First Solar gains $9.44 in heavy trading

2/15/2007

A day after posting its first profit in its 20-year history, Toledo-born First Solar Inc. turned red hot in the stock market yesterday.

The company s shares gained $9.44 each to close at $43.72, with nearly 5.9 million trading on Nasdaq, more than seven times normal levels.

The solar panel maker, which is based in Phoenix but has its sole factory in Perrysburg Township, started trading in October at about $20 a share. The firm reported a $4 million profit Tuesday after the stock market closed. The company also was touted yesterday by national Wall Street analyst Jim Cramer.