First Solar downgraded to Sell from Buy at Goldman Sachs - InvestingChannel

First Solar downgraded to Sell from Buy at Goldman Sachs

Goldman Sachs analyst Brian Lee double downgraded First Solar to Sell from Buy with a price target of $81, down from $101. The company’s gross margins and earnings power are peaking in the near-term, Lee tells investors in a research note. The analyst sees First Solar’s earnings declining by 17% annually over the course of 2021-2022 following a “peak” earnings year in 2020. This contrasts to most peers across the solar space averaging earnings growth of 20%-30% over the next few years, Lee tells investors in a research note. He believes First Solar’s module selling prices will “decline sharply” starting in 2022 owing to the expiration of Section 201.