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FSLR or MTSI or QCOM
Which Stock Would AI Choose? First Solar (FSLR) vs. MACOM Technology Solutions (MTSI) vs. QUALCOMM (QCOM) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- FSLR trades at a low P/E of around 14x with a Moderate Buy rating, but recent backlog concerns and pricing pressures have led to a 10-15% pullback in recent weeks.
- MTSI shows strong revenue growth over 30% YoY, benefiting from AI, 5G, and data center demand, with shares up significantly over the past year despite short-term volatility.
- QCOM faces headwinds from competition and declining handset demand, resulting in YTD declines of over 25%, though diversification into automotive and edge AI provides longer-term support.
- MTSI exhibits the strongest recent momentum among the three, driven by robust earnings beats and sector tailwinds in semiconductors.
- All three operate in tech-adjacent sectors exposed to AI and connectivity trends, but valuation sensitivity varies with FSLR appearing most attractive on multiples.
Introduction
This comparison examines FSLR, MTSI, and QCOM, three stocks spanning solar energy and semiconductor sectors amid evolving market dynamics in AI, renewables, and wireless tech. Traders seeking momentum plays and investors eyeing relative value in tech-adjacent names will find insights into their business models, recent price behaviors, and sector exposures. With semiconductors driving innovation and solar gaining from policy support, understanding their contrasts aids in assessing relative performance and positioning in the current environment.
FSLR Overview and Recent Performance
First Solar (FSLR), a leading provider of thin-film photovoltaic solar modules, operates primarily in the U.S. and international markets, serving utilities and large-scale developers. The company reported strong 2025 revenue of $5.2 billion, up 24% YoY, with a substantial contracted backlog valued at over $16 billion. However, in recent market activity, shares have declined around 10-15% amid concerns over backlog depletion, pricing pressures in solar modules, and mixed 2026 guidance. Analyst sentiment remains Moderate Buy with price targets averaging $250, reflecting faith in U.S. manufacturing advantages and policy tailwinds like tax credits, though near-term volatility persists due to sector competition.
MTSI Overview and Recent Performance
MACOM Technology Solutions (MTSI) designs analog semiconductors for RF, microwave, and optical applications in telecom, data centers, defense, and industrial markets. Fiscal 2025 revenue reached $967 million, a 33% YoY increase, fueled by demand in 5G infrastructure, satellite communications, and AI-driven data centers. Recent quarters showed earnings beats, with Q1 2026 guidance pointing to continued growth. Shares have surged over 100% in the past year, though pulled back 5-8% in recent weeks on broader sector rotation. Strong Buy consensus prevails, with targets around $240-260, supported by diversified end-markets and innovation in high-speed connectivity.
QCOM Overview and Recent Performance
QUALCOMM (QCOM) develops wireless technologies, including 5G chips and on-device AI solutions for mobiles, automotive, and IoT. Q4 2025 revenue hit $12.25 billion, up 5% YoY, but guidance disappointed, contributing to YTD declines exceeding 25%. Competitive pressures in handsets and reliance on China have weighed on sentiment, offset somewhat by automotive growth and edge AI partnerships. Trading at a P/E near 26x with a 2.7% yield, analysts hold mixed views amid diversification efforts, with shares showing relative underperformance in recent months.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
FSLR focuses on solar manufacturing with stable backlog visibility but cyclical pricing risks, contrasting MTSI and QCOM's semiconductor exposure to high-growth AI, 5G, and data centers. Growth drivers differ: FSLR benefits from U.S. policy, while MTSI leverages defense and optical demand, and QCOM automotive diversification. Recent momentum favors MTSI with triple-digit yearly gains versus declines for the others. Risk factors include FSLR's tax credit reliance, MTSI's valuation at over 100x P/E, and QCOM's handset competition. FSLR offers lowest valuation sensitivity at 14x P/E, while market sentiment tilts positive on MTSI's execution amid sector strength.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors MTSI due to its consistent trend strength, robust revenue momentum in AI-enabling semis, and superior relative positioning versus FSLR's solar headwinds and QCOM's competitive pressures. Probabilistic edge stems from diversified catalysts and outperformance in recent market activity, though all warrant monitoring for sector shifts.
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).
FSLR’s FA Score shows that 0 FA rating(s) are green whileMTSI’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s), and QCOM’s FA Score reflects 2 green FA rating(s).
- FSLR’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- MTSI’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- QCOM’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 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.
