What is the best solar energy stock to buy?

There are many well-run solar energy companies. That gives investors lots of good options. You might want to consider taking a basket approach. For example, you could buy several solar stocks that should all benefit from the renewable energy megatrend, such as First Solar, Brookfield Renewable, Enphase Energy, Array Technologies, and NextEra Energy. By diversifying your solar holdings, you are less likely to miss out on an overall trend if a particular solar energy stock underperforms the sector.

Does Warren Buffett invest in solar?

Yes, Warren Buffett's company, Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A)(NYSE: BRK.B), invests in solar. Berkshire Hathaway Energy's portfolio includes BHE Renewables, which owns and operates solar energy facilities, as well as wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric plants. It also owns utilities NVEnergy and MidAmerica Energy, which operate and develop solar energy projects. By the end of 2024, Berkshire Hathaway Energy had invested about $7.7 billion in solar energy projects, including two of the largest in the U.S.

Who is the No. 1 solar company?

First Solar is the largest U.S.-headquartered solar panel maker.

What solar company did Bill Gates invest in?

Bill Gates' climate-focused venture capital firm, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, has invested in several solar energy companies, including Heliogen, Terabase Energy, and CubicPV.

How do solar energy stocks perform during market volatility?

Solar energy stock performance during periods of market volatility varies by a company's business model. For example, companies that operate solar energy-generating facilities backed by long-term power purchase agreements tend to be less volatile and can outperform the market. On the other hand, companies that manufacture solar panels or other related equipment can underperform the market, especially if they have weaker financial profiles and less visibility into their growth prospects.

Are solar energy stocks a good investment?

Solar energy stocks have the potential to be a good long-term investment. With development expected to accelerate in the coming years due to AI and other catalysts, solar energy companies should grow rapidly, boosting stock prices.

What are the top three solar companies in the U.S.?

The three biggest solar companies in the U.S. by market capitalization (as of May 2026) are:NextEra Energy: $194 billionFirst Solar: $23.6 billionEnphase: $4.8 billion

Best Solar Energy Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

By Matthew DiLallo – Updated May 12, 2026 at 9:16 AM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

First Solar is the top U.S. solar panel maker and leads in advanced thin-film solar panels, ideal for utility-scale projects.
Brookfield Renewable focuses on diversified renewable sources, pays a strong dividend, and has a solar-focused growth profile.
Enphase Energy specializes in microinverter-based solar-plus-storage systems.

The solar energy industry designs and installs devices to capture solar energy and convert it into electric power. Companies in the industry are working to transition the global economy from fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas to renewable energy sources. It will take trillions of dollars and many years to complete the transition, making the solar energy industry a compelling opportunity for long-term investors.

The sector encompasses a wide variety of companies with the following functions:

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An infographic showing the primary components of the solar energy industry and the types of companies it encompasses. — Image source: The Motley Fool.

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Five top solar energy stocks for 2026

Ticker Information Table
Name and ticker	Market cap	Industry
Enphase Energy (NASDAQ:ENPH)	$7.0 billion	Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment
Brookfield Renewable (NYSE:BEPC)	$6.5 billion	Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers
First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR)	$25.1 billion	Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment
Array Technologies (NASDAQ:ARRY)	$1.4 billion	Electrical Equipment
NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE)	$194.7 billion	Electric Utilities

Data as of May 16, 2026. Showing 5 of 5 tickers.

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1. First Solar

NASDAQ: FSLR

First Solar

Today's Change

(0.76%) $1.75

Current Price

$233.37

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$25B

Day's Range

$222.50 - $237.50

52wk Range

$135.50 - $285.99

Volume

2.4M

Avg Vol

2.3M

Gross Margin

41.73%

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First Solar (FSLR +0.76%) is the leading U.S. solar technology and manufacturing company and the only U.S.-headquartered company among the world's largest solar panel makers. One thing that sets First Solar apart from other solar panel makers is its focus on manufacturing a proprietary, advanced thin-film module. In less-than-ideal conditions, such as low light and hot weather, its panels perform better than competing silicon modules. They're also larger, which helps reduce the cost per watt. Those factors make them ideal for utility-scale solar energy projects.

First Solar also distinguishes itself from its peers in the solar sector by having one of the strongest balance sheets. It has more cash than debt. First Solar had a $2 billion net cash position at the end of the first quarter and anticipates closing 2026 with between $1.7 billion and $2.3 billion in net cash. That gives it the financial flexibility to continue expanding its manufacturing capacity.

First Solar also has significant growth in the pipeline. As of early 2026, the company had a backlog of 47.9 gigawatts (GW), which it expects to deliver through 2030. Meanwhile, it had a massive growth tailwind due to accelerating demand for clean power in the U.S. to support AI data centers and other catalysts. It's investing heavily in expanding its solar panel manufacturing capacity to capitalize on the sector's growth. First Solar plans to spend between $800 million and $1 billion in 2025, including a $330 million investment in its sixth U.S. facility in South Carolina.

