NEW YORK, January 3, 2026, 03:54 ET — Market closed
- First Solar shares ended Friday up 5.0% at $274.34.
- Solar peers Enphase, SolarEdge and Sunrun also gained in the session.
- Investors are looking ahead to the U.S. jobs report on Jan. 9 and CPI on Jan. 13.
Shares of First Solar, Inc. closed up 4.98% on Friday at $274.34, extending gains for solar-linked stocks in the first U.S. session of 2026.
The move mattered because traders were re-pricing demand signals for utility-scale solar, where First Solar sells most of its thin-film modules. A fresh focus landed on Intersect Power after pv magazine USA detailed Alphabet’s planned acquisition of the solar-and-storage developer and its push to build power for data centers.
Intersect has a 2.4-gigawatt module supply agreement with First Solar through 2026, pv magazine USA said. A gigawatt (GW) is a measure of power capacity; in solar, it’s often used to describe the scale of module deliveries or projects.
The publication said Intersect’s “energy parks” concept would co-locate data centers with generation and batteries, a “behind-the-meter” setup that can reduce reliance on the public grid and sidestep interconnection delays. That theme has become a sentiment driver for U.S.-made equipment suppliers as AI-related power demand rises. pv magazine USA
Solar peers also advanced on Friday. Enphase Energy rose 5.3%, SolarEdge Technologies climbed 8.6% and Sunrun gained 5.6%.
The broader market was steadier: the Dow ended up 0.66% and the S&P 500 rose 0.19% as chip stocks rallied, while the Nasdaq finished roughly flat, Reuters reported. Joe Mazzola, head of trading & derivatives strategist at Charles Schwab, described a “buy the dip, sell the rip” mindset. Reuters
For clean-energy manufacturers, rates remain part of the story. Higher borrowing costs can pressure project economics and equity valuations, while easing expectations can support the group. Reuters flagged next week’s labor-market data and inflation releases as key tests for the rate outlook.
Separately, Sandisk said First Solar Chief Financial Officer Alexander R. Bradley joined its board and was appointed to the audit committee, effective Dec. 30. The company said Bradley has served as First Solar’s CFO since 2016.
Before the next session on Monday, investors will be watching whether Friday’s bid in solar holds as attention shifts to macro catalysts that can move Treasury yields and rate expectations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has scheduled the December employment report for Jan. 9 at 8:30 a.m. ET.
The calendar also brings the December consumer price index on Jan. 13, and Reuters noted that fourth-quarter earnings season ramps up soon after, starting with major U.S. banks. Those events can reset risk appetite across cyclical and rate-sensitive corners of the market, including renewables.
For First Solar, the next company-specific catalyst is earnings. Wall Street calendars tracked by Barchart list Feb. 24 as the next expected release date, though the company has not confirmed a date; the same source shows an average EPS estimate of $5.21 for the December quarter.
