First Solar, Inc. vs Northrop Grumman Corporation — how do they compare? First Solar, Inc. trades at $212.06 (market cap $24.05B), while Northrop Grumman Corporation trades at $520.21 (market cap $74.60B). The key difference: Northrop Grumman Corporation is far larger — about 3.1× First Solar, Inc.'s market cap, and Northrop Grumman Corporation pays a 1.79% dividend while First Solar, Inc. pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| FSLR | NOC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $24.05B | $74.60B |
Sector | Technology | Industrials |
52-Week High | $318.30 | $768.02 |
52-Week Low | $166.82 | $496.02 |
Enterprise Value | $22.21B | $88.82B |
Dividend Yield | — | 1.79% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
First Solar (FSLR) trades at $213.15, down 3.37% amid bearish technical signals and class action lawsuit headlines. The stock shows strong fundamentals with a P/E of 14.46, net income margin of 30.73%, and robust cash flow growth, though recent earnings misses and legal overhangs weigh on sentiment. Revenue climbed to $5.22B in 2025, with projected growth to $5.4B in 2026, supported by expanding operating cash flows.
The outlook balances solid profitability and analyst bullishness (60% buy ratings, $275.17 target) against near-term legal risks and technical weakness. Upside hinges on lawsuit resolution and execution of growth forecasts, while downside risks include prolonged litigation and competitive pressures in solar tech.
Northrop Grumman (NOC) trades at $524.32, down 0.82% with a bearish technical signal. The company shows strong fundamentals with consistent earnings beats, a 10.8% net income margin, and a $95.6 billion backlog. Recent news highlights expansion in missile defense and space systems, supported by increased defense spending expectations. Technical indicators show the stock near support at $522 with oversold RSI conditions suggesting potential near-term stabilization.
The investment case remains positive with analyst consensus at $655 target (25% upside) and strong institutional support. Key risks include political uncertainty around defense budgets and execution challenges. The combination of solid fundamentals, earnings momentum, and strategic positioning in defense and aerospace supports a constructive outlook despite near-term technical weakness.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Northrop Grumman is a defense contractor that is diversified across short-cycle and long-cycle businesses. The firm's segments include aeronautics, mission systems, defense services, and space systems. The company's aerospace segment creates the fuselage for the massive F-35 program and produces various piloted and autonomous flight systems. Mission systems creates a variety of sensors and processors for defense hardware. The defense systems segment is a long-range missile manufacturer. Finally, the company's space systems segment produces various space structures, sensors, and satellites.
Read more on NOC →