First Solar (FSLR) Stock; Rises 5% on Google-Intersect Energy Deal

TLDRs;

• First Solar shares surged 5% on Alphabet’s Intersect Power partnership announcement.
• Solar peers also gained as utility-scale demand expectations improved for 2026.
• Market attention now shifts to upcoming U.S. jobs and CPI reports.
• First Solar’s next earnings report remains a key catalyst for investors.

First Solar, Inc. (FSLR) opened 2026 with a notable 5% rise, closing Friday at $274.34 per share. The rally extended optimism for solar-linked equities following news of Alphabet’s planned collaboration with Intersect Power, a developer specializing in solar-and-storage projects for data centers. The announcement has drawn attention to First Solar’s thin-film modules, which constitute a major portion of its utility-scale sales.

Investors reacted to the strategic implications of Intersect’s “energy parks” concept, which integrates data centers with solar generation and battery storage on-site. By reducing dependence on the public grid, these setups can accelerate deployment timelines and support growing AI-related energy demand.

Peer Solar Stocks Also Advance

The momentum in First Solar was mirrored across the solar sector. Enphase Energy rose 5.3%, SolarEdge Technologies climbed 8.6%, and Sunrun gained 5.6%. Analysts suggest that the broader gains reflect a market-wide recalibration of demand expectations for U.S.-made solar equipment, particularly in segments linked to large-scale utility projects.

First Solar, Inc., FSLR

Despite gains in the clean-energy sector, broader market performance was more subdued. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.66%, the S&P 500 added 0.19%, and the Nasdaq held roughly flat, buoyed primarily by chip stock rallies. Traders maintained a “buy the dip, sell the rip” approach, according to Charles Schwab’s Joe Mazzola, reflecting cautious optimism in early 2026 market conditions.

Macro Factors in Focus

Interest rates and macroeconomic data continue to shape investor sentiment for renewable-energy stocks. Rising borrowing costs can weigh on project economics, whereas easing expectations for rates provide support for equities in this sector.

Investors are closely watching upcoming labor-market data, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics scheduled to release the December employment report on January 9, followed by the consumer price index on January 13.

These releases are expected to influence Treasury yields and the broader rate environment, which can, in turn, affect the valuation of rate-sensitive sectors like clean energy. Analysts note that shifts in these macro indicators could either reinforce the current rally in solar stocks or prompt short-term corrections.

Leadership Updates and Forward-Looking Catalysts

Separately, First Solar announced that its Chief Financial Officer, Alexander R. Bradley, has joined the board of Sandisk and was appointed to the audit committee. Bradley has been First Solar’s CFO since 2016, bringing deep industry experience to the broader technology and energy ecosystem.

Looking ahead, investors are monitoring whether Friday’s upward momentum in solar stocks holds as attention pivots to company-specific and macroeconomic catalysts. First Solar’s next earnings release, currently projected for February 24 by Wall Street trackers, will provide further insight into operational performance and profitability. Analysts expect an average EPS of $5.21 for the December quarter, which could either reinforce or temper the market’s optimism.

As 2026 begins, First Solar’s rally underscores the growing intersection of technology and renewable energy, highlighting how strategic partnerships and utility-scale innovations are driving investor sentiment in the solar sector.

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