EX-99.1 2 ex991pressreleaseq3-20158xk.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 Exhibit


EXHIBIT 99.1
 
 
 
 
News Release

First Solar, Inc. Announces Preliminary Third Quarter 2015 Financial Results
•
Record Quarterly Net sales of $1.3 billion
•
Preliminary Quarterly GAAP earnings per fully diluted share of $3.38
•
Cash and marketable securities of $1.8 billion, net cash of $1.5 billion
•
Raise preliminary 2015 EPS guidance to $4.30 to $4.50
•
Record 1.7GWdc of new bookings; Record annual bookings of 3.1GWdc year-to-date

TEMPE, Ariz., Oct 29, 2015 - First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) today announced preliminary financial results for the third quarter of 2015. The Company expects to release complete condensed consolidated financial results and file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q on or prior to November 9th, 2015.
The Company is issuing preliminary results while it completes its analysis of a discrete income tax matter related to a foreign jurisdiction. The Company believes that based on its preliminary analysis, the tax matter could have an adverse financial impact of up to $40 million. Preliminary results are being issued pending the determination of the financial impact of this matter, if any.
Preliminary Financial Results
Net sales were $1.3 billion in the quarter, an increase of $375 million from the second quarter of 2015. The increase in net sales from the prior quarter resulted primarily from initial revenue recognition on the sale of a majority interest in the partially constructed Desert Stateline project. In addition revenue increased due to higher third party module sales and an increase in systems revenue across multiple projects.
The Company reported preliminary third quarter GAAP earnings per fully diluted share of $3.38, compared to $0.93 in the prior quarter. The sequential increase in net income was due to higher gross margins associated with the majority sale of the Desert Stateline project, improvements in systems project costs and a decrease in our module collection and recycling obligation, which reduced cost of sales by $70 million and operating expenses by $10 million.
Cash and marketable securities at the end of the third quarter were approximately $1.8 billion, an increase of approximately $34 million compared to the prior quarter. Cash flows from operations were $21 million in the third quarter. The increase in cash and marketable securities during the quarter was primarily due to cash received related to the majority sale of the Desert Stateline project, partially offset by continued project construction on balance sheet.
“We had tremendous execution in the third quarter from both a financial and bookings perspective” said Jim Hughes, CEO of First Solar. “We have now exceeded our book-to-bill target for the year, booked over 1GWdc of volume with deliveries after 2016, achieved strong quarterly earnings and have significantly raised our full year earnings guidance. We remain confident in our long term strategy and our ability to execute successfully.”

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The Company also provided preliminary updated guidance for 2015. The following guidance is preliminary pending the determination of the financial impact of the tax matter discussed previously.
2015 Guidance Update
Prior
Current
Net Sales
$3.5B to $3.6B
Unchanged
Gross Margin %1
21% to 22%
24% to 25%
Operating Expenses1
$415M to $425M
$395 to $405
Operating Income1
$330M to $370M
$450M to $490M
Effective Tax Rate4
2% to 5%
4% to 6%
Earnings per Share1,4
$3.30 to $3.60
$4.30 to $4.50
Net Cash Balance2,4
$1.2B to $1.4B
$1.3B to $1.4B
Capital Expenditures
$175M to $200M
Unchanged
Working Capital3
$1.1B to $1.3B
$1.1B to $1.2B
Shipments
2.8GW to 2.9GW
Unchanged
1.
Includes $80M benefit ($70M Gross Margin, $10M Opex) for a reduction in EOL obligation. EPS impact is $0.60
2.
Cash & Marketable securities less debt at end of 2015
3.
Expected increase in working capital from December 31, 2014
4.
Excludes impact of up to $40 million related to pending tax matter

First Solar has scheduled a conference call for today, October 29, 2015 at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss this announcement. A live webcast of this conference call is available at http://investor.firstsolar.com/events.cfm.
An audio replay of the conference call will also be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call. The audio replay will remain available until Thursday, November 5, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. ET and can be accessed by dialing 888-203-1112 if you are calling from within the United States or 719-457-0820 if you are calling from outside the United States and entering the replay pass code 3562138. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Investors section of the Company’s website approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call and remain available for approximately 90 calendar days.
About First Solar, Inc.
First Solar is a leading global provider of comprehensive photovoltaic (PV) solar systems which use its advanced module and system technology. The Company's integrated power plant solutions deliver an economically attractive alternative to fossil-fuel electricity generation today. From raw material sourcing through end-of-life module recycling, First Solar's renewable energy systems protect and enhance the environment. For more information about First Solar, 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. These forward-looking statements include statements, among other things, concerning: effects on our financial statements and guidance resulting from the pending tax matter described in this release, including our assessment of the likelihood and amount of penalties that may be imposed on us (which penalties, if any, could cause the estimated financial impact to be significantly greater than the estimate provided in this release); our business strategy, including anticipated trends and developments in and management plans for our business and the markets in which we operate; future financial results, operating results, revenues, gross margin, operating expenses, products, projected costs (including estimated future module collection and recycling costs), warranties, solar module efficiency and balance of systems cost reduction roadmaps, restructuring, product reliability, investments in unconsolidated affiliates and capital expenditures; our ability to continue to reduce the cost per watt of our solar modules; our ability to reduce the costs to construct PV solar power systems; research and development programs and our ability to improve the conversion efficiency of our solar modules; sales and marketing initiatives; and competition. These forward-looking statements are often characterized by the use of words such as "estimate," "expect," "anticipate,"

