In this article, we explore the 11 Best Alternative Energy Stocks to Invest In According to Analysts.The alternative energy sector entered 2026 with high optimism after enjoying a great run in 2025. Last year, the International Energy Agency (IEA) in its tenth edition of the World Energy Investment report, had predicted that global energy investment would reach $3.3 trillion. The lion’s share of the capital flow, at least $2.2 trillion, would go to clean technologies, the report detailed. Fast forward to 20 ...

DANBURY, Conn., Feb. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FuelCell Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq: FCEL) today released its 2025 Annual Report and 2025 Sustainability Report. Together, the reports detail the company’s financial and operational performance for fiscal year 2025 and its continued progress toward its long-term focus on distributed generation, disciplined growth, manufacturing scale, and profitability while advancing sustainability through innovation and clean energy technologies. The 2025 Annual Report Highlight ...

Core Insights - FuelCell Energy's (FCEL) carbon capture platform addresses economic pressures on aging coal and natural gas assets, as rising emissions constraints increase compliance costs while plant shutdowns are costly and politically complex [1][2] Group 1: Technology and Economic Benefits - FuelCell Energy's approach extends the productive life of existing assets by integrating carbon capture into exhaust streams, allowing continued operation with lower emissions and avoiding replacement infrastructure costs [2] - Unlike conventional carbon capture systems that consume about 20% of a plant's power output, FuelCell Energy's carbonate fuel cells generate additional electricity during the capture process, creating new revenue streams and improving project economics [3] - The modular design of FuelCell Energy's systems supports deployments from sub-megawatt to multi-megawatt installations, with individual stacks producing between 250 kilowatts and 400 kilowatts, and four-stack modules netting about 1.4 megawatts, enhancing scalability and flexibility for various applications [4] Group 2: Industry Trends and Competitors - The momentum behind carbon capture and storage (CCS) is not limited to emerging technology providers; established energy companies are also investing in CCS as a core part of their long-term strategies [5] - Chevron Corporation views CCS as essential for a lower-carbon future, with decades of experience in large-scale CO2 injection and ongoing projects like the Gorgon CCS project, which has injected over 10 million tons of CO2 [6] - Occidental Petroleum has over 50 years of experience in carbon storage and is scaling Direct Air Capture technology through its subsidiary 1PointFive, emphasizing the importance of carbon capture in its climate strategy [7] Group 3: Market Performance - Shares of FuelCell Energy have increased by 46.4% over the past six months, outperforming the industry's growth [8] - FuelCell Energy currently has an average brokerage recommendation of 3.44 on a scale of 1 to 5, indicating a mixed outlook from analysts [10]

Core Insights - Hydrogen investing has transitioned from hype to a focus on real technological differences, with an emphasis on efficiency and economics rather than ambitious production targets [1] - FuelCell Energy (FCEL) is leveraging solid oxide electrolyzer technology to enhance its green hydrogen strategy, prioritizing practical applications [1][7] - The industry is witnessing a shift towards scalable performance and system integration, moving away from mere volume claims [1][3] FuelCell Energy (FCEL) - FCEL's solid oxide electrolyzers operate at high temperatures and utilize steam, which increases efficiency and reduces electricity costs, addressing the primary expense in green hydrogen production [2] - The company collaborates with the U.S. Department of Energy to explore the integration of its electrolyzers with nuclear power, aiming to improve reliability and lower production costs [2] - FCEL's strategy focuses on providing a steady hydrogen supply for hard-to-electrify sectors, emphasizing execution over short-term volume claims [3][7] - FCEL's stock has seen significant growth, more than doubling in value over the past six months, outperforming the industry [6] Industry Developments - Linde plc is establishing itself as a major player in green hydrogen, with a 35 MW PEM electrolyzer project in Niagara Falls to enhance green liquid hydrogen supply [4] - Plug Power is developing a vertically integrated green hydrogen platform, producing liquid green hydrogen at its Woodbine, GA plant, with a capacity of about 15 tons per day [5]

