FSLR vs. STM: First Solar vs. STMicroelectronics Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do First Solar (FSLR) and STMicroelectronics (STM) 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 STMicroelectronics (STM) are both classified in the Semiconductors sub-industry within the broader Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

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

Company profile comparison for First Solar (FSLR) and STMicroelectronics (STM)
Profile Item	FSLR	STM
Name	First Solar Inc.	STMicroelectronics N.V.
Country/Region	United States	Switzerland
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	37.30 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	November 17, 2006	December 8, 1994
Security Type	Common Stock	ADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FSLR

STM

GSPC

First Solar (FSLR) vs. STMicroelectronics (STM), 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 STMicroelectronics (STM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for First Solar (FSLR) and STMicroelectronics (STM)
Metric	FSLR	STM
Total Return (1Y)	-28.81%	90.64%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	12.86%	4.24%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	10.80%	-1.95%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

FSLR

STM

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for First Solar (FSLR) and STMicroelectronics (STM)
Metric	FSLR	STM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	52.55%	62.24%
Beta (5Y)	1.67	2.00
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-59.97%	-66.66%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.40M	9.18M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

FSLR and STM 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 STMicroelectronics (STM)
Metric	FSLR	STM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.63	1.39
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.85	2.07

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both First Solar (FSLR) at 18.71% and STMicroelectronics (STM) at 2.95% 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%

STM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.95%

Max: 52.82%
Q3: 22.26%
Median: 10.58%
STM: 2.95%
Q1: 1.29%
Min: -16.89%

First Solar (FSLR) vs. STMicroelectronics (STM): 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 STMicroelectronics (STM) at 3.80%, 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%

STM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

3.80%

Max: 63.80%
Q3: 28.36%
Median: 11.44%
STM: 3.80%
Q1: 0.90%
Min: -37.77%

First Solar (FSLR) vs. STMicroelectronics (STM): 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 STMicroelectronics (STM) at 11.10%, 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%

STM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

11.10%

Max: 58.66%
Q3: 30.23%
Median: 15.91%
STM: 11.10%
Q1: 7.54%
Min: -25.74%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for First Solar (FSLR) and STMicroelectronics (STM)
Metric	FSLR	STM
ROE (TTM)	18.71%	2.95%
ROA (TTM)	8.60%	2.63%
Net Margin (TTM)	37.12%	3.80%
Operating Margin (TTM)	44.37%	11.10%
Gross Margin (TTM)	49.25%	35.53%

Growth

Revenue Growth

First Solar (FSLR) at 24.09% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while STMicroelectronics (STM) at -11.07% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

First Solar (FSLR) at 18.22% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while STMicroelectronics (STM) at -89.16% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for First Solar (FSLR) and STMicroelectronics (STM)
Metric	FSLR	STM
Revenue Growth (YoY)	24.09%	-11.07%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	25.84%	-9.89%
EPS Growth (YoY)	18.22%	-89.16%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	-66.39%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both First Solar (FSLR) at 2.57 and STMicroelectronics (STM) at 3.13 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

STM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

3.13

Max: 10.33
Q3: 5.62
Median: 3.33
STM: 3.13
Q1: 2.35
Min: 1.03

First Solar (FSLR) vs. STMicroelectronics (STM): 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 STMicroelectronics (STM) at 0.19 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

STM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.19

Max: 1.46
Q3: 0.65
Median: 0.27
STM: 0.19
Q1: 0.04
Min: 0.00

First Solar (FSLR) vs. STMicroelectronics (STM): 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 STMicroelectronics (STM)
Metric	FSLR	STM
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.57	3.13
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.03	0.19
Net Debt / EBITDA	-0.52	-0.63

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 STMicroelectronics (STM) reports a yield of 0.90%, 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%

STM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

0.90%

Max: 1.37%
STM: 0.90%
Q3: 0.65%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

First Solar (FSLR) vs. STMicroelectronics (STM): 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 STMicroelectronics (STM) reports a payout of 63.16%, 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%

STM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

63.16%

STM: 63.16%
Max: 49.64%
Q3: 21.71%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for First Solar (FSLR) and STMicroelectronics (STM)
Metric	FSLR	STM
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	0.90%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	63.16%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

First Solar (FSLR) at 11.63 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while STMicroelectronics (STM) at 73.19 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.

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

STM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

73.19

Max: 110.34
STM: 73.19
Q3: 66.81
Median: 37.02
Q1: 23.96
Min: 8.12

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

STMicroelectronics (STM) at 2.73 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while First Solar (FSLR) at 4.31 prices around its industry’s middle — STM costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

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

STM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.73

Max: 21.42
Q3: 12.27
Median: 5.76
Q1: 2.73
STM: 2.73
Min: 0.00

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Relative to net asset value, both First Solar (FSLR) at 1.99 and STMicroelectronics (STM) at 2.09 look inexpensive, sitting in the lower P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

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

STM

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry group

2.09

Max: 14.06
Q3: 7.44
Median: 4.29
Q1: 2.30
STM: 2.09
Min: 0.20

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for First Solar (FSLR) and STMicroelectronics (STM)
Metric	FSLR	STM
P/E Ratio (TTM)	11.63	73.19
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.31	2.73
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.99	2.09
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.18%	0.29%