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"project," "plan," "intend," "believe," "forecast," "foresee," "likely," "may," "should," "goal," "target," "might," "will," "could," "predict," "continue" 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. 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. 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 these statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the matters discussed in Item 1A: "Risk Factors," of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other reports filed with the SEC.
Contacts
First Solar Investors
Steve Haymore
+1 602 414-9315
stephen.haymore@firstsolar.com
First Solar Media
Steve Krum
+1 602-427-3359
steve.krum@firstsolar.com

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FIRST SOLAR, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)

PRELIMINARY
 
September 30,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
1,189,703

 
$
1,482,054

Marketable securities
 
619,814

 
509,032

Accounts receivable trade, net
 
328,927

 
135,434

Accounts receivable, unbilled and retainage
 
241,119

 
76,971

Inventories
 
379,183

 
505,088

Balance of systems parts
 
104,392

 
125,083

Deferred project costs
 
98,421

 
29,354

Deferred tax assets, net
 
78,092

 
91,565

Notes receivable, affiliate
 
1,279

 
12,487

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
210,399

 
202,151

Total current assets
 
3,251,329

 
3,169,219

Property, plant and equipment, net
 
1,330,054

 
1,419,988

PV solar power systems, net
 
93,420

 
46,393

Project assets and deferred project costs
 
1,030,436

 
810,348

Deferred tax assets, net
 
264,200

 
222,326

Restricted cash and investments
 
403,160

 
407,053

Investments in unconsolidated affiliates and joint ventures
 
299,103

 
255,029

Goodwill
 
84,985

 
84,985

Other intangibles, net
 
112,470

 
119,236

Inventories
 
108,558

 
115,617

Notes receivable, affiliates
 
17,754

 
9,127

Other assets
 
65,173

 
61,670

Total assets
 
$
7,060,642

 
$
6,720,991

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable
 
$
303,593

 
$
214,656

Income taxes payable
 
2,028

 
1,727

Accrued expenses
 
412,167

 
388,156

Current portion of long-term debt
 
34,082

 
51,399

Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings
 
74,102

 
195,346

Payments and billings for deferred project costs
 
22,699

 
60,591

Other current liabilities
 
43,035

 
88,702

Total current liabilities
 
891,706

 
1,000,577

Accrued solar module collection and recycling liability
 
164,304

 
246,307

Long-term debt
 
251,395

 
162,074

Other liabilities
 
332,392

 
284,546

Total liabilities
 
1,639,797

 
1,693,504

Commitments and contingencies
 
 
 
 
Stockholders’ equity:
 
 
 
 
Common stock, $0.001 par value per share; 500,000,000 shares authorized; 100,919,021 and 100,288,942 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively
 
101

 
100

Additional paid-in capital
 
2,734,161

 
2,697,558

Accumulated earnings
 
2,658,092

 
2,279,689

Accumulated other comprehensive income
 
28,491

 
50,140

Total stockholders’ equity
 
5,420,845

 
5,027,487

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
 
$
7,060,642

 
$
6,720,991


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FIRST SOLAR, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
PRELIMINARY
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Net sales
 
$
1,271,245

 
$
889,310

 
$
2,636,671

 
$
2,383,821

Cost of sales
 
786,880

 
700,023

 
1,948,842

 
1,865,098

Gross profit
 
484,365

 
189,287

 
687,829

 
518,723

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Research and development
 
29,630

 
37,593

 
93,865

 
109,025

Selling, general and administrative
 
53,716

 
66,528

 
192,305

 
182,859

Production start-up
 
3,198

 
1,406

 
16,818

 
1,897

Total operating expenses
 
86,544

 
105,527

 
302,988

 
293,781

Operating income
 
397,821

 
83,760

 
384,841

 
224,942

Foreign currency (loss) gain, net
 
(3,726
)
 
169

 
(7,674
)
 
(389
)
Interest income
 
5,322

 
4,297

 
16,444

 
13,151

Interest expense, net
 
(1,775
)
 
(89
)
 
(2,795
)
 
(1,429
)
Other expense, net
 
(1,678
)
 
(2,476
)
 
(3,729
)
 
(5,416
)
Income before taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates
 
395,964

 
85,661

 
387,087

 
230,859

Income tax (expense) benefit
 
(49,644
)
 
7,108

 
(10,324
)
 
(19,579
)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, net of tax
 
(115
)
 
(4,345
)
 
1,640

 
(6,321
)
Net income
 
$
346,205

 
$
88,424

 
$
378,403

 
$
204,959

Net income per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
3.43

 
$
0.88

 
$
3.76

 
$
2.05

Diluted
 
$
3.38

 
$
0.87

 
$
3.72

 
$
2.02

Weighted-average number of shares used in per share calculations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
100,906

 
100,197

 
100,713

 
99,981

Diluted
 
102,299

 
101,415

 
101,845

 
101,686



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