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Plug Power Stock Is Cheap, but Does That Make It a Buy Now?
The Motley Foolยท 2025-08-24 14:10
Core Viewpoint - Plug Power, a leading hydrogen technology developer, has seen its stock price decline significantly from its historical highs, but it may present an undervalued opportunity in the emerging hydrogen market [1][2]. Company Overview - Plug Power went public in 1999 at a reverse-split-adjusted price of $150, peaked at $1,498 in early 2000, and now trades below $2 [1]. - The company has a market capitalization of $1.8 billion, trading at less than two times next year's sales [2]. Historical Performance - Plug Power's initial plans to create hydrogen charging systems for homes failed due to high infrastructure costs and weak consumer demand, leading to a pivot towards hydrogen fuel cells for warehouse forklifts [4]. - Major customers and investors include Amazon and Walmart, which initially received subsidized fuel cell sales through stock warrants [5]. - Revenue turned negative in 2020 due to these subsidies but became positive again in 2021, although growth has since slowed, with significant net losses [5]. Financial Metrics - Revenue figures: $502 million in 2021, $701 million in 2022, $891 million in 2023, and projected $629 million in 2024, indicating a year-over-year growth of 40% in 2022 but a decline of 29% expected in 2024 [7]. - Operating margins have deteriorated from (87%) in 2021 to an expected (321%) in 2024 [7]. Market Challenges - Rising interest rates, tariffs, and competition from battery-electric solutions are impacting the market for hydrogen charging projects [8][9]. - Despite deploying 72,000 fuel cell systems and 275 fueling stations, Plug Power faces challenges in scaling its business and achieving consistent profitability [8][9]. Recent Developments - Insider buying has increased, with insiders purchasing nearly 20 times as many shares as they sold over the past year, indicating a potential inflection point for the company [10]. - The company secured a $1.66 billion loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy for constructing six green hydrogen manufacturing plants, which is expected to support its operations [11]. - Plug Power is ramping up green hydrogen production in Texas and Georgia and has launched a joint venture with Olin for a hydrogen liquefaction plant in Louisiana [12]. Future Outlook - The company has initiated Project Quantum Leap, a cost-cutting initiative aimed at reducing annual expenses by up to $200 million [13]. - For 2025, Plug Power anticipates revenue growth of at least 11% to $700 million, with expectations of a positive gross margin by Q4 [14]. - Analysts project revenue increases of 13% in 2025, 39% in 2026, and reaching $1.3 billion in 2027, suggesting a potential recovery in the hydrogen market [15].