Electrical Equipment & Parts
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FCEL vs BE
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Electrical Equipment & Parts
FCEL vs BE — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Electrical Equipment & Parts | Electrical Equipment & Parts |
| Market Cap | $674M | $68.63B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $170M | $2.45B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-183M | $6M |
| Gross Margin | -15.9% | 31.1% |
| Operating Margin | -67.6% | 8.2% |
| Forward P/E | — | 136.4x |
| Total Debt | $144M | $2.99B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $295M | $2.45B |
FCEL vs BE — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| FuelCell Energy, In… (FCEL) | 100 | 20.0 | -80.0% |
| Bloom Energy Corpor… (BE) | 100 | 3555.0 | +3455.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: FCEL vs BE
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
FCEL carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 2.91, yield 1.0%
- Rev growth 41.0%, EPS growth -14.1%, 3Y rev CAGR 6.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 2.91, Low D/E 19.7%, current ratio 6.63x
BE is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 10.4% 10Y total return vs FCEL's -99.4%
- 0.2% margin vs FCEL's -108.0%
- +16.5% vs FCEL's +242.5%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 41.0% revenue growth vs BE's 37.3% | |
| Quality / Margins | 0.2% margin vs FCEL's -108.0% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 2.91 vs BE's 3.61, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 1.0% yield; 2-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +16.5% vs FCEL's +242.5% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 0.2% ROA vs FCEL's -20.1%, ROIC 4.1% vs -14.0% |
FCEL vs BE — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FCEL vs BE — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
BE leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
BE is the larger business by revenue, generating $2.4B annually — 14.4x FCEL's $170M. BE is the more profitable business, keeping 0.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to FCEL's -108.0%. On growth, BE holds the edge at +130.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $170M | $2.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$84M | $240M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$183M | $6M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$126M | $233M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | -15.9% | +31.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -67.6% | +8.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -108.0% | +0.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -74.2% | +9.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +60.7% | +130.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +65.5% | +3.3% |
Valuation Metrics
FCEL leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $674M | $68.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $523M | $69.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -1.73x | -771.54x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 136.38x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 560.66x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.26x | 33.91x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.45x | 86.55x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 1200.02x |
Profitability & Efficiency
BE leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
BE delivers a 0.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $1 in annual profit, vs $-27 for FCEL. FCEL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.20x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to BE's 3.77x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), FCEL scores 5/9 vs BE's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -26.8% | +0.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -20.1% | +0.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -14.0% | +4.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -13.8% | +2.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.20x | 3.77x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$151M | $538M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $295M | $2.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $144M | $3.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -30.14x | 1.05x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
BE leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in BE five years ago would be worth $128,359 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $538 for FCEL. Over the past 12 months, BE leads with a +1647.1% total return vs FCEL's +242.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors BE at 156.3% vs FCEL's -43.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +56.8% | +189.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +242.5% | +1647.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -82.1% | +1584.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -94.6% | +1183.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -99.4% | +1041.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -43.7% | +156.3% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — FCEL and BE each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
FCEL is the less volatile stock with a 2.91 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BE's 3.61 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BE currently trades 94.2% from its 52-week high vs FCEL's 89.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.91x | 3.61x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $14.30 | $302.99 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $3.58 | $16.05 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +89.6% | +94.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 70.4 | 77.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.7M | 10.1M |
Analyst Outlook
FCEL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates FCEL as "Hold" and BE as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply -31.9% upside for FCEL (target: $9) vs -34.3% for BE (target: $188). FCEL is the only dividend payer here at 0.97% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $8.73 | $187.56 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 19 | 31 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.0% | +0.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.12 | $0.00 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
BE leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). FCEL leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
FCEL vs BE: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is FCEL or BE a better buy right now?
For growth investors, FuelCell Energy, Inc.
(FCEL) is the stronger pick with 41. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 37. 3% for Bloom Energy Corporation (BE). Analysts rate Bloom Energy Corporation (BE) a "Buy" — based on 31 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.
02Which is the better long-term investment — FCEL or BE?
Over the past 5 years, Bloom Energy Corporation (BE) delivered a total return of +1184%, compared to -94.
6% for FuelCell Energy, Inc. (FCEL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BE returned +1042% versus FCEL's -99. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — FCEL or BE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), FuelCell Energy, Inc.
(FCEL) is the lower-risk stock at 2. 91β versus Bloom Energy Corporation's 3. 61β — meaning BE is approximately 24% more volatile than FCEL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, FuelCell Energy, Inc. (FCEL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 20% versus 4% for Bloom Energy Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — FCEL or BE?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), FuelCell Energy, Inc.
(FCEL) is pulling ahead at 41. 0% versus 37. 3% for Bloom Energy Corporation (BE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Bloom Energy Corporation grew EPS -184. 6% year-over-year, compared to -1414. 3% for FuelCell Energy, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, BE leads at 19. 1% 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.
05Which has better profit margins — FCEL or BE?
Bloom Energy Corporation (BE) is the more profitable company, earning -4.
4% net margin versus -118. 8% for FuelCell Energy, Inc. — meaning it keeps -4. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BE leads at 3. 6% versus -76. 6% for FCEL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BE leads at 29. 0%, 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.
06Is FCEL or BE more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FCEL: -31.
9% to $8. 73.
07Which pays a better dividend — FCEL or BE?
In this comparison, FCEL (1.
0% yield) pays a dividend. BE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is FCEL or BE better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Bloom Energy Corporation (BE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1042% 10Y return).
FuelCell Energy, Inc. (FCEL) carries a higher beta of 2. 91 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (BE: +1042%, FCEL: -99. 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.
09What are the main differences between FCEL and BE?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
FCEL pays a dividend while BE does 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.
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