First Solar, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results and 2024 Guidance
- Net sales of $3.3 billion for 2023 and $1.2 billion for the fourth quarter
- Net income per diluted share of $7.74 for 2023 and $3.25 for the fourth quarter
- 2023 year-end net cash balance of $1.6 billion
- 2023 net bookings of 28.3 GW; 2.3 GW since third quarter earnings call at a base ASP of 31.8 c/w
- 2024 net sales guidance of $4.4 billion to $4.6 billion
- 2024 EPS guidance of $13.00 to $14.00 per diluted share
- 2024 year-end net cash balance guidance of $0.9 billion to $1.2 billion
TEMPE, Ariz.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#AmericanSolar–First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) (the “Company”) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2023.
Net sales for the fourth quarter were $1.2 billion, an increase of $0.4 billion from the prior quarter. The increase was primarily a result of increased module sales in the fourth quarter. Net sales for the full year 2023 were $3.3 billion compared to $2.6 billion in the prior year. This increase was driven by higher module volumes sold and average selling prices (“ASPs”).
The Company reported fourth quarter net income per diluted share of $3.25 and full year net income per diluted share of $7.74.
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, restricted cash equivalents, and marketable securities, less debt at the end of the fourth quarter increased to $1.6 billion from $1.3 billion at the end of the prior quarter. The increase was primarily a result of operating cash flows, offset by capital expenditures related to manufacturing capacity expansions in Alabama, Ohio, Louisiana, and India.
“Few years have been as consequential to our long-term growth strategy as 2023,” said Mark Widmar, CEO of First Solar. “Over the past year, we scaled manufacturing capacity, mobilized at our latest announced facility in Louisiana, produced and shipped a record volume of modules, expanded our contracted backlog to historic levels, increased R&D investment, and continued to evolve our technology and product roadmap.”
Forecasted net sales for 2024 are $4.4 billion to $4.6 billion. Operating income is forecasted to be $1.5 billion to $1.6 billion, which includes production start-up expense of $85 million to $95 million, underutilization costs associated with factory ramp of $40 million to $60 million, and Section 45X tax credits of $1.0 billion to $1.05 billion. Forecasted net income per diluted share is $13.00 to $14.00. The year-end 2024 net cash balance is projected to be in the range of $0.9 billion to $1.2 billion. The complete 2024 guidance is as follows:
|
|
2024 Guidance |
|
Net Sales |
$4.4B to $4.6B |
|
Gross Margin (1) |
$2.0B to $2.1B |
|
Operating Expenses (2) |
$455M to $485M |
|
Operating Income (3) |
$1.5B to $1.6B |
|
Earnings per Diluted Share |
$13.00 to $14.00 |
|
Net Cash Balance (4) |
$0.9B to $1.2B |
|
Capital Expenditures |
$1.7B to $1.9B |
|
Volume Sold |
15.6GW to 16.3GW |
|
—————————— |
||
| (1) |
Includes $40 million to $60 million of ramp costs and $1.0 billion to $1.05 billion of Section 45X tax credits |
|
| (2) |
Includes $85 million to $95 million of production start-up expense |
|
| (3) |
Includes $125 million to $155 million of production start-up expense and ramp costs, and $1.0 billion to $1.05 billion of Section 45X tax credits |
|
| (4) |
Defined as cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, restricted cash equivalents, and marketable securities, less expected debt at the end of 2024 |
|
The guidance figures presented above are forward-looking statements that are subject to a variety of assumptions and estimates, including with respect to certain factors related to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IRA”). Among other things, such factors include (i) the total advanced manufacturing production credit available to us under Section 45X of the Internal Revenue Code and (ii) the timing and ability to monetize such credit. Investors are encouraged to listen to the conference call and to review the accompanying materials, which contain more information about First Solar’s fourth quarter and full year 2023 financial results, 2024 guidance, and financial outlook.
