** Shares of U.S.-based solar panel maker First Solar FSLR.O up 2% at $251 premarket

** BofA Global Research raises price target to $291 from $255

** The new PT represents an 18.1% upside to the stock's last close

** Brokerage expects U.S. utility-scale solar demand to stay supported into 2026–27

** BofA says First Solar is its "cleanest de-risked U.S. module play", supported by a scaled domestic supply chain as policy and trade uncertainty slows some U.S. crystalline-silicon rivals

** "2026 is shaping up as a transition year," brokerage says

** 34 of 41 brokerages rate the stock "buy" or higher, six "hold" and one "sell"; median PT is $285.00 - data compiled by LSEG

** In 2025, stock was up 48.2%

(Reporting by Dharna Bafna in Bengaluru)

((Dharna.bafna@thomsonreuters.com))