Seek Returns

ADI vs. FSLR: Analog Devices vs. First Solar Stock Comparison

How do Analog Devices (ADI) and First Solar (FSLR) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Analog Devices (ADI) and First Solar (FSLR) are both classified in the Semiconductors sub-industry within the broader Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Analog Devices (ADI) and First Solar (FSLR)
Profile ItemADIFSLR
NameAnalog Devices, Inc.First Solar Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS IndustrySemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustrySemiconductorsSemiconductors
Market Capitalization176.17 billion USD21.62 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980November 17, 2006
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ADI
FSLR
GSPC
Loading price history…
Analog Devices (ADI) vs. First Solar (FSLR), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for Analog Devices (ADI) and First Solar (FSLR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for Analog Devices (ADI) and First Solar (FSLR). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Analog Devices (ADI) and First Solar (FSLR)
MetricADIFSLR
Total Return (1Y)71.72%-28.81%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)34.43%12.86%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)17.89%10.80%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ADI
FSLR
GSPC
Loading price history…
Analog Devices (ADI) vs. First Solar (FSLR), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for Analog Devices (ADI) and First Solar (FSLR). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Analog Devices (ADI) and First Solar (FSLR)
MetricADIFSLR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)38.89%52.55%
Beta (5Y)1.261.67
Max Drawdown (5Y)-32.20%-59.97%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.74M2.40M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
ADI and FSLR are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Analog Devices (ADI) and First Solar (FSLR)
MetricADIFSLR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.73-0.63
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.56-0.85

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Analog Devices (ADI) at 12.23% and First Solar (FSLR) at 18.71% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

ADI

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

12.23%

Max
52.82%
Q3
22.26%
ADI
12.23%
Median
10.58%
Q1
1.29%
Min
-16.89%

FSLR

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

18.71%

Max
52.82%
Q3
22.26%
FSLR
18.71%
Median
10.58%
Q1
1.29%
Min
-16.89%
Loading chart…
Analog Devices (ADI) vs. First Solar (FSLR): A comparison of their ROE against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Analog Devices (ADI) at 29.79% and First Solar (FSLR) at 37.12% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

ADI

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

29.79%

Max
63.80%
ADI
29.79%
Q3
28.36%
Median
11.44%
Q1
0.90%
Min
-37.77%

FSLR

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

37.12%

Max
63.80%
FSLR
37.12%
Q3
28.36%
Median
11.44%
Q1
0.90%
Min
-37.77%
Loading chart…
Analog Devices (ADI) vs. First Solar (FSLR): A comparison of their net margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Analog Devices (ADI) at 39.50% and First Solar (FSLR) at 44.37% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

ADI

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

39.50%

Max
58.66%
ADI
39.50%
Q3
30.23%
Median
15.91%
Q1
7.54%
Min
-25.74%

FSLR

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

44.37%

Max
58.66%
FSLR
44.37%
Q3
30.23%
Median
15.91%
Q1
7.54%
Min
-25.74%
Loading chart…
Analog Devices (ADI) vs. First Solar (FSLR): A comparison of their operating margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Analog Devices (ADI) and First Solar (FSLR)
MetricADIFSLR
ROE (TTM)12.23%18.71%
ROA (TTM)6.41%8.60%
Net Margin (TTM)29.79%37.12%
Operating Margin (TTM)39.50%44.37%
Gross Margin (TTM)65.80%49.25%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Analog Devices (ADI) at 16.89% and First Solar (FSLR) at 24.09% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
Analog Devices (ADI) vs. First Solar (FSLR): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Analog Devices (ADI) at 39.02% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while First Solar (FSLR) at 18.22% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for ADI.

Loading chart…
Analog Devices (ADI) vs. First Solar (FSLR): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Analog Devices (ADI) and First Solar (FSLR)
MetricADIFSLR
Revenue Growth (YoY)16.89%24.09%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-2.84%25.84%
EPS Growth (YoY)39.02%18.22%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-4.59%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

First Solar (FSLR) at 2.57 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Analog Devices (ADI) at 1.25 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for ADI.

ADI

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

1.25

Max
10.33
Q3
5.62
Median
3.33
Q1
2.35
ADI
1.25
Min
1.03

FSLR

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.57

Max
10.33
Q3
5.62
Median
3.33
FSLR
2.57
Q1
2.35
Min
1.03
Loading chart…
Analog Devices (ADI) vs. First Solar (FSLR): A comparison of their current ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

First Solar (FSLR) at 0.03 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Analog Devices (ADI) at 0.27 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

ADI

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.27

Max
1.46
Q3
0.65
ADI
0.27
Median
0.27
Q1
0.04
Min
0.00

FSLR

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.03

Max
1.46
Q3
0.65
Median
0.27
Q1
0.04
FSLR
0.03
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
Analog Devices (ADI) vs. First Solar (FSLR): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Analog Devices (ADI) and First Solar (FSLR)
MetricADIFSLR
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.252.57
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.270.03
Net Debt / EBITDA0.99-0.52

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

First Solar (FSLR) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Analog Devices (ADI) reports a yield of 1.19%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ADI

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

1.19%

Max
1.37%
ADI
1.19%
Q3
0.65%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

FSLR

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.00%

Max
1.37%
Q3
0.65%
FSLR
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Analog Devices (ADI) vs. First Solar (FSLR): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

First Solar (FSLR) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Analog Devices (ADI) reports a payout of 49.64%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ADI

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

49.64%

ADI
49.64%
Max
49.64%
Q3
21.71%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

FSLR

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.00%

Max
49.64%
Q3
21.71%
FSLR
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
Analog Devices (ADI) vs. First Solar (FSLR): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Analog Devices (ADI) and First Solar (FSLR)
MetricADIFSLR
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.19%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)49.64%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

First Solar (FSLR) at 11.63 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Analog Devices (ADI) at 43.18 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for FSLR, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

ADI

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

43.18

Max
110.34
Q3
66.81
ADI
43.18
Median
37.02
Q1
23.96
Min
8.12

FSLR

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

11.63

Max
110.34
Q3
66.81
Median
37.02
Q1
23.96
FSLR
11.63
Min
8.12
Loading chart…
Analog Devices (ADI) vs. First Solar (FSLR): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

First Solar (FSLR) at 4.31 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Analog Devices (ADI) at 12.69 sits in the pricier quartile — ADI costs more per dollar of sales.

ADI

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

12.69

Max
21.42
ADI
12.69
Q3
12.27
Median
5.76
Q1
2.73
Min
0.00

FSLR

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

4.31

Max
21.42
Q3
12.27
Median
5.76
FSLR
4.31
Q1
2.73
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
Analog Devices (ADI) vs. First Solar (FSLR): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

First Solar (FSLR) at 1.99 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while Analog Devices (ADI) at 5.25 is valued near its industry’s middle — FSLR is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.

ADI

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

5.25

Max
14.06
Q3
7.44
ADI
5.25
Median
4.29
Q1
2.30
Min
0.20

FSLR

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

1.99

Max
14.06
Q3
7.44
Median
4.29
Q1
2.30
FSLR
1.99
Min
0.20
Loading chart…
Analog Devices (ADI) vs. First Solar (FSLR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Analog Devices (ADI) and First Solar (FSLR)
MetricADIFSLR
P/E Ratio (TTM)43.1811.63
P/S Ratio (TTM)12.694.31
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.251.99
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.35%3.18%