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 2025, Berkshire Hathaway Energy had invested about $8.6 billion in solar energy projects, including two of the largest in the U.S. It had more projects underway, including 400 MW planned for 2027 by NV Energy and 800 MW planned by the end of 2028 by MidAmerican Energy.

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 August 2026) are:NextEra Energy: $179.8 billionFirst Solar: $24.2 billionBrookfield Renewable: $16.9 billion

5 Best Solar Energy Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

By Matthew DiLallo – Updated Aug 16, 2026 at 5:31 PM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

The solar industry is benefiting from the shift away from fossil fuels to cleaner alternatives.
Other growth catalysts include rising power demand from EVs, AI data centers, and advanced manufacturing.
Top solar investments include Enphase, Brookfield Renewable, and First Solar.

Solar energy stocks are publicly traded companies that design, install, or operate 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

The solar energy industry is large and growing. Here are the five best solar energy investment opportunities across various aspects of the sector to consider this year:

Ticker Information Table
Name and ticker	Market capMarket cap calculated using publicly traded shares outstanding only. Does not include unlisted, private, or dual-class non-traded shares. Implied market cap may vary.	Industry
Enphase Energy (NASDAQ:ENPH)	$5.2 billion	Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment
Brookfield Renewable (NYSE:BEPC)	$6.2 billion	Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers
First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR)	$23.9 billion	Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment
Array Technologies (NASDAQ:ARRY)	$757.7 million	Electrical Equipment
NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE)	$179.2 billion	Electric Utilities

Data as of Aug 20, 2026. Showing 5 of 5 total entries.

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1. First Solar

NASDAQ: FSLR

First Solar

Today's Change

(-2.02%) $-4.50

Current Price

$217.90

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$24B

Day's Range

$217.90 - $225.00

52wk Range

$182.99 - $320.95

Volume

212.2K

Avg Vol

2.5M

Gross Margin

44.00%

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NYSE: BEP

Brookfield Renewable Partners

Today's Change

(-1.24%) $-0.42

Current Price

$33.11

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$10B

Day's Range

$33.09 - $33.80

52wk Range

$24.48 - $38.12

Volume

46.3K

Avg Vol

920.7K

Gross Margin

16.64%

Dividend Yield

4.56%

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Brookfield Renewable (BEP -1.13%) 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 4.5% in mid-2026).

Brookfield Renewable has a globally diversified renewable energy portfolio. It's a world leader in hydroelectric power plants, with 8.5 GW of capacity and 43% of its funds from operations (FFO). It complements those facilities with rapidly expanding wind energy (16.9 GW, 22%), utility-scale solar (13.8 GW, 15%), distributed energy (e.g., rooftop solar), and energy storage platforms (8.1 GW, 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 nearly 50% of the global development pipeline, which totals over 220 GW, while distributed energy accounts for 4% of the total.

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%-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

(-3.23%) $-1.27

Current Price

$38.10

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$5.2B

Day's Range

$38.07 - $39.29

52wk Range

$25.77 - $73.74

Volume

401.6K

Avg Vol

6.3M

Gross Margin

62.84%

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Enphase Energy (ENPH -3.23%) 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 mid-2026, Enphase has shipped 89.4 million microinverters. It has also supplied more than 5.3 million systems to over 165 countries and shipped 2.6 GWh of energy storage systems.

That's only the beginning. The company's innovation has opened up new market opportunities, including providing intelligent power for AI data centers with its IQ SST distributed, solid-state transformers. The company has a massive market opportunity of over $19 billion in 2026, climbing to more than $25 billion by 2028 with the addition of new markets.

4. Array Technologies

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NASDAQ: ARRY

Array Technologies

Today's Change

(-4.17%) $-0.21

Current Price

$4.72

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$758M

Day's Range

$4.71 - $4.93

52wk Range

$4.71 - $12.23

Volume

712.3K

Avg Vol

6.6M

Gross Margin

21.62%

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Array Technologies (ARRY -4.17%) 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 102 GW of power worldwide.

In 2026, Array agreed to acquire Affordable Wire Management for $203 million, creating new growth opportunities in adjacent markets, including battery energy storage solutions and data center infrastructure. The company expects the deal to be high-single-digit accretive to its adjusted earnings per share in the first year.

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 second quarter with a record $2.5 billion order book (up 37% year over year), driven by over $500 million in new orders, reflecting growing traction for its latest products.

5. NextEra Energy

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NYSE: NEE

NextEra Energy

Today's Change

(-0.65%) $-0.56

Current Price

$85.35

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$179B

Day's Range

$85.06 - $85.99

52wk Range

$69.24 - $98.75

Volume

2.5M

Avg Vol

11.5M

Gross Margin

35.80%

Dividend Yield

2.77%

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NextEra Energy (NEE -0.72%) 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 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. If you don't have one yet, take a look at our favorite brokers and trading platforms to find the right one for you.
Search for the stock: Enter the ticker 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.

Methodology: How these stocks were chosen

Several companies build the components and panels needed to generate solar power. Addtionally, many others focus on developing, acquiring, owning, and operating solar energy assets. This group of companies stood out as the best investment opportunities across those focus areas. They have strong businesses and financial profiles along with robust growth prospects. That puts them in an excellent position to generate attractive solar-powered returns for investors.

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 -0.82%). 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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Investing in solar energy stocks: 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.

5 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

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

Methodology: How these stocks were chosen

Should you invest in solar energy stocks?

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Investing in solar energy stocks: 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

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Investing in solar energy stocks: 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.?

2. Brookfield Renewable

3. Enphase Energy

4. Array Technologies

5. NextEra Energy

How to invest in solar energy stocks

Benefits and risks of investing in solar energy stocks

Methodology: How these stocks were chosen

Should you invest in solar energy stocks?

Key Data Points