CLNE vs UGI vs AMTX

For growth investors, Clean Energy Fuels Corp.

(CLNE) is the stronger pick with 2. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -22. 3% for Aemetis, Inc. (AMTX). UGI Corporation (UGI) offers the better valuation at 11. 3x trailing P/E (11. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE) a "Buy" — based on 22 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, UGI Corporation (UGI) delivered a total return of -5.

7%, compared to -80. 5% for Aemetis, Inc. (AMTX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UGI returned +17. 2% versus CLNE's -28. 9%. 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), UGI Corporation (UGI) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

27β versus Aemetis, Inc. 's 1. 46β — meaning AMTX is approximately 447% more volatile than UGI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 18% versus 158% for UGI Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Clean Energy Fuels Corp.

(CLNE) is pulling ahead at 2. 2% versus -22. 3% for Aemetis, Inc. (AMTX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: UGI Corporation grew EPS 147. 2% year-over-year, compared to -173. 0% for Clean Energy Fuels Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CLNE leads at 0. 4% 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.

UGI Corporation (UGI) is the more profitable company, earning 9.

3% net margin versus -52. 3% for Clean Energy Fuels Corp. — meaning it keeps 9. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UGI leads at 15. 2% versus -35. 0% for CLNE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UGI leads at 49. 9%, 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 CLNE: 56.

2% to $3. 50.

In this comparison, UGI (4.

2% yield) pays a dividend. CLNE, AMTX do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, UGI Corporation (UGI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

27), 4. 2% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (UGI: +17. 2%, AMTX: +12. 1%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (CLNE (Energy) and UGI (Utilities) and AMTX (Energy)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CLNE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; UGI is a small-cap deep-value stock; AMTX is a small-cap quality compounder stock. UGI pays a dividend while CLNE, AMTX do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.