Core Insights - The rapid growth of AI and cloud computing is changing data center power requirements, emphasizing reliability, speed of deployment, and proximity to load alongside cost and sustainability [1][2] Group 1: FuelCell Energy (FCEL) - FuelCell Energy is focusing on deployable carbonate fuel cell systems to address immediate power demands from data centers facing grid constraints [3] - The company's modular 1.25-megawatt fuel cell platforms allow for incremental capacity scaling, providing continuous baseload power with low emissions and operational flexibility [4] - FCEL is exploring financing opportunities, including a non-binding letter of intent for up to 450 MW of deployments, indicating potential near-term growth linked to data center expansion [5] - FCEL shares have seen significant price movement, increasing over 80% in the past six months, reflecting renewed interest in its technology [9][10] - The company trades at a price-to-book ratio of less than 1, indicating a valuation anchored to its operational business and ongoing customer discussions [13] - Earnings outlook for FCEL is improving, with better-than-expected results in recent quarters, suggesting stabilizing execution [17] Group 2: Oklo Inc. (OKLO) - Oklo is pursuing a long-term strategy with advanced nuclear reactors, recently gaining credibility through an agreement with Meta Platforms for a 1.2-gigawatt nuclear campus [6][7] - The timeline for OKLO's project includes pre-construction activities starting in 2026, with operational phases expected around 2030 and full delivery by 2034 [7] - OKLO remains pre-revenue, with significant execution risks and regulatory hurdles, leading to volatile investor sentiment [8][10] - The company's shares surged over 45% following the META agreement but have since experienced a pullback, highlighting the speculative nature of its stock [10] - OKLO trades at around 11 times book value despite having no commercial revenues, reflecting high expectations and limited margin for delays [12] - Earnings outlook for OKLO is negative, with losses expected to widen before narrowing later in the decade, reinforcing execution risk [15]

Core Insights - FuelCell Energy's recent initiatives highlight the impact of artificial intelligence and high-performance computing on electricity demand and power delivery in data centers [1] - The partnership with Sustainable Development Capital aims to explore up to 450 megawatts of fuel cell deployments, addressing technology rollout and financing challenges in capital-intensive data center projects [2][6] - FuelCell Energy's technology provides reliable, on-site baseload power that can operate independently of the grid, enhancing efficiency through the use of various fuel sources [3] Industry Trends - Onsite power solutions are increasingly important for data centers, with companies like Bloom Energy focusing on this segment to meet rising AI-driven power demands [4] - Enphase Energy is expanding its offerings to support data center power needs, including three-phase energy solutions and small commercial batteries for load shifting and backup power [5]

Core Viewpoint - FuelCell Energy (FCEL) shares experienced a significant rally of 7.5% due to investor enthusiasm surrounding a new strategic collaboration with Sustainable Development Capital LLP, which aims to explore up to 450 megawatts of fuel-cell deployments for data centers [1][2]. Company Performance - FCEL closed at $8.64, recovering from an 8.2% loss over the past four weeks, indicating a notable increase in trading volume [1]. - The company is expected to report a quarterly loss of $0.65 per share, reflecting a year-over-year change of +54.2%, while revenues are projected to reach $41.19 million, up 116.8% from the previous year [3]. Market Sentiment - The partnership with SDCL enhances FCEL's position as a power provider for AI-driven demand, improving execution visibility and lifting sentiment regarding future growth potential [2]. - The consensus EPS estimate for FCEL has remained unchanged over the last 30 days, suggesting that stock price movements may be influenced by trends in earnings estimate revisions [4]. Industry Context - FuelCell Energy is categorized under the Zacks Alternative Energy - Other industry, where Texas Pacific (TPL) also operates, closing 2.9% lower at $327.87, with a return of 11.5% over the past month [5]. - TPL's consensus EPS estimate has decreased by 3.9% over the past month, indicating a change of +1.2% compared to the previous year [6].

Core Insights - FuelCell Energy (FCEL) is promoting its carbonate fuel cell technology to address the rising electricity demand in data centers, which is outpacing grid capacity development [1][2] - The company identifies AI and cloud computing as significant drivers of this demand, highlighting the need for reliable, high-density power that utilities struggle to provide quickly [1] Group 1: FuelCell Energy's Solutions - FCEL's behind-the-meter generation offers a faster way to secure power, with modular fuel cell systems that can be installed in months and operate independently of the grid [2] - The 1.25-megawatt modules can scale with demand and be located near data centers, reducing reliance on slow grid upgrades and complex permitting processes [2][3] - The fuel cells provide continuous baseload power, can function during grid outages, and adjust output to meet varying demand, making them suitable for mission-critical data centers [3] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Bloom Energy (BE) is focusing on data centers as its largest and fastest-growing market segment, providing reliable onsite fuel cell power that does not depend on strained grids [4] - Enphase Energy (ENPH) is expanding into commercial energy solutions to meet data center power needs, with products like IQ9 microinverters and planned small commercial batteries for load shifting and backup power [5] Group 3: Market Performance - FCEL shares have increased by 50% over the past six months, outperforming the industry's growth [6] - The company has an average brokerage recommendation of 3.22 on a scale of 1 to 5, indicating a neutral stance among analysts [9]