Conference Call Details
First Solar has scheduled a conference call for today, February 27, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. ET, to discuss this announcement. A live webcast of this conference call and accompanying materials are available at investor.firstsolar.com. An audio replay of the conference call will be available through Thursday, March 28, 2024 and can be accessed by dialing +1 (800) 770-2030 if you are calling from within the United States or +1 (647) 362-9199 if you are calling from outside the United States and entering the replay passcode 92259. A replay of the webcast will also be available on the Investors section of the Company’s website approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call and remain available for 30 days.
About First Solar, Inc.
First Solar is a leading American solar technology company and global provider of responsibly-produced eco-efficient solar modules advancing the fight against climate change. Developed at research and development labs in California and Ohio, the Company’s advanced thin film photovoltaic (“PV”) modules represent the next generation of solar technologies, providing a competitive, high-performance, lower-carbon alternative to conventional crystalline silicon PV panels. From raw material sourcing and manufacturing through end-of-life module recycling, First Solar’s approach to technology embodies sustainability and a responsibility towards people and the planet. For more information, please visit www.firstsolar.com.
For First Solar Investors
This release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning: demand for our technology; increased research and development investment; new domestic and international capacity coming online; production and delivery of our new Series 7 modules; our financial guidance for 2024, including future financial results, net sales, gross margin, operating expenses, operating income, earnings per diluted share, net cash balance, capital expenditures, volume sold, shipments, bookings, products and our business and financial objectives for 2024; the availability of benefits under certain production linked incentive programs, and the impact of the IRA including the total advanced manufacturing production credit available to us under Section 45X of the Internal Revenue Code. These forward-looking statements are often characterized by the use of words such as “estimate,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “seek,” “believe,” “forecast,” “foresee,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “goal,” “target,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “predict,” “continue,” “contingent” and the negative or plural of these words and other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and our projections about future events and therefore speak only as of the date of this release. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements for any reason, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: structural imbalances in global supply and demand for PV solar modules; our competitive position and other key competitive factors; the reduction, elimination, expiration or introduction of government subsidies, policies, and support programs for solar energy projects; the impact of public policies, such as tariffs or other trade remedies imposed on solar cells and modules; the passage of legislation intended to encourage renewable energy investments through tax credits, such as the IRA; the impact of the IRA on our expected results of operations in future periods, which may be affected by technical guidance, regulations, subsequent amendments or interpretations of the law; interest rate fluctuations and both our and our customers’ ability to secure financing; changes in the exchange rates between the functional currencies of our subsidiaries and other currencies in which assets and liabilities are denominated; our ability to execute on our long-term strategic plans; the loss of any of our large customers, or the ability of our customers and counterparties to perform under their