FIRST SOLAR, INC. (FSLR)

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), which are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. All statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made pursuant to safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements include statements, among other things, concerning: effects resulting from certain module manufacturing changes; our business strategy, including anticipated trends and developments in and management plans for our business and the markets in which we operate; future financial results, operating results, module volumes produced, module volumes sold, revenues, gross margin, operating expenses, products, projected costs (including estimated future module collection and recycling costs), warranties and anticipated claims thereunder, solar module technology and cost reduction roadmaps, product reliability, investments, and capital expenditures; our ability to continue to reduce the cost per watt of our solar modules; the impact of public policies, such as tariffs, export controls, or other trade remedies; the potential impact of legislation intended to encourage renewable energy investments through tax credits; our ability to expand manufacturing capacity, including the construction of new manufacturing facilities in the United States and related increases in manufacturing capacity; the impact of supply chain disruptions, which may affect the procurement of raw materials used in our manufacturing process and the distribution of our modules; R&D programs and our ability to improve the wattage of our solar modules; our ability to enforce our intellectual property rights; and competition. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words, such as “estimate,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “seek,” “believe,” “forecast,” “foresee,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “goal,” “target,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “predict,” “continue,” “contingent,” and the negative or plural of these words, and other comparable terminology.

Forward-looking statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and our projections about future events. All forward-looking statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are based upon information available to us as of the filing date of the report and therefore speak only as of the filing date. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements for any reason, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. These factors include, but are not limited to:

•structural imbalances in global supply and demand for PV solar modules;

•our competitive position and other key competitive factors;

•the modification, reduction, elimination, or expiration of government subsidies, economic incentives, tax incentives, renewable energy targets, and other support for on-grid solar electricity applications;

•the impact of public policies, such as tariffs, export controls, or other trade remedies imposed on solar cells and modules or related raw materials or equipment;

•our ability to obtain, realize, or timely collect tariff refunds, including refunds filed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection relating to IEEPA duties, and the amount and timing of such recoveries;

•the loss of any of our large customers, or the inability of our customers and counterparties to perform under their contracts with us, including through terminations by customers of any contract in part or in full;

•our ability to attract new customers and to develop and maintain existing customer and supplier relationships;

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•interest rate fluctuations and our customers’ ability to secure financing;

•our ability to execute on our long-term strategic plans, including our ability to secure financing and realize the potential benefits of strategic acquisitions and investments;

•our ability to execute on our solar module technology and cost reduction roadmaps;

•claims under our limited warranty obligations;

•our continued investments in R&D;

•our ability to incorporate technology improvements into our manufacturing process, including the implementation of our copper replacement (“CuRe”) program;

•our ability to improve the wattage of our solar modules;

•our ability to construct new production facilities to support new product lines;

•the supply and price of key raw materials (including CdTe, tellurium, and tellurium compounds), components, and manufacturing equipment;

•supply chain disruptions;

•our ability to avoid manufacturing interruptions, including during the ramp of new manufacturing facilities;

•future collection and recycling costs for solar modules covered by our module collection and recycling program, or otherwise as required by external laws and regulations;

•our ability to protect or successfully commercialize our intellectual property;

•environmental responsibility, including with respect to CdTe and other semiconductor materials;

•changes in, or the failure to comply with, government regulations and environmental, health, and safety requirements;

•evolving corporate governance and public disclosure regulations and expectations, including with respect to environmental, social, and governance matters;

•effects arising from and results of pending litigation;

•general economic and business conditions, including those influenced by U.S., international, and geopolitical events and conflicts;

•our ability to prevent and/or minimize the impact of cybersecurity incidents or information or security breaches;

•the severity and duration of public health threats;

•our ability to attract, train, retain, and successfully integrate key talent into our team; and

•all other matters discussed in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and our other reports filed with the SEC.

You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in this section. The following discussion and analysis of our business, financial condition, and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

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Executive Overview

We are America’s leading PV solar technology and manufacturing company. The only U.S.-headquartered company among the world’s largest solar manufacturers, First Solar is focused on competitively and reliably enabling power generation needs with our advanced, uniquely American thin film PV technology. Developed at R&D labs in California and Ohio, our technology provides a competitive, high-performance, and responsibly produced alternative to conventional crystalline silicon PV solar modules. Our PV solar modules are produced using a fully integrated, continuous process that does not rely on Chinese crystalline silicon supply chains.

We are the world’s largest thin film PV solar module manufacturer and the largest PV solar module manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere. We recently commenced operations at our fifth manufacturing facility in the United States. We are in the process of further expanding our domestic manufacturing capacity, including the construction of our sixth U.S. manufacturing facility in South Carolina to onshore final production processes for modules initiated by our international fleet, with the first phase expected to commence operations in the second half of 2026. Our global manufacturing footprint spans the United States, India, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Certain of our financial results and other key operational developments for the three months ended June 30, 2026 include the following:

•Net sales for the three months ended June 30, 2026 decreased by 3.7% to $1.1 billion compared to the same period in 2025. The decrease was primarily due to lower revenue associated with customer contract terminations, partially offset by a 5.3% increase in the volume of modules sold to third parties.

