GWH vs STEM

For growth investors, Stem, Inc.

(STEM) is the stronger pick with 8. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -16. 5% for ESS Tech, Inc. (GWH). Analysts rate ESS Tech, Inc. (GWH) a "Hold" — based on 11 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, Stem, Inc.

(STEM) delivered a total return of -97. 4%, compared to -99. 2% for ESS Tech, Inc. (GWH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: STEM returned -94. 5% versus GWH's -99. 2%. 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), ESS Tech, Inc.

(GWH) is the lower-risk stock at 2. 53β versus Stem, Inc. 's 3. 66β — meaning STEM is approximately 44% more volatile than GWH relative to the S&P 500.

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

(STEM) is pulling ahead at 8. 1% versus -16. 5% for ESS Tech, Inc. (GWH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Stem, Inc. grew EPS 91. 3% year-over-year, compared to -1425. 0% for ESS Tech, Inc.. 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.

Stem, Inc.

(STEM) is the more profitable company, earning 88. 2% net margin versus -1369. 7% for ESS Tech, Inc. — meaning it keeps 88. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: STEM leads at -38. 7% versus -1426. 5% for GWH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — STEM leads at 35. 3%, 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.

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, Stem, Inc.

(STEM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. ESS Tech, Inc. (GWH) carries a higher beta of 2. 53 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (STEM: -94. 5%, GWH: -99. 2%), 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 (GWH (Industrials) and STEM (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.