Applied Materials, Inc. vs First Solar, Inc. — how do they compare? Applied Materials, Inc. trades at $574.6 (market cap $478.36B), while First Solar, Inc. trades at $229.3 (market cap $24.48B). The key difference: Applied Materials, Inc. is far larger — about 19.5× First Solar, Inc.'s market cap, and Applied Materials, Inc. pays a 0.35% dividend while First Solar, Inc. pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AMAT | FSLR | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $478.36B | $24.48B |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $723.00 | $318.30 |
52-Week Low | $156.25 | $160.84 |
Enterprise Value | $477.39B | $22.64B |
Dividend Yield | 0.35% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Applied Materials (AMAT) trades at $602.50, up 2.35% recently, with strong technical support near $573 and resistance at $617. The company demonstrates robust fundamentals, including a 29.31% net income margin and consistent earnings beats, while benefiting from AI-driven semiconductor demand highlighted in recent CEO commentary (CNBC, 2026-05-28).
Outlook remains positive given analyst consensus of $644.33 price target and 76.9% buy ratings, though elevated P/E of 56.68 poses valuation risk. Key opportunities include AI infrastructure growth, while risks involve cyclical semiconductor demand and execution challenges in scaling operations.
First Solar (FSLR) trades at $227.83, down 0.29% on the day, with a bearish technical signal despite strong fundamentals. The stock shows robust profitability with a 30.73% net income margin and 18.44% ROE, supported by $2.06B in operating cash flow for 2025. Recent earnings beat expectations in Q1 2026 but missed in prior quarters, while a securities class action lawsuit filed in July 2026 adds near-term uncertainty. Valuation metrics appear reasonable with a P/E of 14.72 and P/S of 4.52.
The outlook is mixed: analyst consensus remains bullish with a $271.55 price target (61.64% buy ratings), but legal risks and technical weakness suggest caution. Upside hinges on execution against 2026 guidance of $1.7B net income, while downside risks include litigation outcomes and competitive pressures in solar manufacturing. Cash flow strength and low debt support resilience amid volatility.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Applied Materials is the world's largest supplier of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, providing materials engineering solutions to help make nearly every chip in the world. The firm's systems are used in nearly every major process step with the exception of lithography. Key tools include those for chemical and physical vapor deposition, etching, chemical mechanical polishing, wafer- and reticle-inspection, critical dimension measurement, and defect-inspection scanning electron microscopes.
Read more on AMAT →First Solar designs and manufactures solar photovoltaic panels, modules, and systems for use in utility-scale development projects. The company's solar modules use cadmium telluride to convert sunlight into electricity. This is commonly called thin-film technology. First Solar is the world's largest thin-film solar module manufacturer. It has production lines in Vietnam, Malaysia, the United States, and a new factory under construction in India.
Read more on FSLR →