First Solar is a provider of photovoltaic (PV) solar energy solutions. Co. manufactures, and sells PV solar modules with a thin film semiconductor technology that provide a lower-carbon alternative to conventional crystalline silicon PV solar modules. Co.'s main segment is modules segment, which involves the design, manufacture, and sale of cadmium telluride solar modules, which convert sunlight into electricity. Co.'s residual business operations include certain project development activities and operations and maintenance services, which are mainly concentrated in Japan, as well as the results of operations from PV solar power systems it owns and operates in certain international regions.
When researching a stock like First Solar, many investors are the most familiar with Fundamental Analysis — looking at a company's balance sheet, earnings, revenues, and what's happening in that company's underlying business. Investors who use Fundamental Analysis to identify good stocks to buy or sell can also benefit from FSLR Technical Analysis to help find a good entry or exit point. Technical Analysis is blind to the fundamentals and looks only at the trading data for FSLR stock — the real life supply and demand for the stock over time — and examines that data in different ways. One of those ways is to calculate a Simpe Moving Average ("SMA") by looking back a certain number of days. One of the most popular "longer look-backs" is the FSLR 200 day moving average ("FSLR 200 DMA"), while one of the most popular "shorter look-backs" is the FSLR 50 day moving average ("FSLR 50 DMA"). A chart showing both of these popular moving averages is shown on this page for First Solar. Comparing two moving averages against each other can be a useful visualization tool: by calculating the difference between the FSLR 200 DMA and the FSLR 50 DMA, we get a moving average convergence divergence indicator ("FSLR MACD"). The FSLR MACD chart, in conjunction with the chart of the moving averages, basically helps in visualizing how the moving averages are showing convergence (moving closer together), or divergence (moving farther apart). |