To: Jacob Snyder who wrote (10694 ) 5/3/2011 6:57:57 PM From: Jacob Snyder Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 16955 FSLR 1Q11 results: * Net Sales $567 million * EPS $1.33 per fully diluted share * Maintain 2011 EPS guidance of $9.25 - $9.75 per fully diluted share 46% gross margin 11.7% efficiency $0.75/w manufacturing costs TEMPE, Ariz., May 03, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) today announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2011. Net sales were $567 million in the quarter, a decrease of $42.5 million from the fourth quarter of 2010, due to the allocation of modules to our systems projects in order to meet the project contractual delivery schedules, seven fewer production days, and a full quarter impact of the pricing change implemented in December of 2010. Quarterly net sales decreased slightly from $568 million in the first quarter of 2010, primarily due to lower average selling prices. First quarter net income per fully diluted share was $1.33, down from $1.80 in the fourth quarter of 2010 and $2.00 in the first quarter of 2010. Quarter over quarter, the net income decrease was primarily driven by lower net sales and gross margin. Year over year, the net income decrease was primarily driven by reduced average selling prices and higher expenses, partially offset by increased module production and lower module cost per watt. "Despite European market uncertainties, First Solar has good visibility into our demand for 2011," said Rob Gillette, CEO of First Solar. "We continue to execute our cost roadmaps, invest in new module capacity, build our project pipeline and develop promising new markets around the world." First Solar's updated 2011 guidance is as follows: * Net sales of $3.7 to $3.8 billion * Operating Income of $900 to $970 million * Earnings per fully diluted share of $9.25 to $9.75 * $50 to $60 million of manufacturing start-up expenses and $10 to $15 million of factory ramp costs * Total capital spending of $1.0 to $1.1 billion * Operating cash flow of $0.8 to $1.0 billion investor.firstsolar.com First Solar Inc (FSLR.O) reported a sharp drop in quarterly net earnings on Tuesday due to lower selling prices and higher costs, and its shares slid almost 5 percent in after-hours trade. The world's most valuable solar company posted quarterly net earnings that topped Wall Street estimates and left its full-year forecasts unchanged. But some analysts said investors wanted more detailed guidance from the industry bellwether amid fears that European subsidy cuts will hammer demand. reuters.com from the CC: “Especially in Italy, the market started out really slow so there’s been some inventory build,” modules now have an efficiency rating of 11.7 percent, up from 11.1 percent a year earlier. First Solar said it will be able to boost efficiency to as much as 14 percent by 2014. noir.bloomberg.com “Tighter industry economics are expected” in the second half of the year, and that subsidy issues in Germany, Italy and elsewhere in Europe were a headwind in the quarter, as was rising interest rates, which “hurt financing.” During the call, Gilette remarked that the company’s photovoltaic module average cost per watt during the quarter averaged 75 cents, about the same as the year-earlier period, he said. Greater efficiency in modules was offset by factory “ramp costs,” he said. blogs.barrons.com