FSLR vs. NVDA: First Solar vs. NVIDIA Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do First Solar (FSLR) and NVIDIA (NVDA) 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 NVIDIA (NVDA) 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 NVIDIA (NVDA)
Profile Item	FSLR	NVDA
Name	First Solar Inc.	NVIDIA Corporation
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	4,506.80 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	Nasdaq
Listing Date	November 17, 2006	January 22, 1999
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FSLR

NVDA

GSPC

First Solar (FSLR) vs. NVIDIA (NVDA), 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 NVIDIA (NVDA). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for First Solar (FSLR) and NVIDIA (NVDA)
Metric	FSLR	NVDA
Total Return (1Y)	-28.81%	-5.54%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	12.86%	55.88%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	10.80%	42.17%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

FSLR

NVDA

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for First Solar (FSLR) and NVIDIA (NVDA)
Metric	FSLR	NVDA
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	52.55%	38.31%
Beta (5Y)	1.67	2.28
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-59.97%	-66.34%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.40M	120.20M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

FSLR and NVDA 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 NVIDIA (NVDA)
Metric	FSLR	NVDA
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.63	-0.26
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.85	-0.36

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

NVIDIA (NVDA) at 117.21% 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%

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

117.21%

NVDA: 117.21%
Max: 52.82%
Q3: 22.26%
Median: 10.58%
Q1: 1.29%
Min: -16.89%

First Solar (FSLR) vs. NVIDIA (NVDA): 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 NVIDIA (NVDA) at 63.66% 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%

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

63.66%

Max: 63.80%
NVDA: 63.66%
Q3: 28.36%
Median: 11.44%
Q1: 0.90%
Min: -37.77%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

NVIDIA (NVDA) at 66.24% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and First Solar (FSLR) at 44.37% also operates in the top quartile.

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%

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

66.24%

NVDA: 66.24%
Max: 58.66%
Q3: 30.23%
Median: 15.91%
Q1: 7.54%
Min: -25.74%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for First Solar (FSLR) and NVIDIA (NVDA)
Metric	FSLR	NVDA
ROE (TTM)	18.71%	117.21%
ROA (TTM)	8.60%	53.57%
Net Margin (TTM)	37.12%	63.66%
Operating Margin (TTM)	44.37%	66.24%
Gross Margin (TTM)	49.25%	74.67%

Growth

Revenue Growth

NVIDIA (NVDA) at 65.47% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than First Solar (FSLR) at 24.09%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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

EPS Growth

NVIDIA (NVDA) at 66.67% 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 NVDA.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for First Solar (FSLR) and NVIDIA (NVDA)
Metric	FSLR	NVDA
Revenue Growth (YoY)	24.09%	65.47%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	25.84%	100.05%
EPS Growth (YoY)	18.22%	66.67%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	204.24%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both First Solar (FSLR) at 2.57 and NVIDIA (NVDA) at 4.59 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

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

4.59

Max: 10.33
Q3: 5.62
NVDA: 4.59
Median: 3.33
Q1: 2.35
Min: 1.03

First Solar (FSLR) vs. NVIDIA (NVDA): 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 NVIDIA (NVDA) at 0.17 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

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.17

Max: 1.46
Q3: 0.65
Median: 0.27
NVDA: 0.17
Q1: 0.04
Min: 0.00

First Solar (FSLR) vs. NVIDIA (NVDA): 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 NVIDIA (NVDA)
Metric	FSLR	NVDA
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.57	4.59
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.03	0.17
Net Debt / EBITDA	-0.52	-0.12

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 NVIDIA (NVDA) reports a yield of 0.15%, 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%

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.15%

Max: 1.37%
Q3: 0.65%
NVDA: 0.15%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

First Solar (FSLR) vs. NVIDIA (NVDA): 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 NVIDIA (NVDA) reports a payout of 3.54%, 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%

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

3.54%

Max: 49.64%
Q3: 21.71%
NVDA: 3.54%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for First Solar (FSLR) and NVIDIA (NVDA)
Metric	FSLR	NVDA
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	0.15%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	3.54%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both First Solar (FSLR) at 11.63 and NVIDIA (NVDA) at 23.60 sit in the cheaper earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, with the market paying less for a dollar of trailing earnings than it pays for typical peers.

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

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

23.60

Max: 110.34
Q3: 66.81
Median: 37.02
Q1: 23.96
NVDA: 23.60
Min: 8.12

First Solar (FSLR) vs. NVIDIA (NVDA): 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 NVIDIA (NVDA) at 14.88 sits in the pricier quartile — NVDA costs more per dollar of sales.

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

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

14.88

Max: 21.42
NVDA: 14.88
Q3: 12.27
Median: 5.76
Q1: 2.73
Min: 0.00

First Solar (FSLR) vs. NVIDIA (NVDA): 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 NVIDIA (NVDA) at 19.68 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

NVDA

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

19.68

NVDA: 19.68
Max: 14.06
Q3: 7.44
Median: 4.29
Q1: 2.30
Min: 0.20

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for First Solar (FSLR) and NVIDIA (NVDA)
Metric	FSLR	NVDA
P/E Ratio (TTM)	11.63	23.60
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.31	14.88
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.99	19.68
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.18%	0.93%