New York, Jan 19, 2026, 20:23 EST — Market closed.
- U.S. markets stayed shut Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day; trading picks back up Tuesday, Jan. 20.
- First Solar last traded at $243.73, up slightly from the previous close of $243.64.
- Investors are focused on Trump’s Feb. 1 tariff deadline, the Fed’s Jan. 27-28 meeting, and First Solar’s upcoming earnings report.
First Solar, Inc. shares ended the day at $243.64 and were last quoted at $243.73, edging up roughly 0.04%. Over the past year, the stock has swung between $116.56 and $285.99. 1
The quiet tape won’t hold. As Tuesday approaches, traders face renewed tariff worries, while the solar sector continues to react like a macro proxy to policy changes.
U.S. cash markets remained closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Stock futures dipped following President Donald Trump’s warning of increased tariffs on imports from eight European nations amid a conflict related to Greenland. Trading picks back up Tuesday, Jan. 20. 2
Trump announced Saturday that beginning Feb. 1, an extra 10% tariff will hit imports from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland, rising to 25% on June 1. Andrew Kenningham, chief Europe economist at Capital Economics, expressed skepticism about the tariffs being rolled out “as advertised.” 3
Tariffs pose a double-edged sword for First Solar. CEO Mark Widmar noted in July that recent trade and policy shifts have, overall, “strengthened First Solar’s relative position” within the solar manufacturing sector. 4
First Solar is ramping up its U.S. capacity. In October, the company announced plans for a new 3.7-gigawatt manufacturing plant stateside, aiming to kick off production by late 2026 and scale up through 2027. At the same time, it trimmed its full-year sales forecast, citing international volume hits from customer cancellations. 5
Valuation remains a key concern. Jefferies analysts, headed by Julien Dumoulin-Smith, downgraded the stock to hold earlier this month and lowered their price target from $269 to $260, Barron’s reported. They described expectations as “richer than reality,” highlighting weak booking visibility and a rise in de-bookings — cancellations of future orders. 6
Enphase Energy, SolarEdge Technologies, and Sunrun often move together, driven by the same blend of rate changes, incentives, and trade news. That makes it tough for stock pickers to jump in, despite individual company developments.
The trade threat might be softened, postponed, or segmented to limit price hikes for domestic manufacturers, though it could still stir volatility in risk assets. Financing remains a weak spot for solar projects, and all eyes turn to the Federal Reserve’s upcoming policy meeting on Jan. 27-28. 7
With markets reopening Tuesday, investors will focus on any clear momentum before Trump’s tariffs kick in on Feb. 1. Attention also turns to First Solar’s upcoming earnings, slated around Feb. 24 on Nasdaq’s calendar. The stock is likely to move on guidance and updates about bookings next. 8
