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ASML or FSLR or KLAC
Which Stock Would AI Choose? ASML Holding N.V. (ASML) vs. First Solar, Inc. (FSLR) vs. KLA Corporation (KLAC) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- ASML leads YTD with ~30% gains, fueled by AI-driven EUV demand and record orders like SK Hynix's $8B purchase, though recent volatility reflects geopolitical pressures.
- FSLR has declined ~26% YTD amid weak 2026 guidance ($4.9B-$5.2B sales) and solar sector headwinds, despite a solid 47% one-year return.
- KLAC shows robust ~24% YTD and 116% one-year gains, bolstered by $7B buyback, dividend hike, and strong AI/semiconductor inspection demand.
- All three exhibit high valuations (P/E ~37-48x), but ASML and KLAC benefit from semiconductor momentum over FSLR's policy risks.
- Recent weeks saw sector pullbacks from Mideast tensions, with ASML down ~5.5%, KLAC ~6%, and FSLR more volatile.
- Market caps: ASML ~$538B, KLAC ~$199B, FSLR ~$21B, highlighting scale differences in tech exposure.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines ASML, FSLR, and KLAC, key players in semiconductor equipment and solar energy amid AI infrastructure growth and renewable shifts. ASML dominates lithography, KLAC excels in inspection, and FSLR leads thin-film solar modules. Traders eyeing relative performance in volatile markets and investors tracking tech-energy crossovers will find insights into momentum, risks, and positioning valuable for portfolio decisions.
ASML Overview and Recent Performance
ASML Holding N.V., the global leader in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems with ~90% market share, enables advanced chip production for firms like TSMC. Recent market activity shows volatility, with shares down ~5.5% in sessions tied to geopolitical tensions and sector sell-offs, yet YTD gains near 30% and one-year returns of 76-93% reflect AI chip demand and record bookings. Sentiment benefits from High-NA EUV expansions, SK Hynix's $8B order, and 2026 sales guidance of €34-39B, offsetting China export curbs via Korea/Taiwan growth. Analyst targets average ~$1,470 amid P/E ~45 scrutiny.
FSLR Overview and Recent Performance
First Solar, Inc. (FSLR) specializes in cadmium telluride thin-film photovoltaic modules, serving U.S.-focused utilities and developers with eco-efficient solar solutions. Recent performance reflects solar challenges, with shares down ~26% YTD after Q4 earnings beat revenue ($1.68B) but missed EPS ($4.84) and weak 2026 guidance ($4.9-5.2B sales, below estimates), prompting downgrades. One-year gains ~47-53% persist from backlog (~54GW, $16.4B), but policy uncertainties and factory underutilization weigh on sentiment. Gross margins ~41%, with U.S. manufacturing tailwinds amid global competition.
KLAC Overview and Recent Performance
KLA Corporation (KLAC) provides process control and yield management tools essential for semiconductor fabrication. Shares have surged ~24% YTD and 110-116% over one year, driven by AI complexity boosting inspection demand. Recent weeks saw ~6% dips in sector pullbacks, but a $7B buyback, 21% dividend increase, and Q2 beats (EPS $8.85, revenue $3.3B) sustain momentum. Advanced packaging growth and 62% gross margins underpin outlook, with analyst targets signaling upside despite high P/E ~43x.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
ASML and KLAC thrive in semiconductor equipment, with EUV lithography and inspection tied to AI/high-bandwidth memory, contrasting FSLR's renewable exposure vulnerable to policy shifts. Growth drivers favor semis: ASML eyes 15-20% 2026 revenue via High-NA, KLAC advanced packaging; FSLR flat guidance amid tariffs. Recent momentum: KLAC outperforms one-year (110%+ vs. ASML 80-90%), but ASML YTD edge. Risks include geopolitics/exports for ASML/KLAC, demand slowdowns for FSLR. Valuations high (P/E 37-48x), with ASML most premium on scale (~$538B cap). Sentiment tilts to semis' stability over solar volatility.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors KLAC for superior trend consistency, capital returns ($7B buyback), and relative stability in AI/semiconductor demand versus ASML's export risks and FSLR's guidance weakness. Observable catalysts like inspection growth position KLAC probabilistically stronger short-term, though all benefit from tech tailwinds.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
ASML’s FA Score shows that 3 FA rating(s) are green whileFSLR’s FA Score has 0 green FA rating(s), and KLAC’s FA Score reflects 4 green FA rating(s).
- ASML’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
- FSLR’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- KLAC’s FA Score: 4 green, 1 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
ASML’s TA Score shows that 6 TA indicator(s) are bullish while FSLR’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s), and KLAC’s TA Score reflects 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- ASML’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 3 bearish.
- FSLR’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- KLAC’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
ASML (@Electronic Production Equipment) experienced а -1.25% price change this week, while FSLR (@Alternative Power Generation) price change was -6.40% , and KLAC (@Electronic Production Equipment) price fluctuated +3.12% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electronic Production Equipment industry was +10.31%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +23.36%, and the average quarterly price growth was +116.53%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Alternative Power Generation industry was +1.49%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -3.85%, and the average quarterly price growth was -3.37%.
Reported Earning Dates
ASML is expected to report earnings on Jul 15, 2026.
FSLR is expected to report earnings on Apr 30, 2026.
