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FSLR
First Solar, Inc. · Information Technology / Energy - Solar Modules
$257.70
+16.23% this month
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CSIQ
Canadian Solar Inc. · Energy - Solar Modules & Energy Storage
$16.27
+2.59% this month
Scoreboard verdict
Across AI score, momentum, valuation, upside, operating margin
FSLR
2
CSIQ
2
Comparison scoreboard
MIXED SETUPAI Score
FSLR ✓50.9
CSIQ 32.2
1Y Return
FSLR ✓+79.08%
CSIQ +53.49%
Fwd P/E
FSLR 11.41
CSIQ ✓-37.04
Target Up.
FSLR -8.06%
CSIQ ✓+7.36%
Op. Margin
FSLR 33.07%
CSIQ N/A
Metrics last refreshed: 6/20/2026
Quick take
FSLR vs CSIQ Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
FSLR is the U.S.-domestic thin-film solar module leader with significant IRA incentive tailwinds and strong utility-scale backlog, while CSIQ is a larger global module shipper manufacturing primarily in China that faces U.S. tariff headwinds but benefits from global scale across multiple markets. They compete primarily in utility-scale project procurement.
FSLR vs CSIQ compares the dominant U.S.-domestic solar module manufacturer with significant IRA incentives against a global silicon module shipper with broader geographic reach but more exposure to trade policy risk.
Live analysis · updated 6/20/2026
FSLR and CSIQ are closely matched — they split the tracked metrics evenly. FSLR has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+79.08% vs +53.49%), though CSIQ trades at the lower forward P/E (-37.04x vs 11.41x). Analyst consensus implies meaningfully more upside for CSIQ (+7.36%) than for FSLR (-8.06%).
Normalized 1Y performance
FSLR
CSIQ
Recent returns
FSLR
CSIQ
Analyst price targets & sentiment
FSLR
Price target range
analyst mean$245.77
current price$257.70
-8.1% upside to analyst mean
CSIQ · 11 analysts
STRONG BUYHOLDSTRONG SELL
Hold (3.0/5.0)
Price target range
analyst low$9.00
analyst high$30.00
analyst mean$17.47
current price$16.27
+7.4% upside to analyst mean
Who should consider this stock?
FSLR may suit investors who:
- →Want exposure to the only large U.S.-manufactured solar module company with significant IRA subsidy benefits
- →Value First Solar's long-term utility-scale order backlog providing multi-year revenue visibility
- →Believe U.S. domestic solar manufacturing will sustain policy advantages over imported alternatives
CSIQ may suit investors who:
- →Want broader global solar module exposure across multiple markets beyond the U.S.
- →See value in Canadian Solar's integrated model spanning module manufacturing and project development
- →Believe global solar demand growth will benefit large-scale module shippers regardless of U.S. trade policy
Performance & AI score
| Metric | FSLR | CSIQ |
|---|---|---|
| AI score | 50.9 | 32.2 |
| AI rank | #408 | #2101 |
| Latest close | $257.70 | $16.27 |
| 1M return | +16.23% | +2.59% |
| 6M return | +1.44% | -30.26% |
| 1Y return | +79.08% | +53.49% |
$10,000 invested — hypothetical growth (dividends reinvested)
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | FSLR | CSIQ |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $17.94K (+79.4%) started 2025-06-18 | $15.35K (+53.5%) started 2025-06-18 |
| 5Y ago | $32.96K (+229.6%) started 2021-06-21 | $4.13K (-58.7%) started 2021-06-18 |
| 10Y ago | $52.25K (+422.5%) started 2016-06-20 | $10.11K (+1.1%) started 2016-06-20 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
Valuation & upside potential
| Metric | FSLR | CSIQ |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $28.72B | $1.1B |
| Trailing P/E | 17.27 | N/A |
| Forward P/E | 11.41 | -37.04 |
| Price/Sales | N/A | 0.20 |
| EV/Revenue | 4.96 | 1.50 |
| Analyst target | $245.77 | $17.47 |
| Target upside | -8.06% | +7.36% |
Growth, profitability & risk
| Metric | FSLR | CSIQ |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | 23.60% | -9.90% |
| Earnings growth | 65.10% | N/A |
| EPS growth | +65.10% | N/A |
| FCF margin | +21.18% | -17.41% |
| Operating margin | 33.07% | N/A |
| Profit margin | 30.73% | -1.87% |
| ROIC proxy | 18.44% | -2.88% |
