First Solar, Inc. (FSLR)
First Solar manufactures thin-film solar photovoltaic panels for large utility-scale power plants.
FSLR vs TEL: how the two businesses compare
- Bigger business: TEL, with $17.3B of yearly revenue, about 3.3× FSLR's $5.2B.
- More profitable: FSLR keeps 29 cents of each sales dollar as profit, against 11 cents at TEL.
- More cash from each sale: FSLR turns 39 cents of each sales dollar into operating cash flow, against 24 cents at TEL.
From each company's latest annual SEC filing. Fiscal years can end on different dates.
TE Connectivity (TEL) is the larger business by reported revenue: $17.3B in its fiscal year ended Sep 2025, about 3.3× FSLR's $5.2B (fiscal year ended Dec 2025). FSLR's net margin was 29.3% and TEL's 10.7%. The SEC classifies them differently (Semiconductors & Related Devices; Wholesale-Electronic Parts & Equipment, NEC); what connects them is shared exposure to the Tariffs & trade research theme, not a common industry.
Figures come from each company's own SEC filings. This page compares the businesses; it is not a price target or a verdict.
- Information Technology
- Different
- Separate classifications
- Different
- FSLR December 31 · TEL September 25
- Nov 9, 2026
FSLR vs TEL: quick comparison
| Company fact | FSLR | TEL |
|---|---|---|
| Company | First Solar, Inc. | TE Connectivity plc |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NYSE |
| SEC industry | Semiconductors & Related Devices | Wholesale-Electronic Parts & Equipment, NEC |
| Fiscal year-end | December 31 | September 25 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-02-24 | 10-K · 2026-11-09 |
FSLR vs TEL: audited financials
- Scale: TEL's $17.3B of revenue is about 3.3× FSLR's $5.2B.
- Net margin: FSLR kept 29.3% of revenue as net income versus 10.7% at TEL.
- Cash conversion: operating cash flow equalled FSLR 39.4% of revenue, or 1.35× net income; TEL 24.0% of revenue, or 2.25× net income. A ratio well above 1× usually reflects non-cash charges or working-capital release; well below 1× can reflect working-capital build or non-cash gains.
- Periods: the fiscal years end about 3 months apart (2025-12-31 for FSLR, 2025-09-26 for TEL), so each figure reflects somewhat different demand and cost conditions.
| Metric | FSLR | TEL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $5.2B2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31 · SEC filing | $17.3B2024-09-28 to 2025-09-26 · SEC filing |
| Net income | $1.5B2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31 · SEC filing | $1.8B2024-09-28 to 2025-09-26 · SEC filing |
| Operating cash flow | $2.1B2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31 · SEC filing | $4.1B2024-09-28 to 2025-09-26 · SEC filing |
| Diluted EPS | $14.212025-01-01 to 2025-12-31 · SEC filing | $6.162024-09-28 to 2025-09-26 · SEC filing |
| Net margin | 29.3%2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31 · SEC filing | 10.7%2024-09-28 to 2025-09-26 · SEC filing |
FSLR: FY ending 2025-12-31 · TEL: FY ending 2025-09-26. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.
Where FSLR and TEL overlap, and where they don't
Overlap
- Shared research theme: Tariffs & trade.
Differences
- Different SEC industries: FSLR files as Semiconductors & Related Devices; TEL as Wholesale-Electronic Parts & Equipment, NEC.
- Offset fiscal calendars: FSLR's year ends December 31 and TEL's September 25, about 3 months apart.
- Only FSLR maps to Economic trends.
- Scale: TEL reported about 3.3× the annual revenue of FSLR.
- Profitability: net margin of 29.3% for FSLR versus 10.7% for TEL.
Overlap is drawn from SEC classifications and Yield Theory research themes. It is not evidence that the companies sell to the same customers or compete product for product.
TE Connectivity plc (TEL)
TE Connectivity manufactures connectors and sensors that link power and data across transportation, industrial, and communications systems.
What moves each company
Company-specific drivers maintained by Yield Theory. Use them to decide which filing deserves deeper work; they are not predictions.
What moves FSLR
We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for FSLR. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-02-24.
What moves TEL
We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for TEL. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-11-09.
The investment question
You now know TEL reports about 3.3× FSLR's revenue, and FSLR keeps more of each dollar as net income. Those are the facts. The investment question is what each share price already assumes about their exposure to tariffs & trade, and which evidence in the next filings would prove that assumption wrong.
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Read the full researchSEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence
Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable. FSLR's fiscal year ends December 31, while TEL's ends September 25. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.
The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 7 matched transaction rows for FSLR and 11 matched transaction rows for TEL. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.
FSLR primary filings
TEL primary filings
What this comparison cannot tell you
This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.
A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.
FSLR vs TEL FAQs
Are FSLR and TEL direct competitors?
Not necessarily. First Solar files as Semiconductors & Related Devices and TE Connectivity as Wholesale-Electronic Parts & Equipment, NEC. The pair is compared because both map to the Tariffs & trade research theme, not because the filings show head-to-head competition.
Is FSLR or TEL the bigger company by revenue?
TE Connectivity (TEL) is the larger business by reported revenue: $17.3B in its fiscal year ended Sep 2025, about 3.3× FSLR's $5.2B (fiscal year ended Dec 2025). FSLR's net margin was 29.3% and TEL's 10.7%. The SEC classifies them differently (Semiconductors & Related Devices; Wholesale-Electronic Parts & Equipment, NEC); what connects them is shared exposure to the Tariffs & trade research theme, not a common industry. Each figure is the annual amount tagged in the company's own SEC XBRL filing; market value depends on live prices, which this page does not publish.
Which is better, FSLR or TEL?
There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.
Does this FSLR vs TEL comparison include live prices?
No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers First Solar, Inc. and TE Connectivity plc tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.
Where does the company information come from?
Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-11-09. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.
Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-11-09. Independent educational research; not investment advice.
Which business differences matter to the investment thesis?
FSLR vs TEL compares reported results. The reports below show how we connect operating evidence to an investment thesis, its assumptions, catalysts, and risks. $39/month or $249/year.
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