Economic Value Added (EVA)
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Economic value added or economic profit is the difference between revenues and costs,where costs include not only expenses, but also cost of capital.
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First Solar Inc. pages available for free this week:
- Income Statement
- Statement of Comprehensive Income
- Cash Flow Statement
- Analysis of Profitability Ratios
- Analysis of Liquidity Ratios
- Analysis of Solvency Ratios
- Enterprise Value to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA)
- Net Profit Margin since 2006
- Total Asset Turnover since 2006
- Price to Operating Profit (P/OP) since 2006
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Economic Profit
First Solar Inc., economic profit calculation
US$ in thousands
| 12 months ended: | Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net operating profit after taxes (NOPAT)1 | ||||||
| Cost of capital2 | ||||||
| Invested capital3 | ||||||
| Economic profit4 | ||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31).
1 NOPAT. See details »
2 Cost of capital. See details »
3 Invested capital. See details »
4 2023 Calculation
Economic profit = NOPAT – Cost of capital × Invested capital
= – × =
- Net Operating Profit After Taxes (NOPAT)
- The net operating profit after taxes displayed a significant upward trend over the five-year period. It started with a negative value of -94,458 thousand USD in 2019, indicating operating losses at that time. It reversed sharply in 2020 to a positive 214,327 thousand USD and continued to increase substantially in the following years, reaching 1,542,086 thousand USD by the end of 2023. This indicates improving operational performance and profitability.
- Cost of Capital
- The cost of capital showed a generally increasing trend from 17.36% in 2019 to a peak of 18.82% in 2022, then slightly declined to 18.48% in 2023. This upward movement suggests a gradually increasing cost or risk associated with capital financing over the period, though the decline in the final year may indicate some stabilization or improved capital market conditions.
- Invested Capital
- Invested capital increased from 4,894,577 thousand USD in 2019 to 7,840,426 thousand USD in 2023, reflecting substantial growth in the company’s capital base. There was consistent growth from 2019 through 2021, a dip in 2022, and then a significant increase in 2023, suggesting major investments or asset acquisitions in the recent year after a contraction in 2022.
- Economic Profit
- Economic profit showed a steady improvement from a considerable negative figure of -943,925 thousand USD in 2019 to a small positive 92,838 thousand USD in 2023. Despite the negative economic profit in the earlier years, the narrowing losses from 2019 through 2022 and eventual switch to positive in 2023 indicate growing value creation beyond the cost of capital and improved operational efficiency aligned with increasing profitability.
Net Operating Profit after Taxes (NOPAT)
First Solar Inc., NOPAT calculation
US$ in thousands
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31).
1 Elimination of deferred tax expense. See details »
2 Addition of increase (decrease) in allowance for credit losses.
3 Addition of increase (decrease) in deferred revenue.
4 Addition of increase (decrease) in product warranty liability.
5 Addition of increase (decrease) in equity equivalents to net income (loss).
6 2023 Calculation
Interest expense on capitalized operating leases = Operating lease liability × Discount rate
= × =
7 2023 Calculation
Tax benefit of interest expense, net = Adjusted interest expense, net × Statutory income tax rate
= × 21.00% =
8 Addition of after taxes interest expense to net income (loss).
9 2023 Calculation
Tax expense (benefit) of investment income = Investment income, before tax × Statutory income tax rate
= × 21.00% =
10 Elimination of after taxes investment income.
- Net Income (Loss)
- The net income data over the five-year period exhibits notable volatility and a marked improvement towards the end of the timeline. In 2019, the company recorded a significant net loss of approximately $114.9 million. This was followed by a substantial turnaround in 2020 with net income reaching nearly $398.4 million, indicating a strong recovery. The positive trend continued in 2021, with net income increasing modestly to about $468.7 million. However, 2022 saw a reversal, with net income again falling into a loss of approximately $44.2 million. Importantly, 2023 demonstrated a dramatic rebound, achieving a peak net income of about $830.8 million, the highest in the observed period.
- Net Operating Profit After Taxes (NOPAT)
- The Net Operating Profit After Taxes shows a consistent upward trend throughout the period under review, reflecting improving operating efficiency. Starting from a negative value of roughly $94.5 million in 2019, NOPAT turned positive by 2020 at approximately $214.3 million. It continued to grow significantly, reaching around $568.0 million in 2021, demonstrating effective operational performance. The growth accelerated in 2022, with NOPAT rising to about $826.9 million. The most substantial increase occurred in 2023 where NOPAT almost doubled from the previous year to approximately $1.54 billion, indicating strong underlying profitability and likely improvements in operational control or revenue generation capabilities.
