- Analyst firms Bernstein and Jefferies have issued negative ratings for First Solar, citing various business concerns.
- First Solar is currently facing multiple legal challenges, including a class action lawsuit and a securities fraud investigation.
- Operational issues such as lowered financial guidance, order cancellations (de-bookings), and margin compression have impacted the company’s stock performance.
First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) is a major American company that designs and manufactures solar panels. It is a significant player in the renewable energy industry with a market capitalization of approximately $26.72 billion. The company provides solar energy solutions globally, competing with other large-scale solar technology firms.
On June 26, 2026, the analyst firm Bernstein reiterated its “Underperform” rating for First Solar. This type of rating suggests that the analyst believes the solar stock’s performance will be worse than the overall market average. At the time of the rating, the stock price was $248.64 per share.
This negative outlook is happening while First Solar faces legal challenges. As highlighted by PR Newswire, Pomerantz LLP announced a class action lawsuit against First Solar. A class action lawsuit allows a large group of people who have similar complaints to sue a company together. This suit is for FSLR investors who bought securities between February 26, 2025, and February 24, 2026.
Further legal pressure comes from a securities fraud investigation by Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter LLP, as highlighted by Business Wire. Securities fraud is an illegal practice of misleading investors about a company’s performance. This investigation started after the analyst firm Jefferies downgraded First Solar from a “Buy” to a “Hold” rating.
The downgrade from Jefferies points to several business concerns. The firm noted that during 2025, First Solar lowered its financial guidance, had significant de-bookings, which are cancellations of previous orders, and faced margin compression, meaning its profitability on sales was shrinking. These issues contributed to a 10.3% stock price drop on January 7, 2026.
