Reviewing First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) and PowerBank (NASDAQ:SUUN)

First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) and PowerBank (NASDAQ:SUUN) are both energy companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, risk, valuation, dividends, analyst recommendations, earnings and institutional ownership.

Profitability

This table compares First Solar and PowerBank’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
First Solar	28.95%	15.57%	10.36%
PowerBank	-40.54%	-24.80%	-8.92%

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for First Solar and PowerBank, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
First Solar	1	4	22	2	2.86
PowerBank	0	0	3	1	3.25

First Solar presently has a consensus price target of $225.8424, suggesting a potential upside of 11.65%. PowerBank has a consensus price target of $5.00, suggesting a potential upside of 124.22%. Given PowerBank’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe PowerBank is more favorable than First Solar.

Risk and Volatility

First Solar has a beta of 1.48, meaning that its stock price is 48% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, PowerBank has a beta of 0.92, meaning that its stock price is 8% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

92.1% of First Solar shares are held by institutional investors. 0.5% of First Solar shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares First Solar and PowerBank”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
First Solar	$4.34 billion	4.99	$1.29 billion	$11.69	17.30
PowerBank	$43.08 million	1.85	-$2.56 million	($0.45)	-4.96

First Solar has higher revenue and earnings than PowerBank. PowerBank is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than First Solar, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

First Solar beats PowerBank on 13 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About First Solar

First Solar, Inc., a solar technology company, provides photovoltaic (PV) solar energy solutions in the United States, France, Japan, Chile, and internationally. The company manufactures and sells PV solar modules with a thin film semiconductor technology that provides a lower-carbon alternative to conventional crystalline silicon PV solar modules. It designs, manufactures, and sells cadmium telluride solar modules that converts sunlight into electricity. The company's residual business operations include project development activities, operations and maintenance services, and the sale of PV solar power systems to third-party customers. It serves developers and operators of systems, utilities, independent power producers, commercial and industrial companies, and other system owners. The company was formerly known as First Solar Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to First Solar, Inc. in 2006. First Solar, Inc. was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona.

About PowerBank

SolarBank Corporation operates as an independent renewable and clean energy project developer and asset operator in Canada and the United States. The company engages in the site origination, development, financing, engineering, procurement, construction, operation, maintenance, and asset management of solar photovoltaic power generation projects. It offers solar energy solutions in the areas of behind-the-meter solar power plants, electricity grid connected community solar gardens, and utility scale solar farms. The company was formerly known as Abundant Solar Energy Inc. and changed its name to SolarBank Corporation in October 2022. SolarBank Corporation was incorporated in 2013 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.