contracts with us; our ability to execute on our solar module technology and cost reduction roadmaps; our ability to improve the wattage of our solar modules; our ability to incorporate technology improvements into our manufacturing process, including the production of bifacial solar modules and the implementation of our Copper Replacement (“CuRe”) program; the satisfaction of conditions precedent in our sales agreements; our ability to attract new customers and to develop and maintain existing customer and supplier relationships; general economic and business conditions, including those influenced by U.S., international, and geopolitical events; environmental responsibility, including with respect to cadmium telluride (“CdTe”) and other semiconductor materials; claims under our limited warranty obligations; changes in, or the failure to comply with, government regulations and environmental, health, and safety requirements; effects arising from and results of pending litigation; future collection and recycling costs for solar modules covered by our module collection and recycling program; supply chain disruptions, including demurrage and detention charges; our ability to protect our intellectual property; our ability to prevent and/or minimize the impact of cyber-attacks or other breaches of our information systems; our continued investment in research and development; the supply and price of components and raw materials, including CdTe; our ability to construct new production facilities to support new product lines; evolving corporate governance and public disclosure regulations and expectations, including with respect to environmental, social and governance matters; our ability to avoid manufacturing interruptions, including during the ramp of our Series 7 modules manufacturing facilities; our ability to attract and retain key executive officers and associates; the severity and duration of public health threats, including the potential impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations; and the matters discussed under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as supplemented by our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
|
FIRST SOLAR, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands, except share data) |
||||||||
|
|
|
December 31, |
||||||
|
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Current assets: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
1,946,994 |
|
|
$ |
1,481,269 |
|
|
Marketable securities |
|
|
155,495 |
|
|
|
1,096,712 |
|
|
Accounts receivable trade, net |
|
|
660,776 |
|
|
|
324,337 |
|
|
Government grants receivable, net |
|
|
659,745 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Inventories |
|
|
819,899 |
|
|
|
621,376 |
|
|
Other current assets |
|
|
391,900 |
|
|
|
267,727 |
|
|
Total current assets |
|
|
4,634,809 |
|
|
|
3,791,421 |
|
|
Property, plant and equipment, net |
|
|
4,397,285 |
|
|
|
3,536,902 |
|
|
Deferred tax assets, net |
|
|
142,819 |
|
|
|
78,680 |
|
|
Restricted marketable securities |
|
|
198,310 |
|
|
|
182,070 |
|
|
Government grants receivable |
|
|
152,208 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Goodwill |
|
|
29,687 |
|
|
|
14,462 |
|
|
Intangible assets, net |
|
|
64,511 |
|
|
|
31,106 |
|
|
Inventories |
|
|
266,899 |
|
|
|
260,395 |
|
|
Other assets |
|
|
478,604 |
|
|
|
356,192 |
|
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
10,365,132 |
|
|
$ |
8,251,228 |
|
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Accounts payable |
|
$ |
207,178 |
|
|
$ |
341,409 |
|
|
Income taxes payable |
|
|
22,134 |
|
|
|
29,397 |
|
|
Accrued expenses |
|
|
524,829 |
|
|
|
382,782 |
|
|
Current portion of debt |
|
|
96,238 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Deferred revenue |
|
|
413,579 |
|
|
|
263,215 |
|
|
Other current liabilities |
|
|
42,200 |
|
|
|
21,245 |
|
|
Total current liabilities |
|
|
1,306,158 |
|
|
|
1,038,048 |
|
|
Accrued solar module collection and recycling liability |
|
|
135,123 |
|
|
|
128,114 |
|
|
Long-term debt |
|
|
464,068 |
|
|
|
184,349 |
|
|