•Gross profit as a percentage of net sales for the three months ended June 30, 2026 increased 11.7 percentage points to 57.3% from 45.6% for the same period in 2025. The increase was primarily due to the net benefit related to expected IEEPA tariff refunds less estimated amounts payable to customers; a higher volume of modules qualifying for the advanced manufacturing production credit under Section 45X of the IRC; and lower logistics costs, partially offset by lower revenue associated with customer contract terminations and higher duties and tariffs.

•During the three months ended June 30, 2026, we produced 4.3 GW and sold 3.7 GW of solar modules, compared to 4.2 GW produced and 3.6 GW sold in the same period in 2025.

•In May 2026, we satisfied all obligations under the India Credit Facility by prepaying the final principal amount of $328.2 million and outstanding interest of $5.5 million.

Market Overview

Solar energy is one of the fastest growing forms of renewable energy with numerous benefits, including economic benefits and speed of deployment, which make it an attractive complement to, or substitute for, traditional forms of energy generation. In recent years, the cost of electricity from PV solar power systems has generally been competitive with, or below, other forms of generation. Other technological developments in the renewable energy industry, such as the advancement and availability of energy storage capabilities, have further enhanced the prospects of solar energy as an attractive complement to traditional forms of energy generation.

Government incentive programs have contributed to this momentum by providing solar module manufacturers, project developers, and project owners with various incentives to accelerate the deployment of solar power generation. Our net sales and profits remain subject to variability based on the availability and size of these programs, including tax and production incentives, renewable portfolio standards, and other incentive programs intended to stimulate economies, establish greater energy independence, and achieve decarbonization initiatives.

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Supply and Demand

As a result of the market opportunities described above, we recently commenced operations at our fifth manufacturing facility in the United States. We are in the process of further expanding our domestic manufacturing capacity, including the construction of our sixth U.S. manufacturing facility in South Carolina to onshore final production processes for modules initiated by our international fleet, with the first phase expected to commence operations in the second half of 2026. We believe manufacturers of solar cells and modules, particularly those in China, have significant excess installed production capacity, relative to global demand, and the ability for additional capacity expansion. Accordingly, we believe the solar industry may experience periods of structural imbalance between supply and demand, which could lead to periods of pricing volatility. Further, demand for solar energy i

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition to historical financial information, the following discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions as described under the “Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” that appears earlier in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including those discussed under Item 1A. “Risk Factors,” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion and analysis does not address certain items in respect of the year ended December 31, 2023. See Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 for comparative discussions of our results of operations and liquidity and capital resources for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.

Executive Overview

We are America’s leading PV solar technology and manufacturing company. The only U.S.-headquartered company among the world’s largest solar manufacturers, First Solar is focused on competitively and reliably enabling power generation needs with our advanced, uniquely American thin film PV technology. Developed at R&D labs in California and Ohio, our technology provides a competitive, high-performance, and responsibly produced alternative to conventional crystalline silicon PV solar modules. Our PV solar modules are produced using a fully integrated, continuous process that does not rely on Chinese crystalline silicon supply chains.

We are the world’s largest thin film PV solar module manufacturer and the largest PV solar module manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere. We recently commenced operations at our fourth and fifth manufacturing facilities in the United States and completed the expansion of our manufacturing footprint at our existing facilities in Ohio. We are in the process of further expanding our domestic manufacturing capacity, including the construction of our sixth U.S. manufacturing facility to onshore final production processes for modules initiated by our international fleet, which is expected to commence operations in the second half of 2026. Our global manufacturing footprint spans the United States, India, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Certain of our financial results and other key operational developments for the year ended December 31, 2025 include the following:

•Net sales for 2025 increased by 24% to $5.2 billion compared to $4.2 billion in 2024. The increase in net sales was primarily driven by an increase in the volume of modules sold to third parties.

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•Gross profit as a percentage of net sales decreased 3.6 percentage points to 40.6% in 2025 from 44.2% in 2024. The decrease was primarily driven by higher costs related to a sales mix that included more U.S.-produced modules, higher warehousing costs, additional duties and tariff costs, and higher logistics charges, partially offset by the recognition of higher advanced manufacturing production credits under Section 45X of the IRC.

•During 2025, we commenced production of Series 7 modules at our new manufacturing facility in Louisiana. During 2025, we produced 16.1 GW and sold 17.5 GW of solar modules.

•In June 2025 and July 2025, we entered into two separate agreements for the sale of $701.9 million of Section 45X tax credits we generated during 2025 for aggregate cash proceeds of $668.1 million. We received the full cash proceeds during the year ended December 31, 2025.

•In October 2025, we entered into two separate agreements for the sale of $699.7 million of Section 45X tax credits we generated during 2025 for aggregate cash proceeds of $668.2 million. We received initial cash proceeds of $573.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2025, and expect to receive the remaining cash proceeds of $95.2 million during the first quarter of 2026.

