Cash Flow | $100M to $200M | Unchanged | ||||
| Capital Expenditures | $650M to $750M | $700M to $800M | ||||
| Shipments | 2.7GW to 2.8GW | 2.9GW to 3.0GW |
(Street sees FY EPS of 1.51 on revenue of $2.44 billion)
For earnings history and earnings-related data on First Solar (FSLR) click here.