Deferred revenue |
|
|
1,591,604 |
|
|
|
944,725 |
|
|
Other liabilities |
|
|
180,710 |
|
|
|
119,937 |
|
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
3,677,663 |
|
|
|
2,415,173 |
|
|
Commitments and contingencies |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Stockholders’ equity: |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Common stock, $0.001 par value per share; 500,000,000 shares authorized; 106,847,475 and 106,609,094 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively |
|
|
107 |
|
|
|
107 |
|
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
|
2,890,427 |
|
|
|
2,887,476 |
|
|
Accumulated earnings |
|
|
3,971,066 |
|
|
|
3,140,289 |
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
|
|
(174,131 |
) |
|
|
(191,817 |
) |
|
Total stockholders’ equity |
|
|
6,687,469 |
|
|
|
5,836,055 |
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
|
$ |
10,365,132 |
|
$ |
8,251,228 |
|
|
|
FIRST SOLAR, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per share amounts) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Year Ended |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
December 31, |
|
September 30, |
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
||||||||||
|
Net sales |
|
$ |
1,158,553 |
|
|
$ |
801,090 |
|
|
$ |
1,002,391 |
|
|
$ |
3,318,602 |
|
|
$ |
2,619,319 |
|
|
Cost of sales |
|
|
656,520 |
|
|
|
424,915 |
|
|
|
941,778 |
|
|
|
2,017,923 |
|
|
|
2,549,461 |
|
|
Gross profit |
|
|
502,033 |
|
|
|
376,175 |
|
|
|
60,613 |
|
|
|
1,300,679 |
|
|
|
69,858 |
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Selling, general and administrative |
|
|
57,094 |
|
|
|
50,172 |
|
|
|
42,734 |
|
|
|
197,622 |
|
|
|
164,724 |
|
|
Research and development |
|
|
43,862 |
|
|
|
41,190 |
|
|
|
31,284 |
|
|
|
152,307 |
|
|
|
112,804 |
|
|
Production start-up |
|
|
9,847 |
|
|
|
12,059 |
|
|
|
32,740 |
|
|
|
64,777 |
|
|
|
73,077 |
|
|
Litigation loss |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
35,590 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
110,803 |
|
|
|
103,421 |
|
|
|
106,758 |
|
|
|
450,296 |
|
|
|
350,605 |
|
|
Gain on sales of businesses, net |
|
|
6,554 |
|
|
|
211 |
|
|
|
239 |
|
|
|
6,883 |
|
|
|
253,511 |
|
|
Operating income (loss) |
|
|
397,784 |
|
|
|
272,965 |
|
|
|
(45,906 |
) |
|
|
857,266 |
|
|
|
(27,236 |
) |
|
Foreign currency loss, net |
|
|
(9,947 |
) |
|
|
(987 |
) |
|
|
(4,373 |
) |
|
|
(21,533 |
) |
|
|
(16,414 |
) |
|
Interest income |
|
|
23,565 |
|
|
|
23,254 |
|
|
|
18,330 |
|
|
|
97,667 |
|
|
|
33,284 |
|
|
Interest expense, net |
|
|
(7,068 |
) |
|
|
(3,734 |
) |
|
|
(3,133 |
) |
|
|
(12,965 |
) |
|
|
(12,225 |
) |
|
Other (expense) income, net |
|
|
(27,653 |
) |
|
|
(1,033 |
) |
|
|
28,510 |
|
|
|
(29,145 |
) |
|
|
31,189 |
|
|
Income (loss) before taxes |
|
|
376,681 |
|
|
|
290,465 |
|
|
|
(6,572 |
) |
|
|
891,290 |
|
|
|
8,598 |
|
|
Income tax expense |
|
|
(27,442 |
) |
|
|
(22,067 |
) |
|
|
(976 |
) |
|
|
(60,513 |
) |
|
|
(52,764 |
) |
|
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
349,239 |
|
|
$ |
268,398 |
|
|
$ |
(7,548 |
) |
|
$ |
830,777 |
|
|
$ |
(44,166 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Net income (loss) per share: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Basic |
|
$ |
3.27 |
|
|
$ |
2.51 |
|
|
$ |
(0.07 |
) |
|
$ |
7.78 |
|
|
$ |
(0.41 |
) |
|
Diluted |
|
$ |
3.25 |
|
|
$ |
2.50 |
|
|
$ |
(0.07 |
) |
|
$ |
7.74 |
|
|
$ |
(0.41 |
) |
|
Weighted-average number of shares used in per share calculations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Basic |
|
|
106,844 |
|
|
|
106,834 |
|
|
|
106,606 |
|
|
|
106,795 |
|
|
|
106,551 |
|
|
Diluted |
|
|
107,558 |
|
|
|
107,498 |
|
|
|
106,606 |
|
|
|
107,372 |
|
|
|
106,551 |
|
|
FIRST SOLAR, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) |
||||||||||||
|
|
|
Years Ended December 31, |
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
830,777 |
|
|
$ |
(44,166 |
) |
|
$ |
468,693 |
|
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |
|
|
307,994 |
|
|
|
269,724 |
|
|
|
259,900 |
|
|
