FSLR vs. MCHP: First Solar vs. Microchip Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do First Solar (FSLR) and Microchip (MCHP) 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 Microchip (MCHP) 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 First Solar (FSLR) and Microchip (MCHP)
Profile Item	FSLR	MCHP
Name	First Solar Inc.	Microchip Technology 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	21.62 billion USD	31.76 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	Nasdaq
Listing Date	November 17, 2006	March 19, 1993
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FSLR

MCHP

GSPC

First Solar (FSLR) vs. Microchip (MCHP), 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 Microchip (MCHP). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for First Solar (FSLR) and Microchip (MCHP)
Metric	FSLR	MCHP
Total Return (1Y)	-28.81%	11.53%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	12.86%	-3.63%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	10.80%	-3.83%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

FSLR

MCHP

GSPC

First Solar (FSLR) vs. Microchip (MCHP), 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 Microchip (MCHP). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for First Solar (FSLR) and Microchip (MCHP)
Metric	FSLR	MCHP
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	52.55%	52.96%
Beta (5Y)	1.67	1.91
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-59.97%	-63.77%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.40M	10.34M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

FSLR and MCHP 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 Microchip (MCHP)
Metric	FSLR	MCHP
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.63	0.14
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.85	0.21

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both First Solar (FSLR) at 18.71% and Microchip (MCHP) at 12.57% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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%

MCHP

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

12.57%

Max: 52.82%
Q3: 22.26%
MCHP: 12.57%
Median: 10.58%
Q1: 1.29%
Min: -16.89%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

First Solar (FSLR) at 37.12% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Microchip (MCHP) at 14.96%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

MCHP

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

14.96%

Max: 63.80%
Q3: 28.36%
MCHP: 14.96%
Median: 11.44%
Q1: 0.90%
Min: -37.77%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

First Solar (FSLR) at 44.37% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Microchip (MCHP) at 29.13%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

MCHP

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

29.13%

Max: 58.66%
Q3: 30.23%
MCHP: 29.13%
Median: 15.91%
Q1: 7.54%
Min: -25.74%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for First Solar (FSLR) and Microchip (MCHP)
Metric	FSLR	MCHP
ROE (TTM)	18.71%	12.57%
ROA (TTM)	8.60%	5.19%
Net Margin (TTM)	37.12%	14.96%
Operating Margin (TTM)	44.37%	29.13%
Gross Margin (TTM)	49.25%	62.70%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both First Solar (FSLR) at 24.09% and Microchip (MCHP) at 7.08% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: First Solar (FSLR) reports EPS growth of 18.22%, ranked against its industry; Microchip (MCHP) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for First Solar (FSLR) and Microchip (MCHP)
Metric	FSLR	MCHP
Revenue Growth (YoY)	24.09%	7.08%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	25.84%	-17.65%
EPS Growth (YoY)	18.22%	--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	-62.03%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

First Solar (FSLR) at 2.57 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Microchip (MCHP) at 2.24 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for MCHP.

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

MCHP

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.24

Max: 10.33
Q3: 5.62
Median: 3.33
Q1: 2.35
MCHP: 2.24
Min: 1.03

First Solar (FSLR) vs. Microchip (MCHP): 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 quartile, while Microchip (MCHP) at 0.84 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

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

MCHP

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.84

Max: 1.46
MCHP: 0.84
Q3: 0.65
Median: 0.27
Q1: 0.04
Min: 0.00

First Solar (FSLR) vs. Microchip (MCHP): 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 Microchip (MCHP)
Metric	FSLR	MCHP
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.57	2.24
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.03	0.84
Net Debt / EBITDA	-0.52	2.73

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 Microchip (MCHP) reports a yield of 2.81%, 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%

MCHP

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.81%

MCHP: 2.81%
Max: 1.37%
Q3: 0.65%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

First Solar (FSLR) vs. Microchip (MCHP): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Microchip (MCHP) reports payout ratio above 100% at 136.84%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings; First Solar (FSLR) pays no dividend (payout 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%

MCHP

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

136.84%

MCHP: 136.84%
Max: 49.64%
Q3: 21.71%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for First Solar (FSLR) and Microchip (MCHP)
Metric	FSLR	MCHP
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	2.81%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	136.84%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

First Solar (FSLR) at 11.63 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Microchip (MCHP) at 43.87 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

MCHP

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

43.87

Max: 110.34
Q3: 66.81
MCHP: 43.87
Median: 37.02
Q1: 23.96
Min: 8.12

First Solar (FSLR) vs. Microchip (MCHP): 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 Microchip (MCHP) at 5.67 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

MCHP

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

5.67

Max: 21.42
Q3: 12.27
Median: 5.76
MCHP: 5.67
Q1: 2.73
Min: 0.00

First Solar (FSLR) vs. Microchip (MCHP): 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 Microchip (MCHP) at 4.78 is valued near its industry’s middle — FSLR is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.

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

MCHP

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

4.78

Max: 14.06
Q3: 7.44
MCHP: 4.78
Median: 4.29
Q1: 2.30
Min: 0.20

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for First Solar (FSLR) and Microchip (MCHP)
Metric	FSLR	MCHP
P/E Ratio (TTM)	11.63	43.87
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.31	5.67
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.99	4.78
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.18%	4.85%