- Overall Trends and Insights
- The financial performance shows a notable improvement in operational profitability (NOPAT) across the entire time span, suggesting enhanced core business efficiency. Meanwhile, net income figures indicate more volatility, particularly with losses in 2019 and 2022 interrupting an otherwise positive trend. The drastic increase in net income and NOPAT in 2023 points to a possible significant positive development impacting profitability, such as operational expansions, cost reductions, or favorable market conditions. The divergence between the smoother upward trend in NOPAT and the fluctuations in net income implies that non-operating items or extraordinary events may be influencing the net income results in certain years.
Cash Operating Taxes
First Solar Inc., cash operating taxes calculation
US$ in thousands
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31).
- Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
- The income tax expense shows significant fluctuations over the analyzed period. In 2019 and 2020, the company recorded negative values indicating income tax benefits of -5,480 and -107,294 thousand US dollars respectively. However, beginning in 2021, there was a reversal to positive income tax expenses, with the company incurring 103,469 thousand US dollars in 2021, followed by slightly reduced expenses of 52,764 and 60,513 thousand US dollars in 2022 and 2023 respectively. This pattern indicates a shift from benefiting from tax credits or other tax advantages to a tax expense liability, stabilizing somewhat in the last two years but remaining significantly above the 2019 figure.
- Cash Operating Taxes
- Cash operating taxes also exhibited considerable volatility during the period. In 2019, the company paid 42,935 thousand US dollars in cash taxes. In 2020, this figure dropped sharply to a negative 119,248 thousand US dollars, indicating possible tax refunds or credits realized in that year. From 2021 onwards, cash operating taxes returned to positive figures, with 23,041 thousand US dollars in 2021, rising to 54,928 and 56,472 thousand US dollars in 2022 and 2023 respectively. The upward trend in cash taxes paid in the latter years suggests increasing taxable income or reduced available tax credits.
Invested Capital
First Solar Inc., invested capital calculation (financing approach)
US$ in thousands
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31).
1 Addition of capitalized operating leases.
2 Elimination of deferred taxes from assets and liabilities. See details »
3 Addition of allowance for doubtful accounts receivable.
4 Addition of deferred revenue.
5 Addition of product warranty liability.
6 Addition of equity equivalents to stockholders’ equity.
7 Removal of accumulated other comprehensive income.
8 Subtraction of construction in progress.
9 Subtraction of marketable securities and restricted marketable securities.
- Total reported debt & leases
- The total reported debt and leases exhibited a fluctuating trend over the five-year period. It decreased steadily from approximately 595 million US dollars at the end of 2019 to around 234 million US dollars by the end of 2022. However, there was a significant increase in 2023, with this figure rising sharply to about 624 million US dollars, exceeding the initial level recorded in 2019.
- Stockholders’ equity
- Stockholders’ equity showed a consistent upward trend throughout the period under review. Starting at roughly 5.1 billion US dollars in 2019, it increased gradually each year, reaching approximately 6.7 billion US dollars by the end of 2023. Despite a slight dip between 2021 and 2022, the overall movement indicates strengthening equity and possibly retained earnings or capital injections over time.
- Invested capital
- Invested capital also displayed variability across the years. From about 4.9 billion US dollars in 2019, it rose modestly to approximately 5.7 billion US dollars in 2021, followed by a decrease to roughly 5.05 billion US dollars in 2022. Notably, there was a marked surge in 2023, with invested capital reaching nearly 7.84 billion US dollars, representing the highest level in the observed period and suggesting increased resource deployment or asset acquisition during that year.
Cost of Capital
First Solar Inc., cost of capital calculations
| Capital (fair value)1 | Weights | Cost of capital | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity2 | ÷ | = | × | = | |||||||||
| Debt and finance lease liabilities3 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Operating lease liability4 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Total: | |||||||||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31).
1 US$ in thousands
2 Equity. See details »
3 Debt and finance lease liabilities. See details »
4 Operating lease liability. See details »
| Capital (fair value)1 | Weights | Cost of capital | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity2 | ÷ | = | × | = | |||||||||
| Debt and finance lease liabilities3 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Operating lease liability4 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Total: | |||||||||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31).
1 US$ in thousands
2 Equity. See details »
3 Debt and finance lease liabilities. See details »
4 Operating lease liability. See details »
| Capital (fair value)1 | Weights | Cost of capital | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity2 | ÷ | = | × | = | |||||||||
| Debt and finance lease liabilities3 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Operating lease liability4 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Total: | |||||||||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31).
1 US$ in thousands
2 Equity. See details »
3 Debt and finance lease liabilities. See details »
4 Operating lease liability. See details »
| Capital (fair value)1 | Weights | Cost of capital | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity2 | ÷ | = | × | = | |||||||||
| Debt and finance lease liabilities3 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Operating lease liability4 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Total: | |||||||||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).
