The gain marked a second straight daily rise, with trading volume jumping to 5.1 million shares, well above its 50-day average of 2.2 million.
First Solar outperformed SolarEdge, Hubbell and Sunrun in a mixed session where the S&P 500 edged up 0.29% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.31%.
After rising 5.92% on Thursday, the stock remains 25.97% below its 52-week high of $285.99 reached on 22 December.
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