CHONGQING, CHINA - JULY 29: In this photo illustration, a person holds a smartphone displaying the logo of First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR), an American photovoltaic solar energy solutions company, ...

First Solar stock has had a solid year, rising by about 30% year-to-date. In comparison, Enphase Energy stock, another solar component player, has seen its stock decline by 8% over the same period.

Solar stocks have boomed and busted as investors excitedly pile into them only to see their potential pushed further down the road. Unlike the electric vehicle market, which has finally caught ...