1 US$ in thousands
2 Equity. See details »
3 Debt and finance lease liabilities. See details »
4 Operating lease liability. See details »
| Capital (fair value)1 | Weights | Cost of capital | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity2 | ÷ | = | × | = | |||||||||
| Debt and finance lease liabilities3 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Operating lease liability4 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Total: | |||||||||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31).
1 US$ in thousands
2 Equity. See details »
3 Debt and finance lease liabilities. See details »
4 Operating lease liability. See details »
Economic Spread Ratio
First Solar Inc., economic spread ratio calculation, comparison to benchmarks
| Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in thousands) | ||||||
| Economic profit1 | ||||||
| Invested capital2 | ||||||
| Performance Ratio | ||||||
| Economic spread ratio3 | ||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||
| Economic Spread Ratio, Competitors4 | ||||||
| Advanced Micro Devices Inc. | ||||||
| Analog Devices Inc. | ||||||
| Applied Materials Inc. | ||||||
| Broadcom Inc. | ||||||
| Intel Corp. | ||||||
| KLA Corp. | ||||||
| Lam Research Corp. | ||||||
| Micron Technology Inc. | ||||||
| NVIDIA Corp. | ||||||
| Qualcomm Inc. | ||||||
| Texas Instruments Inc. | ||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31).
1 Economic profit. See details »
2 Invested capital. See details »
3 2023 Calculation
Economic spread ratio = 100 × Economic profit ÷ Invested capital
= 100 × ÷ =
4 Click competitor name to see calculations.
- Economic Profit Trend
- The economic profit shows a consistent improvement over the five-year period. Initially, it was significantly negative at -943,925 thousand US dollars in 2019. This negative value decreased progressively each year, reaching -124,528 thousand US dollars by the end of 2022. Notably, in 2023, the economic profit became positive for the first time at 92,838 thousand US dollars, indicating a turnaround in profitability from an economic value perspective.
- Invested Capital Movement
- Invested capital experienced moderate growth between 2019 and 2021, rising from 4,894,577 thousand US dollars to 5,692,249 thousand US dollars. However, there was a decline in 2022 to 5,054,301 thousand US dollars, followed by a substantial increase in 2023, reaching 7,840,426 thousand US dollars. This sharp growth in 2023 suggests a significant expansion or reinvestment strategy undertaken during this period.
- Economic Spread Ratio Analysis
- The economic spread ratio improved steadily from -19.29% in 2019 to 1.18% in 2023. This trend demonstrates a narrowing gap and eventual positive economic spread, reflecting enhanced efficiency in generating returns above the cost of invested capital. The ratio's progression from a deeply negative percentage to a slightly positive figure in 2023 aligns with the turning positive economic profit in the same year.
Economic Profit Margin
First Solar Inc., economic profit margin calculation, comparison to benchmarks
| Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in thousands) | ||||||
| Economic profit1 | ||||||
| Net sales | ||||||
| Add: Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue | ||||||
| Adjusted net sales | ||||||
| Performance Ratio | ||||||
| Economic profit margin2 | ||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||
| Economic Profit Margin, Competitors3 | ||||||
| Advanced Micro Devices Inc. | ||||||
| Analog Devices Inc. | ||||||
| Applied Materials Inc. | ||||||
| Broadcom Inc. | ||||||
| Intel Corp. | ||||||
| KLA Corp. | ||||||
| Lam Research Corp. | ||||||
| Micron Technology Inc. | ||||||
| NVIDIA Corp. | ||||||
| Qualcomm Inc. | ||||||
| Texas Instruments Inc. | ||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31).
1 Economic profit. See details »
2 2023 Calculation
Economic profit margin = 100 × Economic profit ÷ Adjusted net sales
= 100 × ÷ =
3 Click competitor name to see calculations.
- Economic Profit
- The economic profit shows a strongly improving trend over the analyzed period. Starting from a significant negative value of -943,925 thousand US dollars in 2019, the loss decreased consistently each year, reaching positive territory in 2023 with a value of 92,838 thousand US dollars. This indicates enhanced value creation and operational efficiency over time.
- Adjusted Net Sales
- Adjusted net sales demonstrate a generally positive growth trajectory. Sales initially declined from 3,280,003 thousand US dollars in 2019 to 2,550,409 thousand in 2020, likely reflecting external market challenges. However, from 2020 onwards, sales increased steadily each year, culminating in 4,115,845 thousand US dollars in 2023, surpassing the 2019 level.
- Economic Profit Margin
- The economic profit margin parallels the economic profit trend, showing consistent improvement over the timeline. It advanced from -28.78% in 2019 to 2.26% in 2023. This upward movement signifies increasing profitability and better cost management relative to sales, with the margin turning positive in the final year examined.