First Solar's Competitors, Revenue, Number of Employees, Funding and Acquisitions

First Solar designs, manufactures and installs thin-film​ photovoltaic modules, solar panels and PV power plants.

First S... Read more

Based on data from First Solar's latest SEC filings

Annual Revenue

Based on data from First Solar's latest SEC filings

Employees

Mark Widmar's photo - CEO of First Solar

CEO

Mark Widmar

CEO Approval Rating

77/100

OVERVIEW

Founded:

1999

Headquarters:

TempeArizona

Status:

PublicIndependent Company of NASDAQFSLR

Industry Sector:

Renewable Energy Equipment & Services

SIC Code:

3532NAICS listing »

Top Competitors or Alternatives

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Trending News for First Solar and First Solar's Competitors

October 14, 2019

MarketScreener

Lawson Products : Announces New Credit Facility

(marketscreener.com) Commitments upsized to $100 million, plus an accordion feature Further supports ... See more »

October 14, 2019

Printed Electronics Now

New NREL Senior Research Fellow Helps Make Quantum Leap in Solar Energy

He directs the Center for Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Semiconductors for Energy, an Energy Frontier Rese... See more »

October 15, 2019

MarketScreener

IMPORTANT INVESTOR REMINDER: The Schall Law Firm Announces the Filing of a Class Action Lawsuit Against Vivint Solar, Inc. and Encourages Investors with Losses in Excess of $100,000 to Contact the Firm

(marketscreener.com) The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces th... See more »
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Competitive Analysis

TOP COMPETITORS OR ALTERNATIVES

Canadian Solar is First Solar's top competitor. Canadian Solar is a Public company that was founded in West Guelph, Ontario in 2001. Canadian Solar operates in the Multi-Utilities industry. Canadian Solar has 5,729 more employees vs. First Solar.

Trina Solar has been one of First Solar's top competitors. Trina Solar is headquartered in San Jose, California, and was founded in 1997. Trina Solar is in the Renewable Energy industry. Trina Solar generates 89% the revenue of First Solar.

SunPower is perceived as one of First Solar's biggest rivals. SunPower was founded in 1985 in San Jose, California. SunPower competes in the Renewable Energy Equipment & Services field. SunPower generates $765.8M less revenue than First Solar.

RANK

COMPANY

LEADERSHIP

CEO SCORE

EMPLOYEES

TOTAL FUNDING

REVENUE

Mark Widmar

CEO

- -
6,400
$640M
$2.5B
1

Shawn Qu

President & CEO

74/100
8,969
$958.4M
$3.5B
2

Jifan Gao

Chairman & CEO

77/100
13,974
$1.8B
$2.2B
3

Tom Werner

Chairman & CEO

93/100
8,902
$703.6M
$1.8B
4

CEO

- -
15,273
$1.7B
$730.3M
5

Michael G. DeCata

President & CEO

84/100
1,590
- -
$374.8M
6

Daniel Emmett

Co-Founder & CEO

78/100
40
$12.1M
$5M
7

CEO

- -
2,367
- -
$290M
8

Victor Lee

President & CEO

84/100
119
$188.6M
$ < 1M
9

CEO

- -
172
- -
$47.5M
10

Jamie Resor

CEO

33/100
213
$12.3M
$80M
The top 10 competitors in First Solar's competitive set are Canadian Solar, Trina Solar, SunPower, SolarCity, Lawson Products, NEXT, NREL, Ascent Solar, Curtis and groSolar. Together they have raised over 5.4B between their estimated 49.1K employees. First Solar has 6,400 employees and is ranked 5th among it's top 10 competitors. The top 10 competitors average 5,274.

Quarterly and Annual Revenue

Trailing 12-Months Trend (TTM)

Annual Revenue

$2.5B

First Solar's revenue is the ranked 2nd among it's top 10 competitors. The top 10 competitors average 1.1B. Over the last three quarters, First Solar's revenue has decreased by 15.4%. Specifically, in Q2 2019's revenue was $585M; in Q1 2019, it was $532M; in Q4 2018, it was $691.2M.

Acquisitions

COMPANY ACQUIRED
ACQUISITION DATE
AMOUNT
DESCRIPTION
skytron energy GmbH & Co. KG

Jun 2014

Source »
undisclosed
Skytron Energy develops and manufactures measurement, monitoring and control systems for photovoltaic power plants.
TetraSun

Apr 2013

Source »
undisclosed
-
Solar Chile

Jan 2013

Source »
$undefined
-

-

-

Jan 2011

Source »
$undefined
-
OPTI-Solar

Mar 2009

Source »
$400M
-

These are all the companies that First Solar has acquired. First Solar has acquired 5 companies and its latest acquisition was skytron energy GmbH & Co. KG in Jun 2014. Skytron Energy develops and manufactures measurement, monitoring and control systems for photovoltaic power plants.

