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Plug Power vs. FuelCell Energy: Which Fuel Cell Stock has Greater Upside?
ZACKS· 2025-07-28 15:56
Core Insights - Plug Power Inc. (PLUG) and FuelCell Energy, Inc. (FCEL) are key players in the fuel cell technology market, focusing on innovative product solutions and electrolysis platforms [1][2] Group 1: Plug Power (PLUG) - PLUG has experienced a high cash burn rate and negative gross margins, with lower revenues from hydrogen equipment sales impacting performance [3][11] - The company is investing in hydrogen plants, anticipating the green hydrogen market to grow to $30 billion by 2030 [4] - PLUG aims to increase green hydrogen production through a new plant in Georgia and a joint venture with Olin Corporation in Louisiana, supported by a $1.66 billion loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy [5][20] - The deployment of proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer systems highlights PLUG's expertise in the sector [6] - Cost management efforts have reduced the cash burn rate by nearly 50% year-over-year in Q1 2025, with Project Quantum Leap targeting over $200 million in annualized savings [7][8] Group 2: FuelCell Energy (FCEL) - FCEL continues to receive orders for clean energy solutions, including a contract for a 7.4 MW fuel cell power plant expected to generate over $160 million in future revenues [9] - The company's backlog reached $1.26 billion, reflecting an 18.7% year-over-year growth [9] - FCEL is restructuring operations to lower costs and enhance its competitive position, despite facing negative gross margins of -26% in the first half of fiscal 2025 [10][11] - The company's long-term debt stands at $124.1 million, raising concerns given its cash and cash equivalents of $116.1 million [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FCEL's fiscal 2025 sales is approximately $144.6 million, indicating a year-over-year growth of 28.9% [13] Group 3: Market Performance and Valuation - Over the past three months, Plug Power's shares surged by 91.8%, while FuelCell Energy's stock gained 37.4% [17] - PLUG is trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of -4.13X, compared to FCEL's -1.06X [18] - Both companies hold a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), complicating the decision for investors [19]
Plug Power Stock Down 38% in Past Six Months: What Should Investors Do?
ZACKS· 2025-07-11 16:20
Core Viewpoint - Plug Power Inc. has experienced a significant 38% decline in stock price over the past six months, underperforming both the green hydrogen industry and the S&P 500 index [1][8][19] Industry Performance - The green hydrogen industry has grown by 7.3% during the same period, while the S&P 500 has advanced by 6.6% [1] - Competitors such as Bloom Energy Corporation and Ballard Power Systems have seen stock returns of 12.2% and 19%, respectively [1] Company Challenges - Plug Power is facing ongoing challenges, including lower sales of hydrogen equipment and infrastructure, which are its primary revenue sources [4][19] - Sales of flagship products like GenDrive units and cryogenic storage equipment have declined in recent quarters [4] - The number of hydrogen site installations dropped significantly from 52 to 15 year-over-year in 2024, further decreasing to one in Q1 2025 [5] - The company reported a gross margin of negative 55% in Q1 2025, an improvement from negative 132% in the prior year [6] Financial Performance - Plug Power's revenues for Q1 2025 were $133.7 million, reflecting an 11.1% year-over-year increase, driven by growth in electrolyzer deliveries and sustained demand in materials handling [12] - The company has been selling shares to raise funds due to a weak liquidity position [10] Long-Term Prospects - The green hydrogen market is projected to grow to $30 billion by 2030, indicating potential long-term growth opportunities for Plug Power [11] - The company has launched Project Quantum Leap, aiming for over $200 million in annualized savings and a reduction in cash burn rate [14] - A loan guarantee of $1.66 billion from the U.S. Department of Energy will support the construction of six green hydrogen production facilities, enhancing its manufacturing capabilities [15] Valuation Metrics - Plug Power is currently trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of negative 3.42X, compared to the industry average of 23.18X [17]
Plug Power Eyes Expansion in Green Energy Sector: Can It Deliver Growth?