2. Brookfield Renewable

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NYSE: BEP

Brookfield Renewable Partners

Today's Change

(0.79%) $0.27

Current Price

$34.37

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$11B

Day's Range

$33.06 - $34.41

52wk Range

$22.64 - $35.97

Volume

818K

Avg Vol

851K

Gross Margin

16.88%

Dividend Yield

4.40%

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Brookfield Renewable (BEP +0.79%) is an energy company that generates renewable energy backed by long-term power purchase agreements. Brookfield's business model provides it with steady cash flow to pay an attractive dividend yield (over 4% in mid-2026).

Brookfield Renewable has a globally diversified renewable energy portfolio. It's a global leader in hydroelectric power plants, with 8.5 GW of capacity and 44% of its funds from operations (FFO). It complements those facilities with rapidly expanding onshore wind energy (16.7GW and 20%), utility-scale solar (14 GW and 16%), distributed energy (e.g., rooftop solar), and energy storage platforms (8 GW and 11%). The company also has a growing sustainable solutions business (9%), which includes carbon capture and storage, biofuel production, nuclear services, and solar panel manufacturing.

The clean energy company believes solar could make up the majority of its production capacity within the next decade -- not because it doesn't see a bright future for wind or hydro, but because it sees greater opportunity in solar. Declining costs are making solar development projects increasingly lucrative. Utility-scale solar energy accounts for more than 50% of the global development pipeline, totaling over 225 GW, while distributed energy accounts for another 4%.

Brookfield's solar-focused development project pipeline should add 4% to 6% to its annual FFO per share through 2031. Add that to its other organic growth drivers (inflation-linked rate increases and margin-enhancement activities) and acquisitions, and Brookfield believes it can grow FFO per share by more than 10% annually through 2031. That should support the company's plan to increase its high-yielding dividend by 5% to 9% each year. Its dividend growth makes it one of the top renewable energy dividend stocks. Brookfield Renewable's overall combination of growth and income should enable it to generate attractive total returns in the coming years.

3. Enphase Energy

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NASDAQ: ENPH

Enphase Energy

Today's Change

(10.39%) $4.99

Current Price

$53.00

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$7.0B

Day's Range

$45.50 - $53.88

52wk Range

$25.77 - $53.89

Volume

820K

Avg Vol

6.4M

Gross Margin

54.66%

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Enphase Energy (ENPH +10.39%) is a pioneer in the solar industry. The company launched its revolutionary microinverter technology in 2006. It helps convert the direct current (DC) produced from sunlight into alternating current (AC) used in homes and businesses. The company has since expanded its capabilities to provide battery storage, EV chargers, energy management systems, and an installer platform.

Enphase Energy is the world's leading supplier of microinverter-based solar-plus-storage systems. As of early 2026, Enphase has shipped 87.8 million microinverters. It has also supplied more than 5.2 million systems to over 165 countries and shipped 2.5 GWh of energy storage systems.

That's only the beginning. The company's innovation has opened up new market opportunities, giving it an expanding share of potential revenue generated by each residential solar installation. The company has a massive market opportunity of over $19 billion.

4. Array Technologies

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NASDAQ: ARRY

Array Technologies

Today's Change

(4.06%) $0.35

Current Price

$8.97

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$1.4B

Day's Range

$8.20 - $9.11

52wk Range

$5.39 - $12.23

Volume

5.3M

Avg Vol

Gross Margin

21.26%

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Array Technologies (ARRY +4.06%) is a leading global provider of utility-scale solar tracking technology. The company's highly engineered trackers and sophisticated software empower solar power companies to maximize their energy production. As of mid-2026, the company's trackers had helped deliver 99 GW of power worldwide.

In 2025, Array acquired APA Solar for $179 million. APA is a leading provider of engineered foundation solutions and fixed-tilt mounting systems for solar projects. The acquisition expands the company's total addressable market by 40% by adding the $1.2 billion U.S. utility-scale tracker foundations market. The deal enables Array to offer customers an integrated tracker and foundation system.

That acquisition helped drive 15% volume growth in the first quarter of 2026, along with improved profitability. The company expects 2026 to be a year of continued growth, built on the launch of its new integrated tracker, foundation, and software solutions. It ended the first quarter with a record $2.4 billion order book, driven by growing traction for its latest products.

5. NextEra Energy

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NYSE: NEE

NextEra Energy

Today's Change

(-2.42%) $-2.32

Current Price

$93.36

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$195B

Day's Range

$92.70 - $95.08

52wk Range

$63.88 - $98.75

Volume

11M

Avg Vol

9.4M

Gross Margin

36.10%

Dividend Yield

2.49%

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NextEra Energy (NEE -2.42%) is one of the largest electric utilities and energy infrastructure companies in North America. It owns Florida Power & Light (FPL), the largest electric utility in the country, with about 12 million customers. Meanwhile, NextEra Energy Resources owns, operates, and develops energy infrastructure, including renewable energy projects, electricity transmission lines, and gas-power infrastructure such as pipelines and power plants.

