AVGO vs. FSLR: Broadcom vs. First Solar Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Broadcom (AVGO) 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

Broadcom (AVGO) 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 Broadcom (AVGO) and First Solar (FSLR)
Profile Item	AVGO	FSLR
Name	Broadcom Inc.	First Solar Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Information Technology	Information Technology
GICS Industry Group	Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment	Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS Industry	Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment	Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
GICS Sub-Industry	Semiconductors	Semiconductors
Market Capitalization	1,401.97 billion USD	21.62 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	Nasdaq
Listing Date	August 6, 2009	November 17, 2006
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AVGO

FSLR

GSPC

Broadcom (AVGO) 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 Broadcom (AVGO) and First Solar (FSLR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Broadcom (AVGO) and First Solar (FSLR)
Metric	AVGO	FSLR
Total Return (1Y)	-8.02%	-28.81%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	53.49%	12.86%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	44.26%	10.80%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AVGO

FSLR

GSPC

Broadcom (AVGO) 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 Broadcom (AVGO) and First Solar (FSLR). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Broadcom (AVGO) and First Solar (FSLR)
Metric	AVGO	FSLR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	48.06%	52.55%
Beta (5Y)	1.50	1.67
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-41.15%	-59.97%
Avg. Volume (3M)	23.75M	2.40M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AVGO 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 Broadcom (AVGO) and First Solar (FSLR)
Metric	AVGO	FSLR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.26	-0.63
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.35	-0.85

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Broadcom (AVGO) at 44.25% sits in the top ROE quartile, while First Solar (FSLR) at 18.71% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for AVGO.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

44.25%

Max: 52.82%
AVGO: 44.25%
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%

Broadcom (AVGO) 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 Broadcom (AVGO) at 42.94% 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.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

42.94%

Max: 63.80%
AVGO: 42.94%
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%

Broadcom (AVGO) vs. First Solar (FSLR): A comparison of their net margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Broadcom (AVGO) at 54.31% 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.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

54.31%

Max: 58.66%
AVGO: 54.31%
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%

Broadcom (AVGO) vs. First Solar (FSLR): A comparison of their operating margin against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Broadcom (AVGO) and First Solar (FSLR)
Metric	AVGO	FSLR
ROE (TTM)	44.25%	18.71%
ROA (TTM)	15.37%	8.60%
Net Margin (TTM)	42.94%	37.12%
Operating Margin (TTM)	54.31%	44.37%
Gross Margin (TTM)	75.52%	49.25%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Broadcom (AVGO) at 23.87% 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.

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

EPS Growth

Broadcom (AVGO) at 287.80% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than First Solar (FSLR) at 18.22%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Broadcom (AVGO) and First Solar (FSLR)
Metric	AVGO	FSLR
Revenue Growth (YoY)	23.87%	24.09%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	24.38%	25.84%
EPS Growth (YoY)	287.80%	18.22%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	21.60%	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Broadcom (AVGO) at 2.50 and First Solar (FSLR) at 2.57 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.50

Max: 10.33
Q3: 5.62
Median: 3.33
AVGO: 2.50
Q1: 2.35
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

Broadcom (AVGO) 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 Broadcom (AVGO) at 0.60 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.60

Max: 1.46
Q3: 0.65
AVGO: 0.60
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

Broadcom (AVGO) 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 Broadcom (AVGO) and First Solar (FSLR)
Metric	AVGO	FSLR
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.50	2.57
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.60	0.03
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.68	-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 Broadcom (AVGO) reports a yield of 0.89%, ranking against industry peers normally.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.89%

Max: 1.37%
AVGO: 0.89%
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%

Broadcom (AVGO) 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 Broadcom (AVGO) reports a payout of 32.44%, ranking against industry peers normally.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

32.44%

Max: 49.64%
AVGO: 32.44%
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%

Broadcom (AVGO) vs. First Solar (FSLR): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Broadcom (AVGO) and First Solar (FSLR)
Metric	AVGO	FSLR
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.89%	0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	32.44%	0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

First Solar (FSLR) at 11.63 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Broadcom (AVGO) at 37.51 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for FSLR, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

37.51

Max: 110.34
Q3: 66.81
AVGO: 37.51
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

Broadcom (AVGO) 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 Broadcom (AVGO) at 15.73 sits in the pricier quartile — AVGO costs more per dollar of sales.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

15.73

Max: 21.42
AVGO: 15.73
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

Broadcom (AVGO) 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 looks cheap against book in the lower P/B ratio quartile, while Broadcom (AVGO) at 14.06 carries a premium in the upper quartile — a clear price-to-book gap.

AVGO

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

14.06

AVGO: 14.06
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

Broadcom (AVGO) vs. First Solar (FSLR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Broadcom (AVGO) and First Solar (FSLR)
Metric	AVGO	FSLR
P/E Ratio (TTM)	37.51	11.63
P/S Ratio (TTM)	15.73	4.31
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	14.06	1.99
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.18%	3.18%