Duke Energy Corp vs First Solar, Inc. — how do they compare? Duke Energy Corp trades at $124.09 (market cap $96.29B), while First Solar, Inc. trades at $225.69 (market cap $25.89B). The key difference: Duke Energy Corp is far larger — about 3.7× First Solar, Inc.'s market cap, and Duke Energy Corp pays a 3.51% dividend while First Solar, Inc. pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| DUK | FSLR | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $96.29B | $25.89B |
Sector | Utilities | Technology |
52-Week High | $133.46 | $318.30 |
52-Week Low | $113.99 | $180.05 |
Enterprise Value | $188.79B | $24.36B |
Dividend Yield | 3.51% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Duke Energy (DUK) trades at $123.23, up 1.68% with a bearish technical signal despite strong fundamentals. The stock shows consistent earnings beats with Q2 2026 EPS of $1.43 exceeding expectations, supported by growing revenue and healthy profit margins. Recent news highlights operational challenges from storms affecting customers but also strategic initiatives including a $35 million equity units offering and data center growth opportunities.
The outlook remains stable with analyst consensus pointing to upside potential (target $136.17) and no sell ratings. Key risks include regulatory scrutiny and capital expenditure pressures, but the company's dividend reliability and infrastructure investments provide long-term stability. The stock presents a balanced opportunity for income-focused investors amid current technical weakness.
First Solar (FSLR) trades at $228.27, down 4.62% on the day, amid mixed signals. The stock shows a bullish technical trend with strong moving averages, though RSI levels suggest potential overbought conditions. Fundamentally, the company reported robust revenue growth to $5.22B in 2025, with a net income margin of 29.27%, while recent earnings beat expectations in Q1 and Q2 2026. However, multiple class-action lawsuits filed in August 2026 create near-term legal overhang.
The outlook remains positive given analyst consensus favoring a buy rating with a $282.07 price target, implying significant upside. Key risks include legal proceedings and competitive pressures in the solar sector. Earnings growth and operational cash flow strength support long-term value, but investors should weigh legal uncertainties against fundamental strengths.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Duke Energy is one of the largest U.S. utilities, with regulated utilities in the Carolinas, Indiana, Florida, Ohio, and Kentucky that deliver electricity to nearly 8 million customers. Its natural gas utilities serve more than 1.5 million customers. Duke operates in three major segments: electric utilities and infrastructure
Read more on DUK →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 →