Impairments and net losses on disposal of long-lived assets |
|
|
1,568 |
|
|
|
63,338 |
|
|
|
22,876 |
|
|
Share-based compensation |
|
|
34,219 |
|
|
|
28,656 |
|
|
|
20,902 |
|
|
Deferred income taxes |
|
|
(60,813 |
) |
|
|
(12,799 |
) |
|
|
49,847 |
|
|
Gain on sales of businesses, net |
|
|
(6,883 |
) |
|
|
(253,511 |
) |
|
|
(147,284 |
) |
|
Loss (gain) on sales of marketable securities and restricted marketable securities |
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(11,696 |
) |
|
Liabilities assumed by customers for the sale of systems |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(145,281 |
) |
|
|
(85,490 |
) |
|
Gain on debt forgiveness |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(30,201 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
Other, net |
|
|
22,053 |
|
|
|
(1,029 |
) |
|
|
(3,484 |
) |
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Accounts receivable, trade and unbilled |
|
|
(304,183 |
) |
|
|
118,724 |
|
|
|
(96,951 |
) |
|
Inventories |
|
|
(205,106 |
) |
|
|
16,693 |
|
|
|
(136,365 |
) |
|
Project assets and PV solar power systems |
|
|
8,626 |
|
|
|
(14,336 |
) |
|
|
23,402 |
|
|
Government grants receivable |
|
|
(659,745 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Other assets |
|
|
(224,333 |
) |
|
|
(72,602 |
) |
|
|
(69,942 |
) |
|
Income tax receivable and payable |
|
|
8,656 |
|
|
|
43,592 |
|
|
|
(13,062 |
) |
|
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
|
|
79,328 |
|
|
|
5,569 |
|
|
|
48,968 |
|
|
Deferred revenue |
|
|
783,207 |
|
|
|
912,946 |
|
|
|
47,062 |
|
|
Other liabilities |
|
|
(13,114 |
) |
|
|
(11,948 |
) |
|
|
(139,817 |
) |
|
Net cash provided by operating activities |
|
|
602,260 |
|
|
|
873,369 |
|
|
|
237,559 |
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Purchases of property, plant and equipment |
|
|
(1,386,775 |
) |
|
|
(903,605 |
) |
|
|
(540,291 |
) |
|
Purchases of marketable securities and restricted marketable securities |
|
|
(3,612,801 |
) |
|
|
(3,375,008 |
) |
|
|
(2,147,136 |
) |
|
Proceeds from sales and maturities of marketable securities and restricted marketable securities |
|
|
4,563,890 |
|
|
|
2,646,787 |
|
|
|
2,294,595 |
|
|
Proceeds from sales of businesses, net of cash and restricted cash sold |
|
|
7,680 |
|
|
|
442,302 |
|
|
|
300,499 |
|
|
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired |
|
|
(35,739 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Other investing activities |
|
|
(9,046 |
) |
|
|
(3,050 |
) |
|
|
(6,707 |
) |
|
Net cash used in investing activities |
|
|
(472,791 |
) |
|
|
(1,192,574 |
) |
|
|
(99,040 |
) |
|
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Proceeds from borrowings under debt arrangements, net of issuance costs |
|
|
367,983 |
|
|
|
397,380 |
|
|
|
129,215 |
|
|
Repayment of debt |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(75,896 |
) |
|
|
(72,676 |
) |
|
Payments of tax withholdings for restricted shares |
|
|
(31,130 |
) |
|
|
(12,092 |
) |
|
|
(15,989 |
) |
|
Net cash provided by financing activities |
|
|
336,853 |
|
|
|
309,392 |
|
|
|
40,550 |
|
|
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents |
|
|
5,285 |
|
|
|
47,438 |
|
|
|
3,174 |
|
|
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents |
|
|
471,607 |
|
|
|
37,625 |
|
|
|
182,243 |
|
|
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents, beginning of the period |
|
|
1,493,462 |
|
|
|
1,455,837 |
|
|
|
1,273,594 |
|
|
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents, end of the period |
|
$ |
1,965,069 |
|
|
$ |
1,493,462 |
|
|
$ |
1,455,837 |
|
|
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Property, plant and equipment acquisitions funded by liabilities |
|
$ |
249,455 |
|
|
$ |
315,961 |
|
|
$ |
61,598 |
|
|
Proceeds to be received from asset-based government grants |
|
$ |
152,208 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
Acquisitions funded by contingent consideration |
|
$ |
18,500 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Contacts
First Solar Investors
investor@firstsolar.com
First Solar Media
media@firstsolar.com
