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ASML vs. FSLR: ASML vs. First Solar Stock Comparison

How do ASML (ASML) 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

ASML (ASML) and First Solar (FSLR) both belong to the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, though ASML is classified under Semiconductor Materials & Equipment while FSLR falls under Semiconductors.

First Solar (FSLR) trades as ordinary local shares, while ASML (ASML) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for ASML (ASML) and First Solar (FSLR)
Profile ItemASMLFSLR
NameASML Holding N.V. NY Registered SharesFirst Solar Inc.
Country/RegionNetherlandsUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS IndustrySemiconductors & Semiconductor EquipmentSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS Sub-IndustrySemiconductor Materials & EquipmentSemiconductors
Market Capitalization549.12 billion USD21.62 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateMarch 15, 1995November 17, 2006
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ASML
FSLR
GSPC
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ASML (ASML) 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

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Trailing total returns for ASML (ASML) and First Solar (FSLR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for ASML (ASML) and First Solar (FSLR). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for ASML (ASML) and First Solar (FSLR)
MetricASMLFSLR
Total Return (1Y)50.12%-28.81%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)34.80%12.86%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)13.32%10.80%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ASML
FSLR
GSPC
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ASML (ASML) 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

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Distribution of monthly total returns for ASML (ASML) and First Solar (FSLR). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for ASML (ASML) and First Solar (FSLR)
MetricASMLFSLR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)48.80%52.55%
Beta (5Y)1.801.67
Max Drawdown (5Y)-56.47%-59.97%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.42M2.40M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ASML 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 ASML (ASML) and First Solar (FSLR)
MetricASMLFSLR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.94-0.63
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.39-0.85

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

ASML (ASML) at 65.64% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than First Solar (FSLR) at 18.71%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

65.64%

ASML
65.64%
Max
52.82%
Q3
22.26%
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%
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ASML (ASML) 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 ASML (ASML) at 34.14% 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.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

34.14%

Max
63.80%
ASML
34.14%
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%
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ASML (ASML) vs. First Solar (FSLR): A comparison of their net margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both ASML (ASML) at 44.36% 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.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

44.36%

Max
58.66%
ASML
44.36%
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%
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ASML (ASML) vs. First Solar (FSLR): A comparison of their operating margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for ASML (ASML) and First Solar (FSLR)
MetricASMLFSLR
ROE (TTM)65.64%18.71%
ROA (TTM)18.28%8.60%
Net Margin (TTM)34.14%37.12%
Operating Margin (TTM)44.36%44.37%
Gross Margin (TTM)54.34%49.25%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both ASML (ASML) at 15.58% 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.

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ASML (ASML) vs. First Solar (FSLR): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both ASML (ASML) at 28.43% and First Solar (FSLR) at 18.22% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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ASML (ASML) vs. First Solar (FSLR): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for ASML (ASML) and First Solar (FSLR)
MetricASMLFSLR
Revenue Growth (YoY)15.58%24.09%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)15.55%25.84%
EPS Growth (YoY)28.43%18.22%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)15.42%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

First Solar (FSLR) at 2.57 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while ASML (ASML) at 1.49 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for ASML.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

1.49

Max
10.33
Q3
5.62
Median
3.33
Q1
2.35
ASML
1.49
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
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ASML (ASML) 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 ASML (ASML) at 0.09 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.09

Max
1.46
Q3
0.65
Median
0.27
ASML
0.09
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
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ASML (ASML) 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 ASML (ASML) and First Solar (FSLR)
MetricASMLFSLR
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.492.57
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.090.03
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.67-0.52

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 ASML (ASML) reports a yield of 0.55%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.55%

Max
1.37%
Q3
0.65%
ASML
0.55%
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%
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ASML (ASML) 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 ASML (ASML) reports a payout of 22.26%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

22.26%

Max
49.64%
ASML
22.26%
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%
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ASML (ASML) vs. First Solar (FSLR): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for ASML (ASML) and First Solar (FSLR)
MetricASMLFSLR
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.55%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)22.26%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

First Solar (FSLR) at 11.63 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while ASML (ASML) at 35.06 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for FSLR, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

35.06

Max
110.34
Q3
66.81
Median
37.02
ASML
35.06
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
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ASML (ASML) 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 ASML (ASML) at 13.91 sits in the pricier quartile — ASML costs more per dollar of sales.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

13.91

Max
21.42
ASML
13.91
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
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ASML (ASML) 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 relative to book while ASML (ASML) at 1,223.36 prices above its industry range — a wide valuation gap against assets.

ASML

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

1,223.36

ASML
1,223.36
Max
14.06
Q3
7.44
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
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ASML (ASML) vs. First Solar (FSLR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for ASML (ASML) and First Solar (FSLR)
MetricASMLFSLR
P/E Ratio (TTM)35.0611.63
P/S Ratio (TTM)13.914.31
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1,223.361.99
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.89%3.18%