First Solar, Inc. vs Smith & Nephew plc — how do they compare? First Solar, Inc. trades at $212 (market cap $24.05B), while Smith & Nephew plc trades at $30.73 (market cap $12.81B). The key difference: First Solar, Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and Smith & Nephew plc pays a 2.54% dividend while First Solar, Inc. pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| FSLR | SNN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $24.05B | $12.81B |
Sector | Technology | Health |
52-Week High | $318.30 | $38.70 |
52-Week Low | $166.82 | $28.73 |
Enterprise Value | $22.21B | $15.58B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.54% |
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.
Smith & Nephew (SNN) trades at $31.41, up 5.28% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The company shows improving fundamentals with revenue growth from $5.8B in 2024 to $6.2B projected for 2025 and net income margin expanding to 10.14%. Recent product launches in robotics and wound care, plus a $500M share buyback, highlight strategic execution. Analyst consensus is mixed with 27% buy ratings but 68% hold, reflecting cautious optimism amid earnings volatility where two of the last four quarters missed expectations.
Outlook: SNN's recovery trajectory and product innovation support long-term growth, but investor patience is needed due to earnings inconsistency and moderate debt levels. Key risks include competitive pressures in medtech and execution on guidance. The stock presents a value opportunity if operational improvements continue, trading at reasonable valuations (P/E 21.5, P/S 2.18) versus sector peers.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →Smith & Nephew designs, manufactures, and markets orthopedic devices, sports medicine and arthroscopic technologies, and wound-care solutions. Roughly 42% of the U.K.-based firm's revenue comes from orthopedic products, and another 30% is sports medicine and ENT. The remaining 28% of revenue is from the advanced wound therapy segment. Roughly half of Smith & Nephew's total revenue comes from the United States, just over 30% is from other developed markets, and emerging markets account for the remainder.
Read more on SNN →