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3. Restricted Marketable Securities (Notes)
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2026
Debt Securities, Available-for-Sale, Restricted [Abstract]  
Restricted Marketable Securities
3. Restricted Marketable Securities

Restricted marketable securities consisted of the following as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025 (in thousands):
 
 
June 30,
2026
December 31,
2025
U.S. debt$114,005 $115,350 
Foreign government obligations53,321 54,156 
Supranational debt28,112 28,276 
U.S. government obligations18,877 19,390 
Total restricted marketable securities$214,315 $217,172 
Our restricted marketable securities represent long-term investments to fund the estimated future cost of collecting and recycling modules covered under our solar module collection and recycling program. We have established a trust under which funds are put into custodial accounts with an established and reputable bank, for which First Solar, Inc.; First Solar Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.; and First Solar Holdings GmbH are grantors. As of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, such custodial accounts also included noncurrent restricted cash and cash equivalents balances of $10.5 million and $6.9 million, respectively, which were reported within “Other assets.” Trust funds may be disbursed for qualified module collection and recycling costs (including capital and facility related recycling costs), payments to customers for assuming collection and recycling obligations, and reimbursements of any overfunded amounts. Investments in the trust must meet certain investment quality criteria comparable to highly rated government or agency bonds. As necessary, we fund any incremental amounts for our estimated collection and recycling obligations on an annual basis based on the estimated costs of collecting and recycling covered modules, estimated rates of return on our restricted marketable securities, and an estimated solar module life of 25 years, less amounts already funded in prior years. During the six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025, we purchased no restricted securities and $5.0 million of restricted securities, respectively, as part of our ongoing management of the custodial accounts.

See Note 8. “Fair Value Measurements” to our condensed consolidated financial statements for information about the fair value of our restricted marketable securities.

The following tables summarize the unrealized gains and losses related to our restricted marketable securities, by major security type, as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025 (in thousands):
 As of June 30, 2026
Amortized
Cost
Unrealized
Gains
Unrealized
Losses
Fair
Value
U.S. debt$141,850 $— $27,845 $114,005 
Foreign government obligations65,549 — 12,228 53,321 
Supranational debt30,013 70 1,971 28,112 
U.S. government obligations24,226 — 5,349 18,877 
Total$261,638 $70 $47,393 $214,315 
 As of December 31, 2025
Amortized
Cost
Unrealized
Gains
Unrealized
Losses
Fair
Value
U.S. debt$142,790 $— $27,440 $115,350 
Foreign government obligations67,091 — 12,935 54,156 
Supranational debt30,123 59 1,906 28,276 
U.S. government obligations24,274 — 4,884 19,390 
Total$264,278 $59 $47,165 $217,172 

As of June 30, 2026, the contractual maturities of these securities were between 5 years and 13 years, and restricted marketable securities with unrealized losses had generally been in a loss position for a period of time greater than 12 months. The unrealized losses were primarily due to increases in interest rates relative to rates at the time of purchase, and, based on the underlying credit quality of the investments, we expect to hold such securities until we recover our cost basis.