BLDP vs. BE: Which Hydrogen Power Stock Has Better Potential for 2026?

Industry Overview - Hydrogen fuel cell technology is gaining traction as a long-term investment due to increasing government and industry efforts to decarbonize energy and transportation, offering zero-emission operation and high efficiency [1] - Expanding policy support, including subsidies and national hydrogen strategies, is reducing costs and accelerating the adoption of hydrogen technologies [1][2] Investment Momentum - Investment momentum is bolstered by advancements in electrolyzer technology, decreasing renewable energy costs, and the development of hydrogen infrastructure [2] - As green hydrogen scales, fuel cells are becoming more cost-competitive, enhancing their role in the global energy transition [2] Company Analysis: Bloom Energy (BE) - Bloom Energy is positioned to benefit from rising demand for low-carbon on-site power solutions, with its solid-oxide fuel cell technology providing efficient and ultra-clean electricity [3] - The company is expected to see significant earnings growth, with a projected year-over-year increase of 85.71% in 2025 and 78.75% in 2026 [8][9] - Bloom Energy's revenues are forecasted to increase by 37.74% in 2026, with a current return on invested capital (ROIC) of 5.22% [9][17] Company Analysis: Ballard Power Systems (BLDP) - Ballard Power is a leading provider of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology, suitable for heavy-duty transport applications [4] - The company is expected to experience earnings growth of 43.86% in 2025 and 25.78% in 2026, with revenues projected to rise by only 3.03% in 2026 [6][11] - Ballard Power's current ROIC is negative at -16.75%, indicating less efficient use of funds compared to Bloom Energy [17] Financial Performance - In the last six months, Bloom Energy's shares surged by 299.5%, significantly outperforming Ballard Power's gain of 59.6% [18] - Bloom Energy's shares are trading at a premium with a Price/Sales (P/S) ratio of 8.02X compared to Ballard Power's 7.85X [15] Conclusion - Both Bloom Energy and Ballard Power are focused on providing reliable, emission-free electricity, but Bloom Energy's stronger earnings estimates, higher ROIC, and superior price performance suggest it has an edge going into the new year [22][23]