First Solar vs GlobalFoundries
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KIRA’s take AI analyst
I put First Solar and GlobalFoundries side by side, using each one’s latest annual report. Here is what stands out:
- GlobalFoundries is the larger business, with $6.8B of revenue in fiscal 2025 against $5.2B for First Solar.
- First Solar grew revenue faster (24.1%, against 0.6%).
- First Solar kept more of each dollar of sales as operating profit (30.6% operating margin, against 11.7%).
- First Solar turned more of its sales into free cash flow (22.8% FCF margin, against 14.9%).
- First Solar earned a higher return on the capital invested in it (22.7%, against 7.1%).
Who comes out ahead
Of the 11 measures where higher (or lower) is clearly better, how many each company leads.
First Solar
FSLR
10/11
Revenue growth5-year growthGross marginOperating marginNet marginFCF marginReturn on capitalReturn on equityNet debt / EBITDAShare count change
GlobalFoundries
GFS
1/11
Piotroski F-score
Side by side
Best in the row
| Latest fiscal year | FSLR FY25 | GFS FY25 |
|---|---|---|
| Size | ||
| Market cap | $18.1B | $25.1B |
| Revenue | $5.2B | $6.8B |
| Free cash flow | $1.2B | $1.0B |
| Net income | $1.5B | $885M |
| Growth | ||
| Revenue growth | 24.1% | 0.6% |
| 5-year growth | 14.0% | 7.0% |
| Share count change | 0.0% | 0.9% |
| Profitability | ||
| Gross margin | 40.6% | 24.9% |
| Operating margin | 30.6% | 11.7% |
| Net margin | 29.3% | 13.0% |
| FCF margin | 22.8% | 14.9% |
| Return on capital | 22.7% | 7.1% |
| Return on equity | 17.5% | 7.8% |
| Balance sheet | ||
| Net debt | −$2.5B | −$658M |
| Net debt / EBITDA | −1.2x | −0.3x |
| Dividends and buybacks | $0.0M | $0.0M |
| Valuation & quality | ||
| P/E | 10.4x | — |
| Piotroski F-score | 7 | 8 |
Ten years
Revenue
Operating margin
Free cash flow
Return on capital
Each company's latest fiscal year; fiscal years end in different months. The best value in each row is highlighted where higher (or lower) is clearly better. Not investment advice.