ZACKS· 2025-07-03 15:31
Core Insights - Plug Power Inc. (PLUG) is experiencing high cash burn rates and negative gross margins, primarily due to declining revenues from hydrogen equipment sales and related infrastructure [1][8] - The company is looking to scale its business and invest in hydrogen plants, anticipating significant growth in the green hydrogen energy market, projected to reach $30 billion by 2030 [2] - A $1.66 billion loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will support the construction of six green hydrogen production facilities, enhancing Plug Power's domestic manufacturing capabilities [3] Financial Performance - PLUG's shares have increased by 14.7% over the past three months, while the industry has seen a growth of 48.7% [7] - The company is currently trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of negative 2.83X, compared to the industry average of 20.88X, indicating significant valuation challenges [10] Future Outlook - Despite ongoing challenges such as negative gross margins and cash outflows, investments in the green hydrogen market and the Quantum Leap project are expected to yield long-term benefits [4] - The new joint venture with Olin Corporation (OLN) and potential tax credit extensions from the Senate may bolster Plug Power's long-term growth strategy in hydrogen production [3][8] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PLUG's bottom line for 2025 has remained stable over the past 60 days, with projected losses of -$0.59 for the current year and -$0.40 for the next year [12][13]
Plug Power vs. Bloom Energy: Which Fuel Cell Stock Should You Bet On?
ZACKS· 2025-06-30 14:31
Core Viewpoint - Plug Power Inc. and Bloom Energy Corporation are key players in the fuel cell technology market, both experiencing growth opportunities in the green hydrogen sector due to rising demand for clean energy solutions and government decarbonization initiatives [1][2] Group 1: Plug Power Analysis - Plug Power has faced declining sales in hydrogen equipment and infrastructure, with revenues impacted by reduced hydrogen site installations, dropping from 52 to 15 installations year-over-year in 2024, and further down to one in Q1 2025 [3][4] - The company reported a negative gross margin of 55% and an operating cash outflow of $105.6 million in Q1 2025, leading to reliance on equity sales for funding, raising $267.5 million in Q1 2025 and totaling $857.9 million in 2024 [5][10] - Despite current challenges, Plug Power has long-term growth potential in the green hydrogen market, projected to reach $30 billion by 2030, supported by its expertise in electrolyzer deployment [6][10] - The company is implementing Project Quantum Leap, aiming for over $200 million in annualized savings, which is expected to improve cash flow and reduce cash burn [7][8] Group 2: Bloom Energy Analysis - Bloom Energy has deployed approximately 1.4 GW of its Energy Server systems across over 1,000 locations in nine countries, providing reliable and sustainable energy solutions [9] - The company anticipates 19% sales growth and 50% EPS growth in 2025, driven by momentum in the U.S. and South Korea markets [10][13] - Bloom Energy's gross margin improved by 11 percentage points to 27.2% in Q1 2025, indicating strong profitability despite rising costs, with revenue costs increasing by 20% year-over-year [13][14] - The company has a strong position in the renewable energy space, bolstered by strategic partnerships, such as its collaboration with Equinix for sustainable on-site power generation [12][24] Group 3: Comparative Performance - Over the past year, Plug Power's shares have decreased by 49.1%, while Bloom Energy's stock has increased by 95.1% [18] - In terms of valuation, Plug Power has a forward price-to-earnings ratio of negative 2.34X, contrasting with Bloom Energy's forward earnings multiple of 38.22X [20] - Both companies hold a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), complicating the decision for investors [22]
Plug Power Down 39% YTD: How Should Investors Play the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-06-13 15:01
Core Insights - Plug Power Inc. (PLUG) has experienced a 39% decline in stock price year-to-date, underperforming both the green hydrogen industry and the S&P 500 [1][2] - The company has been facing challenges due to high cash burn rates and negative gross margins, impacting its financial performance [4][11] Financial Performance - In Q1 2025, revenues increased by 11.1% year-over-year to $133.7 million, driven by stronger electrolyzer sales and materials-handling demand [7][16] - Cash burn decreased by 50% year-over-year, attributed to the launch of Project Quantum Leap, which aims for $200 million in annualized savings [7][18] - The gross margin improved to negative 55% in Q1 2025 from negative 132% in the same quarter last year, indicating some recovery [11][17] Market Dynamics - The decline in revenues is primarily due to reduced sales of hydrogen equipment and infrastructure, with hydrogen site installations dropping from 52 to 15 year-over-year [9][10] - The competitive landscape includes peers like FuelCell Energy and Bloom Energy, which are also navigating challenges in the green hydrogen market [13] Long-Term Outlook - The green hydrogen market is projected to grow to $30 billion by 2030, presenting long-term growth opportunities for Plug Power [14] - The company has a strong position in the electrolyzer market, with significant deployments in key projects [15] Valuation Metrics - Plug Power is trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of negative 2.57X, significantly lower than the industry average of 23.05X [20]