MAXN vs DQ vs FSLR vs RUN vs CSIQ

For growth investors, Sunrun Inc.

(RUN) is the stronger pick with 45. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -54. 7% for Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd. (MAXN). Sunrun Inc. (RUN) offers the better valuation at 8. 5x trailing P/E (15. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate First Solar, Inc. (FSLR) a "Buy" — based on 73 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Sunrun Inc.

(RUN) is the cheapest at 8. 5x versus First Solar, Inc. at 15. 5x. On forward P/E, First Solar, Inc. is actually cheaper at 12. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, First Solar, Inc.

(FSLR) delivered a total return of +204. 7%, compared to -100. 0% for Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd. (MAXN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FSLR returned +334. 7% versus MAXN's -100. 0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), First Solar, Inc.

(FSLR) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 36β versus Sunrun Inc. 's 2. 81β — meaning RUN is approximately 106% more volatile than FSLR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, First Solar, Inc. (FSLR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 3% for Sunrun Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Sunrun Inc.

(RUN) is pulling ahead at 45. 1% versus -54. 7% for Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd. (MAXN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Sunrun Inc. grew EPS 113. 3% year-over-year, compared to -1276. 5% for Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd.. Over a 3-year CAGR, FSLR leads at 25. 8% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

First Solar, Inc.

(FSLR) is the more profitable company, earning 29. 3% net margin versus -120. 7% for Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd. — meaning it keeps 29. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FSLR leads at 32. 3% versus -113. 3% for MAXN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FSLR leads at 40. 6%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, First Solar, Inc.

(FSLR) trades at 12. 4x forward P/E versus 15. 3x for Sunrun Inc. — 2. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CSIQ: 67. 0% to $33. 50.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, First Solar, Inc.

(FSLR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+334. 7% 10Y return). Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd. (MAXN) carries a higher beta of 1. 97 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (FSLR: +334. 7%, MAXN: -100. 0%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (MAXN (Energy) and DQ (Technology) and FSLR (Energy) and RUN (Energy) and CSIQ (Energy)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: MAXN is a small-cap quality compounder stock; DQ is a small-cap quality compounder stock; FSLR is a mid-cap high-growth stock; RUN is a small-cap high-growth stock; CSIQ is a small-cap quality compounder stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.