FS
FSLR
Latest · Mar 31, 2026
Quarter ended Mar 31, 2026 · FY2026 Q1

First Solar, Inc. stock research

First Solar (FSLR) Free Cash Flow & Quarterly History

Explore First Solar, Inc. (FSLR) free cash flow from 2023 through the latest reported quarter, with SEC-sourced operating cash flow, capital expenditures, and period-by-period analysis.

Free cash flow takeaway

A quick read on the company's cash generation and what it means for investors.

Revenue decreased from the prior quarter but increased from a year ago. Free cash flow turned negative after a strong positive quarter, though it was less negative than the same quarter last year.

  • Revenue was lower sequentially, and operating cash flow shifted from positive to negative, leading to negative free cash flow and a negative margin. Capital expenditure decreased compared to both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter.
  • Compared to the prior quarter, operating cash flow and free cash flow weakened significantly, while revenue also declined. Relative to the same quarter a year earlier, both operating cash flow and free cash flow improved, with a less negative margin.

FCF snapshot

Quarterly and TTM cash-flow metrics with the minimum valuation context.

TTM free cash flow

$1.7B

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

-$333.4M

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

-$214.9M

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$118.5M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

-31.9%

The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.

TTM FCF yield

6.9%

TTM FCF divided by market capitalization.

FCF reconciliation

Free cash flow is not a GAAP line item; it should be bridged from the cash flow statement.

Operating cash flow-$214.9MCash generated by operations before capital spending.
Capital expenditures$118.5MCapital spending used to bridge CFO to FCF.
Free cash flow-$333.4MOperating cash flow less capital spending.

Cash flow trend

A short quarterly history shows whether FCF is scaling with revenue or only spiking for one period.

PeriodRevenueOperating CFCapExFCFFCF margin
2022-06-30$621.0M$88.0M$198.7M-$110.7M-17.8%
2022-09-30$628.9M$129.0M$223.3M-$94.3M-15.0%
2022-12-31$1.0B$795.2M$326.9M$468.3M46.7%
2023-03-31$548.3M-$34.6M$371.0M-$405.6M-74.0%
2023-06-30$810.7M-$89.7M$382.7M-$472.4M-58.3%
2023-09-30$801.1M$165.4M$286.2M-$120.8M-15.1%
2023-12-31$1.2B$561.1M$346.9M$214.2M18.5%
2024-03-31$794.1M$267.7M$413.5M-$145.7M-18.4%
2024-06-30$1.0B$193.0M$365.2M-$172.1M-17.0%
2024-09-30$887.7M-$53.7M$433.9M-$487.7M-54.9%
2024-12-31$1.5B$811.0M$313.5M$497.5M32.9%
2025-03-31$844.6M-$608.0M$206.0M-$813.9M-96.4%
2025-06-30$1.1B$149.6M$288.1M-$138.6M-12.6%
2025-09-30$1.6B$1.3B$204.0M$1.1B67.1%
2025-12-31$1.7B$1.2B$171.7M$1.1B63.6%
2026-03-31$1.0B-$214.9M$118.5M-$333.4M-31.9%

Cash conversion quality

Checks that separate high-quality free cash flow from accounting noise or working-capital timing.

FCF / net income-96.2%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue11.4%Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin.
Net cash$1.9BCash and equivalents minus total debt.

Recent events shaping cash flow

Near-term business events that help explain the free cash flow result.

Watch

Operating Cash Flow Swing

Operating cash flow shifted from a large positive in the prior quarter to a negative figure in the current quarter, which was the primary factor behind the free cash flow deficit.

This swing signals a significant change in cash generation capability that will shape future free cash flow direction.

What the cash flow says

How to interpret the company's free cash flow beyond the headline number.

Revenue was lower sequentially, and operating cash flow shifted from positive to negative, leading to negative free cash flow and a negative margin. Capital expenditure decreased compared to both the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter.

Compared to the prior quarter, operating cash flow and free cash flow weakened significantly, while revenue also declined. Relative to the same quarter a year earlier, both operating cash flow and free cash flow improved, with a less negative margin.

Monitor whether operating cash flow can return to positive in upcoming quarters.

Valuation context

A cash-flow page should show how much investors are paying for the cash stream, without turning into a full DCF.

Market capitalization$24.1BUsed as the denominator for FCF yield.
TTM FCF yield6.9%TTM free cash flow divided by market capitalization.
EV / TTM FCF13.3xA quick valuation bridge, not a full DCF.

Peer context

Free cash flow quality is easier to read against related public companies.

FS
FSLR

First Solar, Inc.

FCF margin

-31.9%

FCF yield

6.9%

Risks and tripwires

Observable signals that would weaken the free cash flow thesis.

RiskTripwireWhy it matters
FCF margin compressionFCF margin falls for two consecutive quarters.Cash conversion may be weakening before earnings show it.
Capital intensity risesCapEx/revenue moves materially above the recent run rate.More operating cash flow would be consumed before becoming FCF.
Working capital dragInventory or receivables grow faster than revenue.Reported growth may not translate into cash.
FSLR Free Cash Flow History & Quarterly Analysis