FPL owns and operates a solar energy portfolio of more than 8.5 GW, the largest utility-owned portfolio in the country. FPL plans to add over 12 GW of solar and another 7 GW of battery storage over the next decade to support its customers' growing electricity needs.

Meanwhile, NextEra Energy Resources had more than 43 GW of generation and storage capacity in operation in 2026 (25% of which was solar). The company expected to add 31.5-41.5 GW of new solar energy capacity by 2032.

How to invest in solar energy stocks

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to add solar energy stocks to your portfolio:

Open your brokerage app: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.

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Benefits and risks of investing in solar energy stocks

Some of the benefits of investing in solar energy stocks are:

Strong growth prospects, powered by climate change concerns and surging power demand to support AI data centers and other catalysts.
Passive income potential from dividends paid by companies focused on operating solar power-generating facilities.
Making your portfolio more socially responsible and environmentally friendly.

Meanwhile, here are some of the risks of investing in solar energy stocks:

Growth can temporarily slow due to changing government policies, tariffs, inflation, and other headwinds.
Intense competition can weigh on margins and profitability.
Sensitivity to interest rates.

Should you invest in solar energy stocks?

Demand for solar energy is nearly as hot as the sun. "Compared to other sources of power, the rise in solar generation is the fastest in the history of electricity,” according to Daan Struyven, the co-head of global commodities research at Goldman Sachs (GS -2.12%). The investment bank expects global solar installations to rise to 914 GW by 2030, 57% above 2024's levels. Several catalysts are powering red-hot demand for solar, including climate change, falling installation costs, and rising electricity consumption from AI data centers. Given this growth potential, it makes a lot of sense to consider investing in a solar stock.

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FAQ

Solar Energy FAQ

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About the Author

Matt DiLallo has been a contributing Motley Fool stock analyst specializing in the energy, industrials, and real estate sectors since 2012. He also covers dividend-paying stocks, pre-IPO companies, ETFs, and other investing topics. He holds an MBA from Liberty University.

TMFmd19

@MatthewDiLallo

Matt DiLallo has positions in Brookfield Renewable Partners, First Solar, and NextEra Energy. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends First Solar, Goldman Sachs Group, and NextEra Energy. The Motley Fool recommends Brookfield Renewable Partners and Enphase Energy. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Best Solar Energy Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

Key Points

Five top solar energy stocks for 2026

1. First Solar

Key Data Points

2. Brookfield Renewable

Key Data Points

3. Enphase Energy

Key Data Points

4. Array Technologies

Key Data Points

5. NextEra Energy

Key Data Points

How to invest in solar energy stocks

Benefits and risks of investing in solar energy stocks

Should you invest in solar energy stocks?

Related investing topics

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FAQ

Solar Energy FAQ

What is the best solar energy stock to buy?

What is the best solar energy stock to buy?

Does Warren Buffett invest in solar?

Does Warren Buffett invest in solar?

Who is the No. 1 solar company?

Who is the No. 1 solar company?

What solar company did Bill Gates invest in?

What solar company did Bill Gates invest in?

How do solar energy stocks perform during market volatility?

How do solar energy stocks perform during market volatility?

Are solar energy stocks a good investment?

Are solar energy stocks a good investment?

What are the top three solar companies in the U.S.?

What are the top three solar companies in the U.S.?

About the Author

Read Next

Stocks Mentioned

Premium Investing Services

Key Data Points

2. Brookfield Renewable

Key Data Points

3. Enphase Energy

Key Data Points

4. Array Technologies

Key Data Points

5. NextEra Energy

Key Data Points

How to invest in solar energy stocks

Benefits and risks of investing in solar energy stocks

Should you invest in solar energy stocks?

Best Hydrogen Stocks to Buy in 2026 and How to Invest in Them

Best Tech Stocks to Buy in 2026 and How to Invest in Them

Best Utility Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

Best Liquefied Natural Gas Stocks of 2026 and How to Invest in Them

Solar Energy FAQ

What is the best solar energy stock to buy?

What is the best solar energy stock to buy?

Does Warren Buffett invest in solar?

Does Warren Buffett invest in solar?

Who is the No. 1 solar company?

Who is the No. 1 solar company?

What solar company did Bill Gates invest in?

What solar company did Bill Gates invest in?

How do solar energy stocks perform during market volatility?

How do solar energy stocks perform during market volatility?

Are solar energy stocks a good investment?

Are solar energy stocks a good investment?

What are the top three solar companies in the U.S.?

What are the top three solar companies in the U.S.?