Core Insights - Sustainable Development Capital LLP (SDCL) and FuelCell Energy, Inc. have announced a strategic collaboration to deploy up to 450 megawatts of advanced fuel-cell power systems to support global data center growth and other critical power needs [1][3][4] Group 1: Collaboration Overview - The collaboration aims to address the increasing power demand driven by AI, which necessitates a redesign of data-center power architectures to ensure reliability and scalability [2][4] - FuelCell Energy's distributed baseload power technology will be integrated with SDCL's expertise in financing and operating scalable energy infrastructure [3][5] Group 2: Market Trends - There is a growing trend in data center development towards onsite or behind-the-meter power solutions, which are being evaluated alongside traditional grid supply to meet decarbonization goals and address grid constraints [4] - The partnership highlights the importance of collaborating with organizations experienced in deploying large-scale energy infrastructure efficiently [4] Group 3: Technology and Benefits - FuelCell Energy's systems are designed to provide continuous, on-site power and can operate independently of the electricity grid, minimizing local air pollutants associated with combustion-based generation [5] - The technology offers flexibility, allowing customers to deploy systems in AC configurations and transition to 800-volt DC designs over time, enhancing efficiency and resilience in data centers [5][6] Group 4: Company Backgrounds - SDCL focuses on developing and operating efficient energy infrastructure solutions, managing approximately US$2.5 billion in assets [6] - FuelCell Energy has over 55 years of experience and has deployed more than 600 modules globally, providing scalable and fuel-flexible power solutions [7]

Core Insights - There is a structural shift in corporate leadership with more women taking on top roles, leading to improved performance in innovation, operational agility, and shareholder returns [2] - Women-led organizations are demonstrating disciplined execution and better capital allocation, reinforcing investor confidence in sustainable business models [2] Group 1: Women Entrepreneurs and Business Growth - The number of women-owned firms grew 44% faster than male-owned businesses from 2019 to 2024, indicating a significant impact on the U.S. business landscape [4] - 56% of women entrepreneurs reported higher revenues in 2025 compared to 2024, with 66% expecting growth in 2026 despite macroeconomic uncertainty [4] - Women entrepreneurs are increasingly accessing growth capital, with 20% utilizing debt and 32% equity funding in the past year [4] Group 2: Funding Challenges - Women-led startups receive only about 2% of venture capital funding in the U.S. and Europe, highlighting a significant funding disparity [5] - Biases in the investment community contribute to this disparity, with female entrepreneurs often facing risk-focused questions compared to opportunity-focused questions for male entrepreneurs [5] Group 3: Investment Opportunities in Women-Led Companies - Companies like The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (EL), Commercial Metals Company (CMC), Arista Networks, Inc. (ANET), and FuelCell Energy, Inc. (FCEL) exemplify strong leadership and strategic vision, making them attractive investment opportunities [7] - Estee Lauder Companies reported net sales of $3.48 billion, up 4% year over year, with adjusted earnings per share rising to 32 cents from 14 cents [12] - Commercial Metals Company reported net earnings of $177.3 million on net sales of about $2.1 billion, marking a significant improvement from a net loss in the prior-year period [14] - Arista Networks reported revenue of approximately $2.308 billion, up about 27.5% year over year, with non-GAAP net income of $962.3 million [17] Group 4: Leadership Contributions - Maria Black's leadership at Automatic Data Processing has driven cloud-based HCM innovation and steady revenue growth [3] - Jody Absher at Commercial Metals Company has strengthened governance and legal strategy, contributing to the company's operational success [13][15] - Jayshree V. Ullal's leadership at Arista has transformed the company into a leader in cloud networking, with a focus on innovation and strategic partnerships [16][19] - Karen A. Farrell at FuelCell Energy is enhancing the company's human capital framework, crucial for scaling operations in the clean energy sector [20][22]