Ormat Technologies, Inc. (ORA): A Bull Case Theory

Company Overview - Ormat Technologies, Inc. (ORA) is a vertically integrated global renewable energy company specializing in geothermal and waste-heat recovery, with a growing presence in energy storage, particularly in the lithium-ion battery niche [2] - ORA provides carbon-free electricity at source, making it an attractive partner for data center operators seeking fast, reliable, and clean energy solutions [2] Financial Performance - In Q2, ORA's revenue rose 9.9% to $234 million, while EPS increased 20% to $0.48 from $0.40 in Q2 2024 [2] - Product revenue surged 58% and energy storage revenue grew 63%, offsetting a 4% decline in electricity revenue due to maintenance [3] - The company maintained guidance, supported by a strong backlog of $263 million and $300 million in secured development funding [3] Market Position and Growth Potential - The global geothermal market is forecast to grow approximately 5% annually through 2030, reaching around $15 billion, with ORA producing 1.6 GW of capacity, making it one of the world's largest operators [4] - ORA expanded its geothermal footprint with the acquisition of a Nevada-based plant adding 3.5 MW of capacity, expected to generate approximately $4 million in EBITDA in 2H 2025 [3] Valuation Concerns - Despite strong fundamentals, valuation remains a concern, with the stock trading at 8.1x sales, 13.6x EBITDA, and 40.2x P/E, which appear expensive on revenue and EBITDA metrics but more defensible on EPS growth projected at +45% in 2026 [5] - A more attractive entry point could be near $70 per share, where valuation better aligns with long-term growth expectations [5] Investor Sentiment - ORA is not among the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds, with 27 hedge fund portfolios holding ORA at the end of Q2, up from 23 in the previous quarter [7] - While acknowledging ORA's potential as an investment, some analysts believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk [7]