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Canadian Solar (CSIQ) AI Stock Analysis

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CSIQ

Canadian Solar

(NASDAQ:CSIQ)

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Rating:44Neutral
Price Target:$10.00â–¼(-1.67% Downside)
Action:reiterated
Date:10/23/26

CSIQ scores low primarily due to weak financial performance (losses, high leverage, and deep negative free cash flow) and bearish technicals (price below all key moving averages with negative MACD). The earnings call adds some offset via reiterated volume guidance, improving margin outlook, and large contracted module/storage backlogs, but execution and cash-flow stabilization remain the key requirements for a higher score.

Positive Factors
Contracted backlogLarge contracted module and storage backlogs provide multi-year demand visibility and support future revenue conversion. Deliveries extending through 2029, alongside long-term service agreements, can strengthen customer relationships and create a more durable base for the platform business.
Negative Factors
Intensifying competitionThe sharp subsidiary revenue decline and cited price competition indicate sustained pressure on solar product economics. If lower prices continue to outpace storage growth or cost improvements, Canadian Solar may face weaker revenue quality, reduced margins, and less resilient earnings.

Canadian Solar Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Revenue by SegmentShows how revenue is distributed across different business segments, highlighting which areas are driving growth and which may need strategic focus or improvement.

-$500.00M$0.00$500.00M$1.00B$1.50B$2.00B$2.50BMar 21Jun 21Sep 21Dec 21Mar 22Jun 22Sep 22Dec 22Mar 23Jun 23Sep 23Dec 23Mar 24Jun 24Sep 24Dec 24Mar 25Jun 25Sep 25Dec 25Mar 26Jun 26
Chart Insights

CSI Solar is the clear, lumpy revenue engine while Recurrent Energy is volatile and relatively small — and increasingly a near‑term earnings drag: management flagged Recurrent operating losses and cash burn from project monetization. Growing negative elimination/unallocated items suggest rising intersegment/internal project financing tied to U.S. reshoring efforts, adding noise to reported revenue. The large backlog and planned capacity ramps support medium‑term growth (notably storage), but higher debt, capex and commodity/logistics risks mean margins and cash flow could remain pressured before H2 upside materializes.

Data provided by:The Fly

Canadian Solar (CSIQ) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

-80%-60%-40%-20%0%20%CSIQ-69.71%SPY+14.28%Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
Market Cap
$690.51M
Dividend Yield
―
Average Volume (3M)
1.94M
Price to Earnings (P/E)
-3.7
Beta (1Y)
2.05
Revenue Growth
-15.70%
EPS Growth
-2559.44%
Country
US
Employees
12,587
Sector
Technology
Sector Strength
61
Industry
Solar

Canadian Solar Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

Canadian Solar Inc. and its affiliates operate globally, specializing in the design, development, production, and sale of solar energy components, including ingots, wafers, cells, and modules, alongside a range of solar power and battery storage solu...

How the Company Makes Money

Canadian Solar primarily makes money through two main revenue streams: (1) selling solar PV products and (2) developing and monetizing solar and battery storage projects. In its manufacturing-oriented segment, the company generates revenue by produci...

Canadian Solar Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 27, 2026(Q2-2026)|% Change Since:-26.68%|Next Earnings Date:Nov 12, 2026
Earnings Call SentimentNeutral

The call presented a mix of substantial strategic and operational progress — notably the U.S. HJT facility opening, strong module and storage volumes, sizable U.S.-focused backlog (>13 GWp, >$4.5B) and a meaningful storage backlog ($3.5B) — alongside notable near-term financial headwinds including a $77M net loss, higher operating expenses (+21% sequential), negative operating cash flow ($181M used), rising debt ($7.1B) and impairment/deferrals in the project development business. Management reiterated full-year operational guidance, provided constructive outlook for Q3 revenue ($1.3–$1.5B) and margins (13.5%–15.5%), and emphasized that ramp-up and freight-driven costs should normalize as U.S. manufacturing scales and policy tailwinds (Section 232) take effect. Given the balance of meaningful strategic wins and clear near-term financial challenges, the overall tone is balanced but cautiously constructive.

Positive Updates

Revenue at High End of Guidance
Total revenue of $1.2 billion in Q2 2026, reported at the high end of guidance; sequential increases in recognized module volumes (3.1 GW) and energy storage recognized revenue (3.3 GWh).

Negative Updates

Net Loss and Profitability Pressures
Net loss attributable to shareholders of $77 million (loss per share $1.40) in Q2 2026. Manufacturing operating loss of $49 million driven by higher unit shipping costs and ramp-up expenses at the Jeffersonville cell plant.

Company Guidance

For Q3 2026 Canadian Solar guided module revenue recognition of 3.5–3.8 GW and energy storage deliveries of 3.4–3.8 GWh, projecting revenue of $1.3–$1.5 billion and gross margin of 13.5%–15.5%; management reiterated full‑year 2026 U.S. volume guidance of 6.5–7.0 GW of module shipments and 4.5–5.5 GWh of storage. By comparison, Q2 recognized revenue on 3.1 GW of modules and 3.3 GWh of storage, with revenue of $1.2 billion, gross margin 13.9%, net loss attributable to shareholders of $77 million ($1.40/share), manufacturing operating loss of $49 million and Recurrent operating loss of $19 million. Balance‑sheet and backlog metrics cited alongside the outlook included cash of $1.9 billion, total assets $16.1 billion, total debt $7.1 billion, CS PowerTech contracted backlog of >13 GWp (north of $4.5 billion) and e‑STORAGE contracted backlog of $3.5 billion (including 34 GWh of long‑term service agreements), and management reiterated full‑year CapEx of about $1.3 billion (Q2 CapEx $172 million).

