First Solar stands out among the major U.S.-listed solar names for its steady profitability, deep cash generation, and a manufacturing setup that shields it from some global supply risks. This piece compares First Solar to Enphase Energy and SolarEdge Technologies across balance sheet strength, earnings quality, and long-term track record to help investors decide which name fits a conservative, retirement-focused portfolio. Key metrics and recent performance are presented plainly so you can see the differences without the noise.
The solar industry is navigating shifting U.S. policy, fading residential tax credits, and new trade tariffs, even as global deployment accelerates. Forecasts point to global installed PV capacity topping 1,000 gigawatts in 2026, which would make solar generation larger than wind and nuclear combined for the first time. That growth backdrop matters, but company-level durability determines who benefits most over a decade.
First Solar closed fiscal 2025 with roughly $9.54 billion in shareholder equity and about $2.80 billion in cash, while total liabilities declined nearly 8.8% year over year. Operating cash flow reached $2.06 billion, up nearly 69% year over year, signaling robust free cash generation. Those numbers support a defensive stance: steady earnings, manageable leverage, and capital to invest in capacity and contracts.
By contrast, Enphase saw operating cash flow collapse about 73.4% year over year to $136.5 million, and free cash flow fell roughly 80% to $95.9 million, driven in part by tariff headwinds that shaved several percentage points off margins. SolarEdge carries about $1.75 billion in liabilities against roughly $427 million in equity, with shareholder equity down roughly 35% year over year and only a marginal recovery to positive operating cash flow in FY2025. Those balance-sheet dynamics matter when trade frictions and demand cycles tighten.
On profitability, First Solar posted $1.53 billion in net income in FY2025, an 18.3% increase year over year, on revenue of $5.22 billion, up 24.1%, with EPS near $14.21. Quarterly results showed continued strength, including a Q4 net income of about $520.9 million. The company also reported a contracted backlog of 53.7 GW valued at approximately $16.4 billion as of Q3 2025, offering multi-year revenue visibility not matched by peers.
Enphase returned to modest full-year profitability in FY2025 with net income of $172.1 million, a strong percentage improvement year over year, but Q4 paint a different picture with sharp sequential declines in operating results. SolarEdge posted a full-year net loss of $405.45 million in FY2025, with non-GAAP gross margins around the low 20s in the most recent quarter and ongoing GAAP operating losses. For investors focused on capital preservation and predictable retirement income, sustained losses and margin pressure are material red flags.
Looking at market performance and volatility, First Solar climbed roughly 51.2% over the past year and about 141.4% over five years, reflecting durable compounding from its manufacturing and contract position. Enphase has been volatile, down about 38.2% over one year and off roughly 78.4% over five years, while SolarEdge’s one-year pop of 202.6% masks a five-year decline near 85.2%. Short-term spikes can mislead; multi-year compounding and drawdown control matter more for long-term holders.
First Solar’s U.S. manufacturing footprint—multiple domestic facilities with recent expansion announcements—reduces exposure to concentrated foreign supply chains and preserves access to certain tax incentives tied to domestic production. The Section 45X manufacturing tax credit, in particular, supports margins for qualifying plants through the end of the decade, reinforcing the company’s competitive shelf life. That structural edge is a central reason institutional buyers and conservative portfolios favor it.
Investors weighing these names should balance growth opportunity against balance-sheet durability and tariff sensitivity. SolarEdge and Enphase both offer potential upside for traders who can stomach leverage, volatile earnings, and policy risk, while First Solar emphasizes consistent profitability, growing cash flow, and a tangible manufacturing moat. For those prioritizing capital preservation and steady long-term exposure to solar, First Solar’s profile deserves scrutiny relative to its peers.
