This week, 10 Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment stocks are improving their overall ratings on Portfolio Grader. Each of these stocks is rated an “A” (“strong buy”) or “B” overall (“buy”).

First Solar, Inc.’s (FSLR) ratings are looking better this week, moving up to a B from last week’s C. First Solar, Inc. designs and manufactures solar modules. The company also gets A’s in sales growth, earnings growth, earnings revisions, earnings surprise, earnings momentum, and free cash flow. For more information, get Portfolio Grader’s complete analysis of FSLR stock.

Silicon Laboratories Inc. (SLAB) shows solid improvement this week. The company’s rating rises from a C to a B. Silicon Laboratories Inc. designs and develops proprietary, analog-intensive and mixed-signal integrated circuits that can be used in a range of applications. The company also gets A’s in earnings growth and earnings revisions. For more information, get Portfolio Grader’s complete analysis of SLAB stock.

This week, Xilinx, Inc. (XLNX) pushes up from a C to a B rating. Xilinx, Inc. designs, develops and markets programmable platforms and predefined system functions delivered as intellectual property cores. The company also gets A’s in return on equity. For more information, get Portfolio Grader’s complete analysis of XLNX stock.

Silicon Motion Technology Corporation Sponsored ADR (SIMO) earns a A this week, jumping up from last week’s grade of B. Silicon Motion Technology Corporation Sponsored ADR is a semiconductor company that designs, develops, and markets semiconductor products for the multimedia consumer electronics market. The company also gets A’s in sales growth, return on equity, and free cash flow. For more information, get Portfolio Grader’s complete analysis of SIMO stock.

Cascade Microtech, Inc. (CSCD) gets a higher grade this week, advancing from a B last week to a A. Cascade Microtech, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures and markets advanced wafer probing and test socket solutions for the electrical measurement and testing of high performance chips. The company also gets A’s in earnings growth and earnings momentum. For more information, get Portfolio Grader’s complete analysis of CSCD stock.

Nanometrics Incorporated (NANO) boosts its rating from a D to a B this week. Nanometrics Incorporated manufactures film thickness and overlay metrology systems. The company also gets A’s in earnings growth, earnings surprise, and earnings momentum. For more information, get Portfolio Grader’s complete analysis of NANO stock.

Vimicro International Corp. Sponsored ADR (VIMC) improves from a B to a A rating this week. Vimicro International Corp. Sponsored ADR designs, develops and markets mixed-signal semiconductor products and system-level solutions that enable multimedia capabilities in a variety of products for the consumer electronics, communications and surveillance markets. The company also gets A’s in sales growth, earnings growth, earnings revisions, and earnings surprise. For more information, get Portfolio Grader’s complete analysis of VIMC stock.

This is a strong week for Cohu, Inc. (COHU). The company’s rating climbs to B from the previous week’s C. Cohu, Inc. develops, manufactures, markets, sells, and services test handling and burn-in related equipment and thermal sub-systems for the global semiconductor industry. The company also gets A’s in earnings growth and earnings surprise. For more information, get Portfolio Grader’s complete analysis of COHU stock.

This week, Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd’s (NVMI) ratings are up from a C last week to a B. Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd develops, produces, and markets monitoring and measurement systems for the semiconductor manufacturing industry. The company also gets A’s in sales growth, earnings growth, earnings revisions, earnings surprise, and free cash flow. For more information, get Portfolio Grader’s complete analysis of NVMI stock.

The rating of Sequans Communications SA Sponsored ADR (SQNS) moves up this week, rising from a C to a B. Sequans Communications SA Sponsored ADR is a fabless designer, developer and supplier of 4G semiconductor solutions for wireless broadband applications. The company also gets A’s in sales growth and earnings revisions. For more information, get Portfolio Grader’s complete analysis of SQNS stock.

Louis Navellier’s proprietary Portfolio Grader stock ranking system assesses roughly 5,000 companies every week based on a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. Stocks are given a letter grade based on their results — with A being “strong buy,” and F being “strong sell.” Explore the tool here.