What Happened?

Shares of solar panel manufacturer First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) fell 5.5% in the afternoon session after continued weakness in the clean energy sector driven by concerns over new tariffs and changes to government subsidies. The slide in clean energy stocks, including First Solar, comes as investors weigh the impact of President Trump's announcement of new tariffs of 25%–40% on 14 countries. Although the start date was moved to August 1, the policy creates uncertainty for solar panel importers. Adding to investor concerns, a new domestic policy bill is expected to end key subsidies for the clean energy sector. This combination of potentially higher costs from tariffs and the removal of government financial support is pressuring the outlook for solar companies.

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What Is The Market Telling Us

First Solar’s shares are extremely volatile and have had 34 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, today’s move indicates the market considers this news meaningful but not something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business.

First Solar is down 10.4% since the beginning of the year, and at $166.90 per share, it is trading 34.7% below its 52-week high of $255.75 from September 2024. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of First Solar’s shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $2,877.

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