HDSN vs AIRG vs CLNE

For growth investors, Hudson Technologies, Inc.

(HDSN) is the stronger pick with 4. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -14. 6% for Airgain, Inc. (AIRG). Hudson Technologies, Inc. (HDSN) offers the better valuation at 17. 7x trailing P/E (14. 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, Hudson Technologies, Inc.

(HDSN) delivered a total return of +193. 3%, compared to -77. 1% for Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HDSN returned +87. 4% 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), Airgain, Inc.

(AIRG) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 29β versus Hudson Technologies, Inc. 's 1. 45β — meaning HDSN is approximately 403% more volatile than AIRG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hudson Technologies, Inc. (HDSN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 30% for Airgain, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hudson Technologies, Inc.

(HDSN) is pulling ahead at 4. 0% versus -14. 6% for Airgain, Inc. (AIRG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Airgain, Inc. grew EPS 31. 6% 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.

Hudson Technologies, Inc.

(HDSN) is the more profitable company, earning 6. 8% net margin versus -52. 3% for Clean Energy Fuels Corp. — meaning it keeps 6. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HDSN leads at 7. 5% versus -35. 0% for CLNE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AIRG leads at 43. 5%, 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.

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, Airgain, Inc.

(AIRG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 29)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AIRG: -11. 9%, HDSN: +87. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (HDSN (Basic Materials) and AIRG (Technology) and CLNE (Energy)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: HDSN is a small-cap deep-value stock; AIRG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CLNE is a small-cap quality compounder stock. 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.