First Solar, Inc. vs Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg. Co. Ltd. — how do they compare? First Solar, Inc. trades at $227 (market cap $25.89B), while Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg. Co. Ltd. trades at $429.7 (market cap $1.93T). The key difference: Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg. Co. Ltd. is far larger — about 74.5× First Solar, Inc.'s market cap, and Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg. Co. Ltd. pays a 0.9% dividend while First Solar, Inc. pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| FSLR | TSM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $25.89B | $1.93T |
Sector | Technology | Technology |
52-Week High | $318.30 | $477.57 |
52-Week Low | $180.05 | $227.33 |
Enterprise Value | $24.36B | $1.85T |
Dividend Yield | — | 0.9% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
First Solar (FSLR) trades at $227.36, down 5.0% on the day, as the stock faces headwinds from multiple class action lawsuits alleging securities fraud during the February 2025-2026 period. Despite the legal overhang, the company maintains strong fundamentals with revenue growing from $2.6B in 2022 to $5.2B in 2025 and net income reaching $1.53B. Technical indicators show a bullish moving average signal but neutral oscillators, with key support at $230 and resistance at $245. Recent analyst upgrades provide optimism, with Baird raising its price target to $318 on August 11, 2026.
The investment outlook remains cautiously optimistic given FSLR's robust profitability metrics (32.5% net margin, 18.5% ROE) and analyst consensus price target of $282 representing 24% upside potential. However, significant legal risks from ongoing securities litigation and potential regulatory headwinds from solar trade policies create near-term uncertainty. Long-term growth prospects in renewable energy remain intact, but investors should weigh legal resolution timelines against fundamental strength.
TSM trades at $429.30, up 2.59% with a bullish technical signal, supported by strong earnings beats and robust revenue growth driven by AI demand. The stock is near its 52-week high, with a consensus price target of $545.67 indicating significant upside potential. Recent news highlights record July revenue growth of 44.7% year-over-year and a $1.8 billion joint venture with Sony for image sensors.
Outlook remains positive due to sustained AI-driven demand and expansion plans, but risks include geopolitical tensions and high valuation multiples. The company's solid cash flow and profitability support further growth, though investors should monitor competitive pressures and macroeconomic volatility.
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 →Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, or TSMC, is the world's largest dedicated chip foundry, with over 57% market share in 2021 per Gartner. TSMC was founded in 1987 as a joint venture of Philips, the government of Taiwan, and private investors. It went public as an ADR in the U.S. in 1997. TSMC's scale and high-quality technology allow the firm to generate solid operating margins, even in the highly competitive foundry business. Furthermore, the shift to the fabless business model has created tailwinds for TSMC. The foundry leader has an illustrious customer base, including Apple, AMD and Nvidia, that looks to apply cutting-edge process technologies to its semiconductor designs.
Read more on TSM →