WULF vs. CLSK: Which Bitcoin Miner Has Better Upside Potential?
ZACKS·2025-11-28 17:41

Core Insights - The Bitcoin mining sector is shifting towards AI infrastructure to diversify revenue streams, with TeraWulf (WULF) and CleanSpark (CLSK) leading this transformation [1][2] - Both companies announced significant developments in November 2025, with TeraWulf converting preferred stock and CleanSpark completing a convertible debt offering [2] TeraWulf (WULF) - TeraWulf's transition to AI infrastructure presents both opportunities and challenges, with Q3 results showing revenue growth to $50.6 million but a GAAP net loss of $455 million due to non-cash revaluations [3][4] - The company's capital structure is concerning, with nearly $1.5 billion in total debt and only $712.8 million in cash, resulting in a negative net cash of $374 million and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.39 [4] - Operationally, TeraWulf faces cost efficiency issues, with power costs around $0.035 per kilowatt-hour and a modest mining capacity of 12.8 exahash per second, leading to a year-over-year production decline [5] - TeraWulf's AI partnerships, while promising, require significant upfront capital, with over $5 billion in long-term financing increasing leverage and execution risks [6] CleanSpark (CLSK) - CleanSpark is positioned as a fundamentally stronger investment, reporting record revenues of $766 million in fiscal 2025, a 102% year-over-year increase, and a positive net income of $364.5 million [7][8] - The company achieved an operational hashrate of over 50 exahash per second and produced nearly 8,000 Bitcoin, holding over 13,000 Bitcoin valued at approximately $1.2 billion [8] - CleanSpark's strategic financing included a $1.15 billion zero-coupon convertible note offering, funding a $460 million share buyback and strengthening its balance sheet with about $1 billion in working capital [10] - The AI infrastructure strategy appears pragmatic, with secured power agreements potentially unlocking $3.8 billion in shareholder value by 2027 [11][12] Valuation and Performance Comparison - Both companies are trading at premium valuations, but CleanSpark offers better value metrics with a forward P/S ratio of 3.96x compared to WULF's elevated ratio exceeding 17.8 [13] - CleanSpark has demonstrated stable stock appreciation, while WULF has shown extreme volatility, with a beta exceeding 4.0 and significant pullbacks during Bitcoin price declines [16] Conclusion - CleanSpark exhibits clear advantages over TeraWulf, including proven profitability, robust cash generation, superior mining efficiency, and a more achievable AI infrastructure deployment plan [18][19] - Investors are advised to monitor CleanSpark for attractive entry points while avoiding TeraWulf until it shows progress in cost reduction and margin improvement [19]