First Solar Funding History

Since First Solar was founded in 1999, it has participated in 2 rounds of funding. In total First Solar has raised $640.0M. First Solar's last funding round was on Nov 2006 for a total of $400.0M

ROUND

FUNDING DATE

AMOUNT

INVESTORS

IPO
Nov 2006
$400M

Debt
Feb 2017
$240M

Mizuho Bank

Total Funding: $640M

Since First Solar was founded in 1999, it has participated in 2 rounds of funding. In total First Solar has raised $640.0M. First Solar's last funding round was on Nov 2006 for a total of $400.0M

Investments

COMPANY

DESCRIPTION

AMOUNT

INVESTMENT DATE

ROUND

EXIT DATE

Younicos develops and sells energy storage systems and control software for energy management requirements of power networks.
$50M
Dec 07, 2015
Growth
Jul 01, 2017
Clean Energy Collective builds, operates and maintains community-based clean energy facilities. 
-
Dec 09, 2014
Equity
-
SolarCity designs, manufactures and installs photovoltaic solar power systems for homes, businesses and government organizations.
$3M
Oct 29, 2008
Equity
Aug 01, 2016

These are all the companies that First Solar has invested in. First Solar has invested 5 companies and its latest investment was skytron energy GmbH & Co. KG in Jun 2014. Skytron Energy develops and manufactures measurement, monitoring and control systems for photovoltaic power plants.

First Solar News

September 24, 2019Semiconductor Today

Intersect Power selects First Solar for 1.7GW multi-year PV module supply contract

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film photovoltaic module maker First Solar Inc of Tempe, AZ, USA is to ... See more »
September 23, 2019Solar Industry

First Solar Celebrates Two Decades, 25 GW Of Modules

First Solar Inc. is celebrating 25 GW DC of photovoltaic modules shipped since its founding two decad... See more »
August 30, 2019Semiconductor Today

First Solar's sales rise 10% in Q2 to $585m

For second-quarter 2019, First Solar Inc of Tempe, AZ, USA - which makes thin-film photovoltaic modul... See more »
August 26, 2019MarketScreener

Topaz Solar Farms Receives August Payment From PG&E

(marketscreener.com) Consistent with the terms of its power purchase agreement with Pacific Gas and E... See more »
August 23, 2019PV-Tech

Jinko, First Solar, LONGi and Canadian Solar revealed as top AA-Rated bankable PV module suppliers

The PV-Tech market research team can now reveal that the four solar PV module suppliers meeting AA-Ra... See more »
August 16, 2019Industrial Info Resources

First Solar at Work on More Than $5 Billion in Generation, Manufacturing Projects

SUGAR LAND--August 16, 2019--Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Industrial ... See more »
August 6, 2019Printed Electronics Now

First Solar, Inc. Announces 2Q 2019 Financial Results

Reports net sales of $585 million, YTD net bookings of 4.3GWDC.... See more »

First Solar Blogs

July 7, 2016First Solar Blog

Enel, Powerhive Partner on Landmark Rural Electrification Project

Deal validates commercially viable minigrid business model. Portfolio of projects brings electricity ... See more »
July 7, 2016First Solar Blog

End-of-life Management of Photovoltaic Modules - Lessons Learned

See more »
July 7, 2016First Solar Blog

Australia's first utility scale solar plant performing above expectations

Globally, most PV solar plants experience lower levels of performance and availability during the ini... See more »
July 7, 2016First Solar Blog

Solar Is No Longer a Compromise

In diverse markets across the world, Solar PV energy has reached pricing competitive with fossil fuel... See more »
July 7, 2016First Solar Blog

First Solar Publishes Inaugural Sustainability Report

For the first time, First Solar is providing a look at how we are fulfilling our mission to create en... See more »
July 7, 2016First Solar Blog

Solar Energy and the Future of Desalination

Consider this, 40% of the global population - approximately 2.8 billion people - is currently affecte... See more »
November 10, 2015First Solar Blog

First Solar Brings Power to Three Military Bases

Early in his presidency, US President Barack Obama made a commitment to significantly increase renewa... See more »

First Solar Press Releases

May 15, 2018ForImmediateRelease

NEXTracker and First Solar Collaborate on Series 6 Mounting Technology for Over 600 MW of New Projects in U.S.

