AMRC vs PESI

For growth investors, Ameresco, Inc.

(AMRC) is the stronger pick with 9. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 3% for Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (PESI). Ameresco, Inc. (AMRC) offers the better valuation at 38. 0x trailing P/E (26. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ameresco, Inc. (AMRC) a "Buy" — based on 23 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

Over the past 5 years, Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc.

(PESI) delivered a total return of +62. 7%, compared to -36. 2% for Ameresco, Inc. (AMRC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AMRC returned +601. 1% versus PESI's +200. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc.

(PESI) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 85β versus Ameresco, Inc. 's 2. 03β — meaning AMRC is approximately 10% more volatile than PESI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (PESI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 9% versus 173% for Ameresco, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Ameresco, Inc.

(AMRC) is pulling ahead at 9. 2% versus 4. 3% for Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (PESI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. grew EPS 43. 6% year-over-year, compared to -22. 4% for Ameresco, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AMRC leads at 1. 9% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Ameresco, Inc.

(AMRC) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 3% net margin versus -22. 3% for Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AMRC leads at 6. 5% versus -19. 0% for PESI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AMRC leads at 15. 7%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PESI: 52.

8% to $18. 00.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Ameresco, Inc.

(AMRC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+601. 1% 10Y return). Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (PESI) carries a higher beta of 1. 85 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AMRC: +601. 1%, PESI: +200. 4%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.