FSLR vs. LRCX: First Solar vs. Lam Research Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do First Solar (FSLR) and Lam Research (LRCX) 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

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

Company profile comparison for First Solar (FSLR) and Lam Research (LRCX)
Profile Item	FSLR	LRCX
Name	First Solar Inc.	Lam Research Corp.
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	Semiconductor Materials & Equipment
Market Capitalization	21.62 billion USD	250.84 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	Nasdaq
Listing Date	November 17, 2006	May 4, 1984
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FSLR

LRCX

GSPC

First Solar (FSLR) vs. Lam Research (LRCX), 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 First Solar (FSLR) and Lam Research (LRCX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for First Solar (FSLR) and Lam Research (LRCX)
Metric	FSLR	LRCX
Total Return (1Y)	-28.81%	36.98%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	12.86%	50.75%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	10.80%	29.74%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

FSLR

LRCX

GSPC

First Solar (FSLR) vs. Lam Research (LRCX), 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 First Solar (FSLR) and Lam Research (LRCX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for First Solar (FSLR) and Lam Research (LRCX)
Metric	FSLR	LRCX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	52.55%	68.85%
Beta (5Y)	1.67	2.02
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-59.97%	-57.22%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.40M	9.82M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

FSLR and LRCX 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 First Solar (FSLR) and Lam Research (LRCX)
Metric	FSLR	LRCX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.63	0.47
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.85	0.69

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Lam Research (LRCX) at 70.12% 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.

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%

LRCX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

70.12%

LRCX: 70.12%
Max: 52.82%
Q3: 22.26%
Median: 10.58%
Q1: 1.29%
Min: -16.89%

First Solar (FSLR) vs. Lam Research (LRCX): A comparison of their ROE against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both First Solar (FSLR) at 37.12% and Lam Research (LRCX) at 32.34% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

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%

LRCX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

32.34%

Max: 63.80%
LRCX: 32.34%
Q3: 28.36%
Median: 11.44%
Q1: 0.90%
Min: -37.77%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both First Solar (FSLR) at 44.37% and Lam Research (LRCX) at 39.95% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

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%

LRCX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

39.95%

Max: 58.66%
LRCX: 39.95%
Q3: 30.23%
Median: 15.91%
Q1: 7.54%
Min: -25.74%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for First Solar (FSLR) and Lam Research (LRCX)
Metric	FSLR	LRCX
ROE (TTM)	18.71%	70.12%
ROA (TTM)	8.60%	25.01%
Net Margin (TTM)	37.12%	32.34%
Operating Margin (TTM)	44.37%	39.95%
Gross Margin (TTM)	49.25%	51.05%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Lam Research (LRCX) at 26.02% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while First Solar (FSLR) at 24.09% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for LRCX.

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

EPS Growth

Both First Solar (FSLR) at 18.22% and Lam Research (LRCX) at 38.80% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for First Solar (FSLR) and Lam Research (LRCX)
Metric	FSLR	LRCX
Revenue Growth (YoY)	24.09%	26.02%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	25.84%	10.06%
EPS Growth (YoY)	18.22%	38.80%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	20.15%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both First Solar (FSLR) at 2.57 and Lam Research (LRCX) at 2.48 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

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

LRCX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.48

Max: 10.33
Q3: 5.62
Median: 3.33
LRCX: 2.48
Q1: 2.35
Min: 1.03

First Solar (FSLR) vs. Lam Research (LRCX): 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 Lam Research (LRCX) at 0.27 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

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

LRCX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.27

Max: 1.46
Q3: 0.65
LRCX: 0.27
Median: 0.27
Q1: 0.04
Min: 0.00

First Solar (FSLR) vs. Lam Research (LRCX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for First Solar (FSLR) and Lam Research (LRCX)
Metric	FSLR	LRCX
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.57	2.48
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.03	0.27
Net Debt / EBITDA	-0.52	-0.37

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 Lam Research (LRCX) reports a yield of 0.60%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

LRCX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.60%

Max: 1.37%
Q3: 0.65%
LRCX: 0.60%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

First Solar (FSLR) vs. Lam Research (LRCX): 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 Lam Research (LRCX) reports a payout of 16.54%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

LRCX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

16.54%

Max: 49.64%
Q3: 21.71%
LRCX: 16.54%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for First Solar (FSLR) and Lam Research (LRCX)
Metric	FSLR	LRCX
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	0.60%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	16.54%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

First Solar (FSLR) at 11.63 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Lam Research (LRCX) at 29.87 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for FSLR, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

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

LRCX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

29.87

Max: 110.34
Q3: 66.81
Median: 37.02
LRCX: 29.87
Q1: 23.96
Min: 8.12

First Solar (FSLR) vs. Lam Research (LRCX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both First Solar (FSLR) at 4.31 and Lam Research (LRCX) at 9.60 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

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

LRCX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

9.60

Max: 21.42
Q3: 12.27
LRCX: 9.60
Median: 5.76
Q1: 2.73
Min: 0.00

First Solar (FSLR) vs. Lam Research (LRCX): 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 Lam Research (LRCX) at 18.00 prices above its industry range — a wide valuation gap against assets.

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

LRCX

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

18.00

LRCX: 18.00
Max: 14.06
Q3: 7.44
Median: 4.29
Q1: 2.30
Min: 0.20

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for First Solar (FSLR) and Lam Research (LRCX)
Metric	FSLR	LRCX
P/E Ratio (TTM)	11.63	29.87
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.31	9.60
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.99	18.00
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.18%	1.81%