Updates

** U.S.-based solar panel maker First Solar FSLR.O forecast higher 2025 sales and posted a rise in fourth-quarter profit on Tuesday, helped by strong demand

** Company expects 2025 sales between $5.3 billion and $5.8 billion, whit a midpoint about 32% higher than last year

** FSLR's shares rise 10.5% to $163

EXPECT NEAR-TERM GROSS MARGIN HEADWINDS

** Jefferies ("buy") cuts PT to $201 from $230, says weak margins and uncertainty could pressure stock in the near term

** "Beyond 2025, we see some pain points on costs and average selling prices to resolve itself, while some to linger going forward," brokerage

** RBC Capital Markets ("outperform") cuts PT to $251 from $280, says Q4 results and 2025 guide disappoints due to a series of headwinds

** Brokerage adds: while these could be transitory impacts, timing for a resolution is uncertain due to limited visibility into policy, which is impacting FSLR's ability to efficiently manage its operations

** J.P. Morgan ("overweight") cuts PT to $268 from $282, says that despite Q4 results and 2025 outlook being below expectations, it views the near-term gross margin headwinds as mostly temporary

(Reporting by Katha Kalia)

((katha.kalia@thomsonreuters.com))