These big tech stocks can still make you rich

Tech stocks are coming alive and adding billions to the wealth of tech titans. But don't worry: you haven't completely missed the tech-stock money-making machine.

There are still seven technology stocks in the Standard & Poor's 500 index, including First Solar (FSLR), Facebook (FB) and salesforce.com (CRM) analysts think will be worth 20% or more in 18 months than they are now, according to a Paste BN analysis of data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. These stocks show, for various reasons, there's still money to be made in technology stocks despite the run up in the entire sector.

Tech stocks have finally joined the market's rally and are turning into a driving force. The Technology Select Sector SPDR exchange-traded fund (XLK) is up 4.4% over the past month, making it the best performing of all 10 sectors in the S&P 500 during that time. The tech rally is a big reason why the S&P 500 is up 0.9% over the past month and butting up against new highs.

The tech-stock rally has intensified over the past month due to solid earnings reported from the companies. Tech stocks in the S&P 500 reported 1.2% higher second-quarter profit, which was nearly 7 percentage points better than what was expected in early July, says S&P Global. Investors seem to be positioning themselves for the tech profit bonanza around the corner. S&P 500 tech companies are expected to report 14.3% higher adjusted earnings in the first quarter of 2017, third only to expected earnings growth in materials companies of 22.7% and financials at 17%.

Some of the tech stocks with the highest potential upside are those that have been beaten down or left out of the market rally. Solar equipment maker First Solar is the tech stock analysts see the most upside in. First Solar is expected to be worth 60% more in 18 months than it is now. Part of that upside expected, though, can be explained by the fact First Solar shares are down 23% over the past month. The shares have been hit by "uncertainty in the solar industry" due to "potential oversupply of (solar) modules," says Ben Kallo, analyst at R.W. Baird. Analysts expect the company's adjusted profit to fall by nearly a quarter in the current fiscal year and again in fiscal 2017. But forecasts looking out to fiscal 2018 see profit growing again and "expansion potential in 2018 and beyond is substantial," Kallo says.

There's no slowdown in sight for Facebook. Shares are already up 6.3% over the past month and analysts think the social media giant's shares will be worth 24% more in 18 months.  Analysts expect the company's adjusted earnings this year to jump 72% and another 28% in fiscal 2018.

Investors jumping into tech stocks now might feel like they're missing the party. EBay (EBAY) shares have soared 16% the past month and are trading just 1% below where analysts think they should be worth in 18 months. But there's plenty of opportunity. On average, analysts think the 67 tech stocks in the S&P 500 will be worth 8.1% more in 18 months than they are now.

Analysts still have their tech favorites, like Facebook. "The bottom line is that advertisers understand the value proposition of Facebook because they use it," says Michael Pachter, analyst at Wedbush Securities. "Facebook is going to capture a disproportionate share of Internet advertising dollars, and the Internet is where the eyeballs are."