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

First Solar, Inc. stock research

First Solar (FSLR) Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Mar 31, 2026

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.

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.

Cash flow trend

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

PeriodRevenueOperating CFCapExFCFFCF margin
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%