•During 2025, we terminated various master supply agreements with BP Solar Holding LLC and its affiliate Lightsource Renewable Energy Trading, LLC due to the customers’ failure to cure several breaches of their contractual obligations. These terminations triggered certain contractual termination payment provisions amounting to $384.6 million, of which we recognized $61.0 million as revenue for advance payments previously received from the customer. In September 2025, we filed a complaint with the Supreme Court of the State of New York seeking relief and demanding payment from these customers for the remaining termination payments along with certain other receivables for solar modules previously delivered.

Market Overview

Solar energy is one of the fastest growing forms of renewable energy with numerous benefits, including economic benefits and speed of deployment, which make it an attractive complement to or substitute for traditional forms of energy generation. In recent years, the cost of electricity from PV solar power systems has generally been competitive with or below other forms of generation. Other technological developments in the renewable energy industry, such as the advancement of energy storage capabilities, have further enhanced the prospects of solar energy as an attractive complement to traditional forms of energy generation. As a result of these and other factors, worldwide solar markets continue to develop and expand.

Government incentive programs have contributed to this momentum by providing solar module manufacturers, project developers, and project owners with various incentives to accelerate the deployment of solar power generation. For more information about these incentive programs, see Item 1. “Business – Incentive Programs.” Although we compete in markets that do not require solar-specific government incentive programs, our net sales and profits remain subject to variability based on the availability and size of these programs, including tax and production incentives, renewable portfolio standards, and other incentive programs intended to stimulate economies, achieve decarbonization initiatives, and/or establish greater energy independence. Such programs continue to influence the demand for PV solar energy around the world.

Supply and Demand

As a result of the market opportunities described above, we recently commenced operations at our fourth and fifth manufacturing facilities in the United States and completed the expansion of our manufacturing footprint at our existing facilities in Ohio. We are in the process of further expanding our domestic manufacturing capacity, including the construction of our sixth U.S. manufacturing facility to onshore final production processes for modules initiated by our international fleet, which is expected to commence operations in the second half of 2026. We believe

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manufacturers of solar cells and modules, particularly those in China, have significant installed production capacity, relative to global demand, and the ability for additional capacity expansion. Accordingly, we believe the solar industry may experience periods of structural imbalance between supply and demand, which could lead to periods of pricing volatility. Further, demand for solar energy in key markets, such as the United States and India, may be affected by the nature and extent of commitments to the renewable energy transition at the local and global levels. Notwithstanding these considerations, utility and corporate demand for energy and overall electric load growth, especially as a result of AI-driven data center demand, continue to increase. Further, even on an unsubsidized basis, utility-scale PV solar is cost competitive with conventional forms of energy generation, including natural gas and nuclear, and is significantly faster to deploy than a five-year natural gas project development timeline or a much longer nuclear project timeline.

Given the combination of (i) a European market captured by Chinese solar modules, where pricing is at levels near or below manufacturing costs, (ii) an Indian market effectively closed to Southeast Asian products, (iii) a general supply and demand imbalance for Southeast Asian products, and (iv) certain tariffs on modules imported into the United States, we have reduced production of Series 6 modules at our international manufacturing facilities.

In light of these market realities, we continue to advocate for industrial and trade policies that provide a level playing field for manufacturers of solar cells and modules. We also continue to focus on our strategies and points of differentiation, which include our proprietary advanced module technology, our manufacturing process and distributed manufacturing presence, our localized supply chain, our R&D capabilities, our commitment to responsible solar, and our financial stability.

Pricing Competition

The solar industry continues to be characterized by intense pricing competition, both at the module and system levels. This competition may result in an environment in which pricing falls rapidly, which could potentially increase demand for solar energy solutions but constrain the ability for module manufacturers and project developers to sustain meaningful and consistent profitability. Our results of operations could be adversely affected if competitors reduce pricing below their costs, bid aggressively low prices for module sale agreements, or are able to operate at minimal or negative operating margins for sustained periods of time. For certain of our competitors, including many in China, these practices may be enabled by their direct or indirect access to sovereign capital or other forms of state support. Module average selling prices in many global markets have declined. However, recent module pricing in the United States, our primary market, has remained stable due, in part, to the rising demand for domestically manufactured modules as a result of the IRA, energy tax credit eligibility restrictions (including foreign-entity-related limitations) as amended by the OBBBA, and tariffs on modules imported into the United States.

Diverse Offerings

We face intense competition from manufacturers of crystalline silicon solar modules and other emerging technologies. Solar module manufacturers compete with one another on sales price per watt, which may be influenced by several module value attributes, including energy yield, wattage (through a larger form factor or an improved conversion efficiency), degradation, sustainability, and reliability. Sales price per watt may also be influenced by warranty terms, customer payment terms, and/or module attributes. We believe that utility-scale solar will continue to be a compelling offering and will continue to represent an increasing portion of the overall electricity generation mix. However, this focus on utility-scale module offerings exists within a current market environment that includes rooftop and distributed generation solar, which may influence our future offerings.

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We continue to devote significant resources to support the implementation of our technology roadmap and improve the energy output of our modules. In the course of our R&D activities, we explore various technologies in our efforts to sustain competitive differentiation of our modules. Such technologies include the development of bifacial modules, the implementation of our CuRe program, and the ongoing R&D of a viable and commercially scalable perovskite product.

•Bifacial. While conventional solar modules are monofacial, meaning their ability to produce energy is a

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