| Return on equity | 18.44% | -2.88% |
| Dividend yield | N/A | 0.00% |
| Beta | 1.69 | 1.49 |
| Debt/equity | 5.94 | 164.81 |
| Current ratio | 2.56 | 1.06 |
| Quick ratio | 1.91 | 0.44 |
Drawdown & downside risk
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
1Y risk snapshot
FSLR max drawdown35.10%
CSIQ max drawdown63.94%
FSLR max wkly drop21.67%
CSIQ max wkly drop32.61%
5Y risk snapshot
FSLR max drawdown59.97%
CSIQ max drawdown85.65%
FSLR max wkly drop21.67%
CSIQ max wkly drop32.61%
10Y risk snapshot
FSLR max drawdown61.26%
CSIQ max drawdown89.46%
FSLR max wkly drop25.40%
CSIQ max wkly drop32.61%
Performance metrics by period
| Period | Metric | FSLR | CSIQ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | +79.37% | +53.49% |
| CAGR | +79.52% | +53.54% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.25 | 0.89 | |
| Max drawdown | 35.10% | 63.94% | |
| Max daily drop | 13.61% | 26.94% | |
| Max wkly drop | 21.67% | 32.61% | |
| 5Y | Growth | +229.58% | -58.70% |
| CAGR | +26.99% | -16.21% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.63 | 0.05 | |
| Max drawdown | 59.97% | 85.65% | |
| Max daily drop | 17.89% | 26.94% | |
| Max wkly drop | 21.67% | 32.61% | |
| 10Y | Growth | +422.51% | +1.12% |
| CAGR | +17.99% | +0.11% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.49 | 0.25 | |
| Max drawdown | 61.26% | 89.46% | |
| Max daily drop | 17.89% | 26.94% | |
| Max wkly drop | 25.40% | 32.61% |
Business comparison
| Category | FSLR | CSIQ |
|---|---|---|
| Company | First Solar, Inc. | Canadian Solar Inc. |
| Sector | Technology | Energy - Solar Modules & Energy Storage |
| Industry | N/A | N/A |
| Core business | First Solar manufactures thin-film cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar modules, primarily for utility-scale solar projects, with manufacturing facilities in the United States, Malaysia, and Vietnam — the only large U.S.-based solar module manufacturer. | Canadian Solar is a global solar energy company headquartered in Canada but manufacturing primarily in China, producing crystalline silicon solar modules for residential, commercial, and utility-scale projects, as well as developing and operating solar power plants globally. |
| Investor focus | Investors track First Solar's manufacturing capacity buildout, module average selling price and margin trends, and its order backlog which reflects visibility into future revenue. | Investors track Canadian Solar's module shipment volumes and average selling prices, solar project development and sale pipeline, and the separation or potential IPO of its recurrent energy project development business. |
FSLR strengths
- →Only large-scale U.S.-manufactured solar module producer, benefiting significantly from IRA domestic manufacturing incentives
- →CdTe thin-film technology uses less energy to manufacture and performs better in high-temperature, diffuse-light conditions versus standard silicon panels
- →Long-term order backlog of multi-gigawatts provides multi-year revenue visibility
CSIQ strengths
- →One of the world's largest solar module shipment volumes with broad global distribution
- →Integrated business spanning module manufacturing and project development provides revenue diversification
- →Project development business (Recurrent Energy) creates a higher-value recurring revenue opportunity
Risks to watch — FSLR
- →CdTe technology has lower efficiency than the best silicon panels, which can be a disadvantage in space-constrained utility projects
- →Manufacturing capacity ramps require significant capital investment ahead of revenue
- →Concentrated in utility-scale projects, limiting residential solar market exposure
Risks to watch — CSIQ
- →Chinese manufacturing base makes Canadian Solar subject to U.S. tariffs and trade policy changes that constrain its U.S. market access
- →Module prices have declined sharply due to global oversupply, pressuring margins across the industry
- →Separation or IPO of Recurrent Energy has been discussed but not completed
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