SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- First Solar shares sank 7% to $28.94 in after-hours trade Tuesday on a weaker-than-expected outlook for sales and cash flow. For the first quarter, First Solar projected sales in the range of $650 million to $750 million. Analysts polled by FactSet were looking for $822 million. First Solar pegged operating cash flow at breakeven to up to $100 million. Analysts were estimating $214 million. First Solar, which a year ago changed its business model to focus on developing solar farms, had seen its stock run up the past six months. The company's fourth-quarter results also came in shy of consensus. For the fourth quarter, First Solar said it earned $1.74 a share on revenue of $1.1 billion. Analysts had projected a profit of $1.75 a share on revenue of $1.3 billion, FactSet data shows. First Solar plans to offer its 2013 guidance at its April 6 analyst day.
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