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Bloom Energy vs. Plug Power: Which Fuel Cell Stock Leads in 2026?
ZACKS· 2026-01-30 18:20
Industry Overview - The Zacks Alternate Energy- Other industry is gaining importance as countries work to reduce fossil-fuel dependence and curb emissions in the power sector [1] - Fuel-cell systems are emerging as a promising solution, generating electricity through a hydrogen-oxygen reaction that produces only water and heat, offering an efficient alternative to combustion-based power sources [1] Company Focus: Bloom Energy Corporation (BE) - Bloom Energy utilizes solid-oxide fuel cell technology to provide clean, reliable power through its Energy Server platform, which minimizes grid losses and scales from kilowatts to megawatts [3] - The company is well positioned for sustained revenue growth and margin expansion due to rising demand for decarbonization, grid resilience, and hydrogen solutions [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Bloom Energy's earnings per share in 2026 has increased year-over-year by 78.75%, with long-term earnings growth projected at 25% [6] - Bloom Energy's current return on equity (ROE) is 29.39%, indicating stronger capital efficiency compared to its competitor [12] - Over the past six months, Bloom Energy's stock has soared 316%, benefiting from rising demand for clean power [13] Company Focus: Plug Power Inc. (PLUG) - Plug Power provides clean energy through hydrogen fuel cell technology, enhancing efficiency in material-handling equipment with fast refueling and longer run times [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Plug Power's earnings per share in 2026 has increased year-over-year by 55.7% [7] - Plug Power's current ROE is negative at -105.98%, highlighting challenges in capital efficiency [12] - Despite near-term profitability and execution hurdles, Plug Power is positioned to capitalize on logistics decarbonization and clean energy adoption [4] Financial Metrics Comparison - Bloom Energy's debt-to-capital ratio stands at 66.43%, significantly higher than Plug Power's 19.05%, indicating a greater reliance on debt for operations [10] - The price-to-sales ratio for Bloom Energy is 13.37X, while for Plug Power it is 3.77X, suggesting that investors are willing to pay more for Bloom Energy's sales [11] Summary of Investment Potential - Both Bloom Energy and Plug Power are investing in research and utilizing fuel cell technology to provide reliable power [16] - Bloom Energy's stronger earnings estimates, higher ROE, and solid price performance make it a more attractive investment compared to Plug Power, despite both companies currently holding a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [16]
BE Stock Outpaces Its Industry in the Past 3 Months: How to Play?
ZACKS· 2025-12-17 18:01
Core Insights - Bloom Energy Corporation (BE) has outperformed its industry and the S&P 500, with an 8.2% stock price increase over the past three months compared to the Zacks Alternative Energy - Other industry's 1.6% rise, the Oil & Energy sector's 6.8%, and the S&P 500's 3.5% [1][8][23] Performance Summary - BE's stock price rose 8.2% in the last three months, outperforming its industry, sector, and the S&P 500 [1][8] - FuelCell Energy (FCEL) saw a modest gain of 1.7% during the same period [1] Growth Catalysts - Increasing demand for clean and reliable 24/7 power, driven by AI-powered data centers, crypto-mining, and U.S. manufacturing reshoring, is creating significant opportunities for Bloom Energy [6][23] - The Energy Server platform offers efficient, dependable, and low-emission power solutions for commercial customers and utilities [6] Infrastructure and Technology - As electricity demand exceeds supply, Bloom Energy's Energy Server addresses challenges by connecting directly to a customer's main power feed, avoiding efficiency losses typical in centralized systems [7] - The modular architecture allows flexible deployment, providing scalable capacity from hundreds of kilowatts to several hundred megawatts [7] Technological Advantages - Bloom Energy employs proprietary solid oxide technology for electricity generation through electrochemical fuel conversion, eliminating traditional combustion and pollution [8][9] - Partnerships with Oracle and Brookfield validate the company's ability to deliver large-scale clean electricity [9] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Bloom Energy's earnings per share indicates year-over-year growth of 85.71% for 2025 and 78.75% for 2026 [10] - The current earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026 are $0.52 and $0.93, respectively, with a significant year-over-year growth forecast [11] Earnings Performance - Bloom Energy has surpassed earnings estimates in three of the past four quarters, achieving an average surprise of 88.25% [13] - The reported earnings for the last four quarters show a consistent trend of exceeding expectations [14] Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) - Bloom Energy's ROIC stands at 5.22%, significantly higher than the industry average of 1.06%, indicating efficient investment [16][17] - Talen Energy's ROIC is 7.81%, which is also above industry peers [19] Valuation Metrics - Bloom Energy is currently trading at a premium valuation with a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 8.02X, compared to the industry average of 4.59X [20] - FuelCell Energy trades at a P/S ratio of 1.44X, indicating a discount to its industry [22] Summary of Investment Appeal - Bloom Energy's performance is supported by rising demand for clean energy and its capability to provide rapid power solutions, making it attractive for investors [23]
FCEL Stock Outperforms Industry Past 3 Months: How to Play?
