Analyzing QuickLogic (NASDAQ:QUIK) & First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR)

QuickLogic (NASDAQ:QUIK) and First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, earnings, institutional ownership, dividends, profitability, risk and valuation.

Profitability

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

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
QuickLogic	-6.83%	-7.30%	-3.04%
First Solar	32.41%	17.56%	11.46%

Risk & Volatility

QuickLogic has a beta of 1.39, meaning that its share price is 39% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, First Solar has a beta of 1.47, meaning that its share price is 47% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares QuickLogic and First Solar”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
QuickLogic	$21.20 million	5.58	-$260,000.00	($0.10)	-80.38
First Solar	$3.32 billion	5.18	$830.78 million	$11.61	13.83

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

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations for QuickLogic and First Solar, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
QuickLogic	0	0	3	1	3.25
First Solar	0	1	24	2	3.04

QuickLogic presently has a consensus target price of $11.53, indicating a potential upside of 43.49%. First Solar has a consensus target price of $276.38, indicating a potential upside of 72.11%. Given First Solar’s higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe First Solar is more favorable than QuickLogic.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

31.5% of QuickLogic shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 92.1% of First Solar shares are held by institutional investors. 2.5% of QuickLogic shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.6% of First Solar shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

First Solar beats QuickLogic on 12 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About QuickLogic

QuickLogic Corporation operates as a fabless semiconductor company in the United States. The company offers embedded FPGA intellectual property, low power, multicore semiconductor system-on-chips, discrete FPGAs, and AI software; and end-to-end artificial intelligence/machine learning solution with accurate sensor algorithms using AI technology. It provides various platforms, such as software tools and eFPGA IP enables the adoption of AI, voice, and sensor processing across aerospace, and defense, consumer/industrial IOT, and consumer electronics markets. In addition, the company engages in the eFPGA IP Licensing business consisting of development and integration of eFPGA technology into custom semiconductor solutions. Further, the company offers silicon products, such as EOS, QuickAI, ArcticLink III, PolarPro 3, PolarPro II, PolarPro, and Eclipse II products; and PASIC 3 and QuickRAM, as well as programming hardware and design software services. The company markets and sells its products to defense industrial base contractors, U.S. government entities, system OEMs, and fabless semiconductor companies through a network of sales managers and distributors in North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. It has a strategic partnership with YorChip to develop low-power unified chiplet interconnect express FPGA chiplets. The company was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.

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.