Travel & Tourism Industry release: FREMONT, Calif., May 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - NEXTracker , a Flex c... See more »
March 23, 2018Business Wire

Global Solar Power Market Report, 2018 Update - ResearchAndMarkets.com

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Global Solar Power Market, 2018 Update" report has been added to Resear... See more »
October 16, 2017Business Wire

First Solar, Inc. to Announce Third Quarter 2017 Financial Results on October 26, 2017

TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) will report financial results for the ... See more »
September 4, 2017Blackbird

SCI Engineered Materials, Inc. Adds Former First Solar, Inc. Manager to Board of Directors

COLUMBUS, OH-(Marketwired - Sep 5, 2017) - SCI Engineered Materials, Inc. ("SCI") (OTCQB: SCIA), a gl... See more »
August 7, 2017Blackbird

First Solar Releases 2017 Sustainability Report

TEMPE, Ariz.-(BUSINESS WIRE)-First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) today released its annual sustainabilit... See more »
July 20, 2017Blackbird

First Solar, Inc. to Announce Second Quarter 2017 Financial Results on July 27, 2017

TEMPE, Ariz.-(BUSINESS WIRE)-First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) will report financial results for the s... See more »
February 28, 2017MarketersMedia

Post Earnings Coverage as NVIDIA Quarterly Revenue Soared 55%; Adjusted EPS Rocketed 117%

Upcoming AWS Coverage on First Solar Post-Earnings ResultsLONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / March 1, 2017 / A... See more »

First Solar Videos

July 5, 2018First Solar Vimeo Channel

"First Solar Wins The Smarter E Award 2018" on VIMEO

The California Independent System Operator (CAISO), First Solar, and the National Renewable Energy La... See more »
April 3, 2018First Solar Vimeo Channel

"First Solar Series 6 & Crystalline Silicon Fixed Tilt Installation Comparison" on VIMEO

Cast: First Solar... See more »
February 20, 2018First Solar Vimeo Channel

"First Solar Vietnam Coater Arrival" on VIMEO

Cast: First SolarTags: First Solar, Series 6, Thin Film PV Solar, Solar Energy and Malaysia... See more »
January 4, 2018First Solar Vimeo Channel

"First Solar Series 6 vs Silicon Installation with Wire Management" on VIMEO

Compares the installation of Series 6 modules to Crystalline Silicon modules including wire managemen... See more »
January 4, 2018First Solar Vimeo Channel

"Series 6 Off the Line" on VIMEO

Cast: First SolarTags: Series 6, Solar Energy and First Solar... See more »
December 4, 2017First Solar Vimeo Channel

"Introducing Series 6" on VIMEO

To see more, visit firstsolar.com/Modules/Series-6Cast: First SolarTags: Perrysburg Ohio, First Solar... See more »
November 24, 2017First Solar Vimeo Channel

"Sunlink and First Solar at SPI 2017 - Part 2" on VIMEO

Cast: First SolarTags: Series 6, Sunlink, Solar Energy, Thin Film PV Solar and First Solar... See more »

Social Statistics

Headquarters

350 West Washington Street Suite 600

Tempe, Arizona85281

1-419-662-6899

Driving Directions »

Trending Companies

Summary

ABOUT

Overview

First Solar designs, manufactures and installs thin-film​ photovoltaic modules, solar panels and PV power plants. First Solar was founded in 1999. First Solar's headquarters is located in Tempe, Arizona, USA 85281. It has raised 640.0M in 2 rounds. Th...

CEO

First Solar's CEO, Mark Widmar, currently has an approval rating of 77%. First Solar's primary competitors are Canadian Solar, Trina Solar & SunPower.

Website

firstsolar.com

Frequently Asked Questions about First Solar

  1. When was First Solar founded?

    First Solar was founded in 1999

  2. Who is First Solar's CEO?

    First Solar's CEO is Mark Widmar

  3. How much revenue does First Solar generate?

    First Solar generates $2.5B in revenue

  4. How much funding does First Solar have?

    First Solar has historically raised $640M in funding

  5. Where is First Solar's headquarters?

    First Solar's headquarters is in Tempe Arizona, USA

  1. How many employees does First Solar have?

    First Solar has 6,400 employees

  2. What sector does First Solar operate in?

    First Solar is in Renewable Energy Equipment & Services

  3. Who are First Solar's competitors?

    First Solar's top competitors are Canadian Solar, Trina Solar, SunPower

  4. Who has First Solar invested in?

    First Solar's has invested in companies such as Younicos, Clean Energy Collective, SolarCity
Stay up-to-date with the latest news on First Solar

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