3 Alternative Energy Stocks to Watch Despite Rising Cost Pressure

Industry Overview - The Zacks Alternative Energy - Other industry is divided into two main groups: one focuses on the generation and distribution of alternative energy, while the other is involved in the development and installation of renewable projects [2] - Global investment in the energy transition reached a record $2.3 trillion in 2025, marking an 8% increase from the previous year, indicating strong growth opportunities for industry participants [2] Trends in Alternative Energy - Wind energy is rapidly growing due to government support, public concern about climate change, and decreasing costs, with projections indicating the global wind industry will reach its second terawatt of capacity by 2030 [3] - The global wind industry is expected to add approximately 9.1 GW of capacity annually over the next five years, totaling 46 GW by 2029, with cumulative capacity projected to reach 196.5 GW [3] - The electric vehicle (EV) market is also surging, with nearly 2.1 million EVs sold worldwide in December 2025, contributing to a total of 20.7 million units for the year [4] - The global EV market size is projected to reach $6,523.97 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 32.5% from 2025 to 2030, benefiting clean energy companies [4] Cost Challenges - Rising costs due to higher steel prices and U.S. import tariffs are creating financial pressure for wind project developers, despite strong demand [5][6] - The expiration of key U.S. tax credits is expected to increase project costs significantly, making renewable energy development more expensive [7] Industry Performance - The Zacks Alternative Energy industry has outperformed the Zacks Oil-Energy sector and the S&P 500 composite over the past year, with a collective stock surge of 33.1% compared to 18.3% and 17.4% respectively [12] - The industry currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 190, placing it in the bottom 22% of over 243 Zacks industries, indicating a negative earnings outlook [8][10] Company Highlights - Montauk Renewables (MNTK): Specializes in biogas management and conversion, producing nearly 1.4 million MMBtu of RNG in Q3 2025, with a projected sales improvement of 3.5% year over year for 2026 [18][19] - GE Vernova (GEV): Focuses on wind and electrification, securing 1.1 GW of U.S. onshore wind repowering orders in 2025, with a projected sales improvement of 17.5% year over year for 2026 [22][23] - Constellation Energy (CEG): Aims to eliminate 100% of greenhouse gas emissions, with a projected sales improvement of 12.2% year over year for 2026 [26][27]