Danaher Corporation vs First Solar, Inc. — how do they compare? Danaher Corporation trades at $200.72 (market cap $140.88B), while First Solar, Inc. trades at $224 (market cap $23.70B). The key difference: Danaher Corporation is far larger — about 5.9× First Solar, Inc.'s market cap, and Danaher Corporation pays a 0.8% dividend while First Solar, Inc. pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| DHR | FSLR | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $140.88B | $23.70B |
Sector | Health | Technology |
52-Week High | $242.05 | $318.30 |
52-Week Low | $161.91 | $166.82 |
Enterprise Value | $153.66B | $21.86B |
Dividend Yield | 0.8% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Danaher (DHR) trades at $200.16, up 0.56% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong analyst support. The company reported Q1 2026 EPS of $2.06, beating estimates of $1.94, marking the third consecutive quarterly beat. Revenue for 2025 was $24.57 billion with a net income margin of 14.89%, though margins have compressed from prior years. Recent news includes the acquisition of Masimo and a $172.5 million legal settlement finalized in April 2026.
The outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $211.33, implying ~5.6% upside, supported by 69% buy ratings. Key risks include margin pressure, integration challenges from acquisitions, and macroeconomic sensitivity. The stock offers a dividend yield from its $0.40 quarterly payout, with solid cash flow generation offsetting debt levels.
First Solar (FSLR) trades at $221.03, down 2.98% on the day, amid bearish technical signals and multiple class-action lawsuit announcements. The stock shows strong fundamentals with a P/E of 14.28, net income margin of 30.73%, and robust cash flow growth, but recent earnings misses and legal overhangs weigh on sentiment. Analyst consensus remains bullish with a $275.17 price target, highlighting a disconnect between near-term headwinds and long-term growth prospects in the solar energy sector.
The outlook for FSLR balances solid financial health and analyst optimism against significant litigation risks and technical weakness. Investment opportunity lies in its profitability and sector tailwinds, but investors face volatility from legal proceedings and market sentiment pressures. Careful monitoring of lawsuit developments and quarterly earnings is essential for navigating the stock's near-term trajectory.
Trailing returns across standard periods
In 1984, Danaher's founders transformed a real estate organization into an industrial-focused manufacturing company. Through a series of mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, including the Fortive separation in 2016, Danaher now focuses primarily on manufacturing scientific instruments and consumables in three segments: life sciences, diagnostics, and environmental and applied solutions. In late 2019, Danaher separated from its dental business through an initial public offering process, and in early 2020, it acquired GE's Biopharma business, now called Cytiva, which added to its life sciences segment.
Read more on DHR →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 →