FSLR vs. TSM: First Solar vs. Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg Stock Comparison

Company Profile

First Solar (FSLR) and Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) 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 Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

Trailing Returns

Calendar-Year Returns

Performance Metrics

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

Return Distribution

Risk Metrics

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Profitability

Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) at 41.86% sits in the top ROE quartile, while First Solar (FSLR) at 18.71% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for TSM.

For every dollar of sales, both First Solar (FSLR) at 37.12% and Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) at 51.12% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

Both First Solar (FSLR) at 44.37% and Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) at 58.66% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

Profitability Metrics

Growth

Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) at 31.61% 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 TSM.

Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) at 46.41% 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 TSM.

Growth Metrics

Financial Strength

Both First Solar (FSLR) at 2.57 and Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) at 2.51 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

First Solar (FSLR) at 0.03 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) at 0.12 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

Financial Strength Metrics

Dividends

First Solar (FSLR) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) reports a yield of 1.70%, ranking against industry peers normally.

First Solar (FSLR) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) reports a payout of 24.46%, ranking against industry peers normally.

Dividend Metrics

Valuation

First Solar (FSLR) at 11.63 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) at 24.33 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for FSLR, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) at 0.39 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while First Solar (FSLR) at 4.31 prices around its industry’s middle — TSM costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

First Solar (FSLR) at 1.99 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile relative to book while Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg (TSM) at 71.65 prices above its industry range — a wide valuation gap against assets.

Valuation Metrics