KLAC is expected to report earnings on Apr 23, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electronic Production Equipment (+10.31% weekly)The electronic production equipment industry makes equipment used to produce semiconductors. Such equipment includes wafer fabrication, plasma etching and photo-resist processing equipment. The industry also makes chemical vapor deposition processing systems and photomasks, which are high-purity quartz plates that contain patterns to define integrated circuits layouts. Applied Materials, Inc., Lam Research Corporation, and KLA-Tencor Corporation are examples of electronic production equipment manufacturing companies.
@Alternative Power Generation (+1.49% weekly)The alternative power generation industry consists of companies that operate power facilities converting non-conventional forms of energy into electricity. These energy forms are alternatives to fossil fuels, and many of them are derived from natural resources. Alternative energy forms include solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal steam. A major purpose behind using alternative energy – also called ‘clean’ energy - is to address concerns related to the more conventional fossil fuels, such as the latter’s high carbon dioxide emissions which is often considered a factor in global warming. Alternative power generation has been gaining traction in recent years, and could grow further in the future. Large organizations like Google have invested substantially in wind and solar energy-powered electricity. Some of the prominent U.S. companies operating in the alternative power generation industry includes Ormat Technologies, Inc., TerraForm Power, Inc. and NextEra Energy Partners LP.
| ASML | FSLR | KLAC | |
| Capitalization | 565B | 20.5B | 235B |
| EBITDA | 12.6B | 2.15B | 5.91B |
| Gain YTD | 36.810 | -27.099 | 47.626 |
| P/E Ratio | 47.81 | 13.40 | 52.15 |
| Revenue | 32.7B | 5.22B | 12.7B |
| Total Cash | 13.3B | 2.86B | 5.21B |
| Total Debt | 4.39B | 655M | 6.11B |
ASML | FSLR | KLAC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 21 | 59 | 35 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 75 Overvalued | 90 Overvalued | 82 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 27 | 65 | 6 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 19 | 49 | 13 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 39 | 61 | 3 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 14 | 37 | 13 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
ASML's Valuation (75) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as KLAC (82) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry, and is in the same range as FSLR (90) in the Electronic Components industry. This means that ASML's stock grew similarly to KLAC’s and similarly to FSLR’s over the last 12 months.
KLAC's Profit vs Risk Rating (6) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as ASML (27) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for FSLR (65) in the Electronic Components industry. This means that KLAC's stock grew similarly to ASML’s and somewhat faster than FSLR’s over the last 12 months.
KLAC's SMR Rating (13) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as ASML (19) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for FSLR (49) in the Electronic Components industry. This means that KLAC's stock grew similarly to ASML’s and somewhat faster than FSLR’s over the last 12 months.
KLAC's Price Growth Rating (3) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is somewhat better than the same rating for ASML (39) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for FSLR (61) in the Electronic Components industry. This means that KLAC's stock grew somewhat faster than ASML’s and somewhat faster than FSLR’s over the last 12 months.
KLAC's P/E Growth Rating (13) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry is in the same range as ASML (14) in the Electronic Production Equipment industry, and is in the same range as FSLR (37) in the Electronic Components industry. This means that KLAC's stock grew similarly to ASML’s and similarly to FSLR’s over the last 12 months.
| ASML | FSLR | KLAC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | N/A | N/A | 3 days ago 55% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 71% | 3 days ago 83% | 3 days ago 69% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 69% | 3 days ago 74% | 3 days ago 67% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 79% | 4 days ago 82% | 3 days ago 79% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 69% | 3 days ago 78% | 3 days ago 73% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 75% | 3 days ago 80% | 3 days ago 76% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 72% | 19 days ago 80% | 6 days ago 73% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 67% | 3 days ago 78% | 4 days ago 61% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 76% | 3 days ago 77% | 3 days ago 73% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 64% | 3 days ago 88% | 3 days ago 78% |
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ASML and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, ASML has been closely correlated with ASMLF. These tickers have moved in lockstep 85% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if ASML jumps, then ASMLF could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To ASML | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASML | 100% | +3.47% | ||
| ASMLF - ASML | 85% Closely correlated | +2.42% | ||
| ASMIY - ASML | 80% Closely correlated | +2.09% | ||
| LRCX - ASML | 80% Closely correlated | +2.54% | ||
| KLAC - ASML | 79% Closely correlated | +3.26% | ||
| AMAT - ASML | 77% Closely correlated | +1.81% | ||
More | ||||
FSLR and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, FSLR has been loosely correlated with ENPH. These tickers have moved in lockstep 56% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if FSLR jumps, then ENPH could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To FSLR | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FSLR | 100% | -0.63% | ||
| ENPH - FSLR | 56% Loosely correlated | +1.63% | ||
| BE - FSLR | 55% Loosely correlated | -1.05% | ||
| RUN - FSLR | 54% Loosely correlated | +2.48% | ||
| NXT - FSLR | 53% Loosely correlated | +4.27% | ||
| FCEL - FSLR | 52% Loosely correlated | -1.36% | ||
More | ||||
KLAC and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, KLAC has been closely correlated with LRCX. These tickers have moved in lockstep 87% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if KLAC jumps, then LRCX could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To KLAC | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KLAC | 100% | +3.26% | ||
| LRCX - KLAC | 87% Closely correlated | +2.54% | ||
| AMAT - KLAC | 85% Closely correlated | +1.81% | ||
| ADI - KLAC | 79% Closely correlated | +4.99% | ||
| QCOM - KLAC | 77% Closely correlated | +1.29% | ||
| NVMI - KLAC | 77% Closely correlated | +2.83% | ||
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