ZACKS· 2025-11-24 16:36
Core Insights - FuelCell Energy's shares have increased by 47.5% over the past three months, significantly outperforming the Zacks Alternative Energy – Other industry's growth of 3.5% [1] - The company has a strong presence in the South Korean fuel cell market, benefiting from rising clean power demand from data centers and long-term service agreements [1][8] Price Performance - FuelCell Energy is currently trading above its 200-day simple moving average, indicating a bullish trend [6] - The company has outperformed both the Zacks Oil-Energy sector and the Zacks S&P 500 composite during the same period [1] Operational Developments - FuelCell Energy is undergoing a global restructuring to cut operating costs and refocus on core technologies [10] - The company has a backlog of 108 megawatts in four projects and has signed a memorandum of understanding to deploy 100 MW of fuel cell power at the AI Daegu Data Center in South Korea [11] Financial Performance - The backlog as of July 31, 2025, was $1.24 billion, reflecting a 4% year-over-year increase, indicating steady demand for FuelCell Energy's products [14] - Service agreement revenues increased to $3.1 million from $1.4 million in the previous year, showcasing consistent contributions to the top line [13] Growth Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FuelCell Energy's fiscal 2026 sales and earnings per share indicates year-over-year growth of 21.47% and 56.26%, respectively [15] Debt Management - FuelCell Energy has a debt-to-capital ratio of 19.4%, significantly lower than the industry average of 59.4%, indicating prudent financial management [19] Market Position - The company's trailing 12-month return on equity is negative 20.53%, which is below the industry average of 7.89%, suggesting challenges in utilizing shareholders' equity effectively [21] Future Outlook - The increasing acceptance of fuel cell technology and rising concerns about emissions are expected to benefit FuelCell Energy in the long term [23] - The company's exposure to the South Korean market and improving estimates create more opportunities for growth [23]
NNE Outperforms Industry in a Year: Buy, Hold or Sell the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-11-20 17:55
Core Insights - NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NNE) has seen a share price increase of 34.4% over the past year, outperforming the Zacks Alternative Energy - Other industry, which rose by 28.9% [1] - The company is positioned to benefit from the growing demand for clean energy driven by AI data centers, electric vehicles, and challenges in large-scale energy projects [2][8] Company Performance - NNE's microreactors offer a competitive advantage due to their quick deployment capabilities, which are essential for providing power solutions in remote locations [2][12] - The company has successfully validated its proprietary Annular Linear Induction Pump (ALIP) technology, enhancing reactor reliability and efficiency [9] - NNE's shares have outperformed both the industry and sector over the past year, supported by demand from AI data centers and the reshoring of industries [10] Market Dynamics - The demand for reliable 24x7 clean energy is increasing in the U.S., particularly from AI-driven data centers and electric vehicle usage [8] - Ongoing delays in major transmission and distribution projects create opportunities for NNE's portable power systems, which can bypass extensive grid buildouts [13] Strategic Initiatives - NNE is strengthening its market position through strategic partnerships and increased investment in R&D, including collaboration with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign [11] - The company is establishing a manufacturing and R&D facility in Illinois, supported by state tax incentives [11] Financial Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NNE's earnings per share for 2025 and 2026 has remained stable over the past 60 days [14] - Traditional valuation metrics are less meaningful for NNE due to its pre-revenue status, making discounted cash flow methods more relevant for assessing future potential [16][17] Future Potential - NNE's innovative microreactor technology has significant potential to provide clean energy solutions, with commercial readiness expected by 2030, contingent on testing and regulatory approvals [20] - The company faces competition from other firms developing clean energy technologies, emphasizing the need for cost-effective and reliable solutions [21]
Bloom Energy Trades Above 50 and 200-Day SMA: How to Play the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-10-09 16:55
Core Insights - Bloom Energy Corporation (BE) is experiencing a bullish trend, trading above its 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages (SMA) [1][6] - The company has seen a remarkable share price increase of 756.9% over the past year, significantly outperforming its industry and the S&P 500 [7] - Earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026 have risen sharply, indicating strong growth potential [9][19] Market Demand and Positioning - Bloom Energy is capitalizing on the increasing demand for clean power, particularly from AI-driven data centers and the shift towards distributed energy solutions [2][12] - The company’s Energy Server platform provides efficient and clean power solutions, addressing the challenges faced by utilities in meeting rising electricity demand [12][15] - With nearly 2,600 gigawatts of new capacity awaiting grid connection, Bloom Energy's on-site distributed power generation offers a crucial solution to electricity access [13] Financial Performance - Bloom Energy's return on invested capital (ROIC) stands at 4.62%, surpassing the industry average of 1.84%, indicating superior capital efficiency [9][16] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Bloom Energy's earnings per share for 2025 and 2026 has increased by 78.57% and 49.2%, respectively, year over year [19] Valuation - Bloom Energy is currently trading at a premium valuation, with a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 9.94X compared to the industry average of 5.09X [23]
Bloom Energy Outpaces Industry in a Year: How to Play the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-09-04 16:46
Core Insights - Bloom Energy (BE) shares have increased by 375.6% over the past year, significantly outperforming the Zacks Alternative Energy - Other industry's growth of 57%, the Oil & Energy sector's return of 5.9%, and the S&P 500's rally of 17.8% [1] - The company is experiencing heightened demand for clean power, particularly from artificial intelligence-based data centers and the shift towards distributed energy solutions [2][10] Performance Metrics - Bloom Energy is trading above its 50 and 200-day simple moving averages, indicating a bullish trend [5] - The company's return on invested capital (ROIC) stands at 4.62%, surpassing the industry average of 1.83% [7][17] - The debt-to-capital ratio for Bloom Energy is 69.05%, which is higher than the industry average of 43.89% [19] Market Demand and Opportunities - A study predicts that peak power demand will increase by 151 gigawatts over the next decade, presenting an opportunity for Bloom Energy to leverage its solid oxide fuel cell technology [9] - The demand for clean and reliable power is rising from various sectors, including AI data centers and re-shoring manufacturing in the U.S. [10] - Bloom Energy's Energy Server platform is designed to provide scalable power solutions, capable of operating in parallel with the grid [11] Future Outlook - Bloom Energy has secured several utility agreements in 2024, indicating anticipated broader adoption of its solutions [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Bloom Energy's earnings per share for 2025 and 2026 has increased by 14.29% in the last 60 days [14]