Canadian Solar Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Financials are weak: revenue is contracting (TTM -8.9%), profitability has turned negative (negative operating profit and net margin -3.7%), leverage is high (debt-to-equity ~2.65), and cash generation has deteriorated materially (TTM operating cash flow about -$568M; TTM free cash flow about -$1.58B). Liquidity exists (cash cited at $1.9B), but sustained cash burn and elevated debt increase near-term risk.

Income Statement

34Negative

Balance Sheet

40Negative

Cash Flow

22Negative
Financial statement breakdown
BreakdownTTMDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue4.99B5.60B5.99B7.61B7.47B5.28B
Gross Profit820.00M1.03B999.32M1.28B1.26B909.31M
EBITDA84.50M592.48M556.61M829.66M665.29M479.39M
Net Income-186.30M-104.13M36.05M274.19M239.97M95.25M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets16.11B15.17B13.51B11.90B9.04B7.39B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments1.46B1.91B2.25B1.96B981.43M869.83M
Total Debt7.31B7.68B5.91B4.48B4.04B3.26B
Total Liabilities11.86B10.90B9.36B8.19B6.73B5.26B
Stockholders Equity2.76B2.81B2.82B2.56B1.94B1.80B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-1.58B-1.64B-2.76B-840.85M288.63M-837.75M
Operating Cash Flow-568.33M-252.74M-885.32M684.62M916.63M-408.25M
Investing Cash Flow-867.20M-1.50B-1.96B-1.67B-630.49M-429.57M
Financing Cash Flow1.01B1.35B2.32B2.05B428.64M614.07M

Canadian Solar Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentNegative
Last Price10.17

Price Trends

50DMA11.04Negative
100DMA12.94Negative
200DMA14.93Negative

Market Momentum

MACD-0.17Negative
RSI47.75Neutral
STOCH52.97Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CSIQ, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 10.17 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 9.88, below the 50-day MA of 11.04, and below the 200-day MA of 14.93, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.17 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 47.75 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 52.97 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for CSIQ.

Canadian Solar Risk Analysis

Canadian Solar disclosed 63 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Canadian Solar reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.

Higher RiskSector Avg.Lower RiskFinance & CorporateTech & InnovationLegal & RegulatoryProductionAbility to SellMacro & Political
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy

Latest Risks Added

0 New Risks

Canadian Solar Peers Comparison

Overall Rating

UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)

Financial Indicators

CSIQ against its peers
NameOverall RatingMarket CapP/E RatioROEDividend YieldRevenue GrowthEPS Growth
FSLRFSLR71Outperform$19.45B10.2818.33%―-0.72%32.62%
ARRYARRY67Neutral$729.69M-4.53-70.85%―-15.87%-87.66%
Sector *61Neutral$37.18B12.37-10.20%1.83%8.50%-7.62%
ENPHENPH51Neutral$3.66B41.017.87%―-19.90%-53.48%
JKSJKS44Neutral$506.11M-0.31-18.67%27.42%-15.19%15.25%
CSIQCSIQ44Neutral$688.47M-3.70-6.62%―-15.70%-2559.44%
SEDGSEDG43Neutral$1.60B-7.00-54.65%―26.11%60.72%

* Technology Sector Average

Performance Comparison

-50%0%50%100%150%CSIQENPHFSLRJKSSEDGARRYDec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
CSIQ and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
CSIQCanadian Solar10.17-18.45-64.47%
ENPHEnphase Energy Inc28.30-0.61-2.11%
FSLRFirst Solar178.11-78.48-30.59%
JKSJinkosolar10.14-14.17-58.30%
SEDGSolarEdge Technologies Inc.26.67-9.75-26.77%
ARRYArray Technologies Inc5.20-2.40-31.58%

Canadian Solar Corporate Events

Canadian Solar Reports Steep Q3 2026 Downturn at CSI Solar Subsidiary

Oct 29, 2026

On October 29, 2026, Canadian Solar filed a Form 6-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to furnish an English version of CSI Solar Co., Ltd.’s third-quarter 2026 report. The filing formally links the Chinese-listed subsidiary’s latest f...

Canadian Solar Posts Q2 2026 Loss as U.S. Manufacturing Push Gains Pace

Aug 27, 2026

Canadian Solar reported second quarter 2026 results on August 27, 2026, highlighting solid operational momentum but weaker profitability. The company delivered 3.1 GW of solar modules and 3.7 GWh of battery energy storage shipments, lifting net reven...

Canadian Solar’s Recurrent Energy Secures $695 Million for 330 MW California Cobalt Solar Project

Aug 13, 2026

Recurrent Energy, the utility‑scale development arm of Canadian Solar Inc., has closed $695 million in project financing and tax equity for its 330 MW Cobalt Solar facility in Riverside County, California, the company announced on August 13, 2026. Th...

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.

Date of analysis: Oct 23, 2026