First Solar Inc (FSLR)

Operating return on assets (Operating ROA)

		Dec 31, 2023	Sep 30, 2023	Jun 30, 2023	Mar 31, 2023	Dec 31, 2022	Sep 30, 2022	Jun 30, 2022	Mar 31, 2022	Dec 31, 2021	Sep 30, 2021	Jun 30, 2021	Mar 31, 2021	Dec 31, 2020	Sep 30, 2020	Jun 30, 2020	Mar 31, 2020	Dec 31, 2019	Sep 30, 2019	Jun 30, 2019	Mar 31, 2019
Operating income (ttm)	US$ in thousands	857,266	413,576	72,258	48,570	-27,236	191,829	311,049	276,599	586,751	471,366	627,662	568,181	317,489	141,849	-24,010	-83,490	-161,785	-32,911	-15,740	-110,790
Total assets	US$ in thousands	10,365,100	9,582,640	8,997,170	8,564,600	8,251,230	7,492,820	7,419,370	7,399,220	7,413,750	7,268,630	7,248,470	7,108,910	7,108,930	6,985,220	7,072,620	6,949,140	7,515,690	7,054,690	7,137,810	7,256,930
Operating ROA		8.27%	4.32%	0.80%	0.57%	-0.33%	2.56%	4.19%	3.74%	7.91%	6.48%	8.66%	7.99%	4.47%	2.03%	-0.34%	-1.20%	-2.15%	-0.47%	-0.22%	-1.53%

December 31, 2023 calculation

Operating ROA = Operating income (ttm) ÷ Total assets
= $857,266K ÷ $10,365,100K
= 8.27%

The operating return on assets (operating ROA) for First Solar Inc has shown fluctuations over the past eight quarters. In Q4 2023, the operating ROA was at 8.55%, marking a significant improvement from the previous quarter's 4.68%. However, it is important to note that the Q4 2023 operating ROA should be analyzed in conjunction with other financial metrics for a more comprehensive evaluation of the company's performance. Furthermore, the data indicates that First Solar Inc experienced a period of negative operating ROA in Q1 2023 and Q2 2023, suggesting potential challenges in effectively utilizing its assets to generate operating profits during that time. Overall, a close monitoring of the trend in operating ROA is crucial for assessing the company's operational efficiency and profitability over time.