FSLR’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while MTSI’s TA Score has 6 bullish TA indicator(s), and QCOM’s TA Score reflects 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- FSLR’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- MTSI’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
- QCOM’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
FSLR (@Alternative Power Generation) experienced а -3.92% price change this week, while MTSI (@Semiconductors) price change was +6.62% , and QCOM (@Semiconductors) price fluctuated +4.79% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Alternative Power Generation industry was +2.18%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -1.69%, and the average quarterly price growth was -3.65%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Semiconductors industry was +10.28%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +26.86%, and the average quarterly price growth was +26.23%.
Reported Earning Dates
FSLR is expected to report earnings on Apr 30, 2026.
MTSI is expected to report earnings on Apr 30, 2026.
QCOM is expected to report earnings on Apr 29, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Alternative Power Generation (+2.18% 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.
@Semiconductors (+10.28% weekly)The semiconductor industry manufacturers all chip-related products, including research and development. These chips are used in innumerable electronic devices, including computers, cell phones, smartphones, and GPSs. Intel Corporation, NVIDIA Corp., and Broadcomm are some of the prominent players in this industry. Semiconductor companies usually tend to do well during periods of healthy economic growth, thereby inducing further research and development in the industry – which in turn augurs well for productivity and growth in the economy. In the near future, demand for semiconductor products (and possibly innovation within the segment) should only expand further, with the proliferation of 5G, autonomous vehicles, IoT, and various AI-driven electronics set to herald a new, advanced chapter in the technology-driven world as we know it. With burgeoning prospects comes great competition. In 2015, SIA estimated that U.S. semiconductor industry ranks as the second most competitive U.S. industry out of 2882 U.S. industries designated manufacturers by the U.S. Census Bureau.
| FSLR | MTSI | QCOM | |
| Capitalization | 20.7B | 21.1B | 147B |
| EBITDA | 2.15B | 259M | 14.8B |
| Gain YTD | -26.314 | 64.106 | -19.086 |
| P/E Ratio | 13.55 | 127.19 | 27.73 |
| Revenue | 5.22B | 1.02B | 44.9B |
| Total Cash | 2.86B | 768M | 11.8B |
| Total Debt | 655M | 531M | 14.8B |
FSLR | MTSI | QCOM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 59 | 29 | 11 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 90 Overvalued | 83 Overvalued | 9 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 64 | 7 | 86 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 49 | 59 | 43 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 61 | 36 | 61 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 34 | 45 | 14 | |
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.
QCOM's Valuation (9) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry is significantly better than the same rating for MTSI (83) in the Semiconductors industry, and is significantly better than the same rating for FSLR (90) in the Electronic Components industry. This means that QCOM's stock grew significantly faster than MTSI’s and significantly faster than FSLR’s over the last 12 months.
MTSI's Profit vs Risk Rating (7) in the Semiconductors industry is somewhat better than the same rating for FSLR (64) in the Electronic Components industry, and is significantly better than the same rating for QCOM (86) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry. This means that MTSI's stock grew somewhat faster than FSLR’s and significantly faster than QCOM’s over the last 12 months.
QCOM's SMR Rating (43) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry is in the same range as FSLR (49) in the Electronic Components industry, and is in the same range as MTSI (59) in the Semiconductors industry. This means that QCOM's stock grew similarly to FSLR’s and similarly to MTSI’s over the last 12 months.
MTSI's Price Growth Rating (36) in the Semiconductors industry is in the same range as QCOM (61) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry, and is in the same range as FSLR (61) in the Electronic Components industry. This means that MTSI's stock grew similarly to QCOM’s and similarly to FSLR’s over the last 12 months.
QCOM's P/E Growth Rating (14) in the Telecommunications Equipment industry is in the same range as FSLR (34) in the Electronic Components industry, and is in the same range as MTSI (45) in the Semiconductors industry. This means that QCOM's stock grew similarly to FSLR’s and similarly to MTSI’s over the last 12 months.
| FSLR | MTSI | QCOM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | N/A | 1 day ago 66% | 1 day ago 75% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 81% | 1 day ago 67% | 1 day ago 70% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 73% | 1 day ago 73% | 1 day ago 63% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 82% | 1 day ago 77% | 1 day ago 60% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 78% | 1 day ago 77% | 1 day ago 64% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 80% | 1 day ago 79% | 1 day ago 67% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 21 days ago 80% | 1 day ago 74% | 1 day ago 64% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 78% | 23 days ago 70% | 15 days ago 73% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 77% | 1 day ago 74% | 1 day ago 76% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 88% | 1 day ago 79% | 1 day ago 67% |
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