NEXT
NextDecade Corporation
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
Market Cap$1.98B
5Y Perf.+404.6%
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Stock Comparison
NEXT vs CLNE
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
CLNE
Clean Energy Fuels Corp.
Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing
Market Cap$491M
5Y Perf.+10.5%
NEXT vs CLNE — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | NEXT | CLNE |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Oil & Gas Exploration & Production | Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing |
| Market Cap | $1.98B | $491M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $0.00 | $425M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-306M | $-222M |
| Gross Margin | — | -0.8% |
| Operating Margin | — | -35.0% |
| Total Debt | $8.66B | $99M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $144M | $158M |
NEXT vs CLNE — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
NEXT
CLNE
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| NextDecade Corporat… (NEXT) | 100 | 504.6 | +404.6% |
| Clean Energy Fuels … (CLNE) | 100 | 110.5 | +10.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NEXT vs CLNE
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CLNE leads in 3 of 6 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and capital preservation and lower volatility. NextDecade Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and operational efficiency and capital deployment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
NEXT
NextDecade Corporation
The Long-Run Compounder
NEXT is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- -24.5% 10Y total return vs CLNE's -28.9%
- -1.4% margin vs CLNE's -52.2%
- -3.3% ROA vs CLNE's -21.0%
Best for: long-term compounding
CLNE
Clean Energy Fuels Corp.
The Growth Play
CLNE carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night.
- Rev growth 2.2%, EPS growth -173.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 0.4%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.19, Low D/E 17.5%, current ratio 2.32x
- Beta 1.19, current ratio 2.32x
Best for: growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CLNE | 2.2% revenue growth vs NEXT's -429.6% |
| Quality / Margins | NEXT | -1.4% margin vs CLNE's -52.2% |
| Stability / Safety | CLNE | Lower D/E ratio (17.5% vs 376.2%) |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | CLNE | +43.6% vs NEXT's +1.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NEXT | -3.3% ROA vs CLNE's -21.0% |
NEXT vs CLNE — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
NEXT vs CLNE — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLNEXTLAGGINGCLNE
CLNEClean Energy Fuels Co…
2leads
NEXTNextDecade Corporation
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs CLNEMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
CLNE1/1
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
NEXT2/2
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
CLNE4/7
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
NEXT5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CLNE leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CLNE and NEXT operate at a comparable scale, with $425M and $0 in trailing revenue.
| Metric | NEXTNextDecade Corpor… | CLNEClean Energy Fuel… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $0 | $425M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$211M | -$64M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$306M | -$222M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$5.3B | $32M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | — | -0.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | — | -35.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | — | -52.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | +7.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +2.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -172.0% | -61.5% |
CLNE leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Valuation Metrics
NEXT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | NEXTNextDecade Corpor… | CLNEClean Energy Fuel… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.0B | $491M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $10.5B | $432M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -6.38x | -2.22x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | 1.16x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.85x | 0.87x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
NEXT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CLNE leads this category, winning 4 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NEXT delivers a -15.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-16 in annual profit, vs $-39 for CLNE. CLNE carries lower financial leverage with a 0.18x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NEXT's 3.76x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CLNE scores 4/9 vs NEXT's 1/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | NEXTNextDecade Corpor… | CLNEClean Energy Fuel… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -15.6% | -39.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -3.3% | -21.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -2.1% | — |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -2.7% | — |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 1 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 3.76x | 0.18x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $8.5B | -$59M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $144M | $158M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $8.7B | $99M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -2.76x | -3.28x |
CLNE leads this category, winning 4 of 7 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
NEXT leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in NEXT five years ago would be worth $36,618 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,288 for CLNE. Over the past 12 months, CLNE leads with a +43.6% total return vs NEXT's +1.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NEXT at 8.2% vs CLNE's -19.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NEXTNextDecade Corpor… | CLNEClean Energy Fuel… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +38.8% | +3.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +1.9% | +43.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +26.6% | -47.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +266.2% | -77.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -24.5% | -28.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +8.2% | -19.5% |
NEXT leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — NEXT and CLNE each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NEXT is the less volatile stock with a -0.14 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CLNE's 1.19 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CLNE currently trades 72.0% from its 52-week high vs NEXT's 61.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NEXTNextDecade Corpor… | CLNEClean Energy Fuel… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | -0.14x | 1.19x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $12.12 | $3.11 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $4.75 | $1.48 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +61.6% | +72.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 55.5 | 52.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.1M | 1.3M |
Evenly matched — NEXT and CLNE each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NEXT as "Hold" and CLNE as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 56.2% upside for CLNE (target: $4) vs -6.3% for NEXT (target: $7).
| Metric | NEXTNextDecade Corpor… | CLNEClean Energy Fuel… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $7.00 | $3.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 9 | 22 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.9% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
CLNE leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). NEXT leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallNextDecade Corporation (NEXT)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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NEXT vs CLNE: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NEXT or CLNE a better buy right now?
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.
02Which is the better long-term investment — NEXT or CLNE?
Over the past 5 years, NextDecade Corporation (NEXT) delivered a total return of +266.
2%, compared to -77. 1% for Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NEXT returned -23. 0% versus CLNE's -26. 9%. 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 — NEXT or CLNE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), NextDecade Corporation (NEXT) is the lower-risk stock at -0.
14β versus Clean Energy Fuels Corp. 's 1. 19β — meaning CLNE is approximately -969% more volatile than NEXT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 18% versus 4% for NextDecade Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — NEXT or CLNE?
On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Clean Energy Fuels Corp.
grew EPS -173. 0% year-over-year, compared to -387. 5% for NextDecade Corporation. 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 — NEXT or CLNE?
NextDecade Corporation (NEXT) is the more profitable company, earning 0.
0% net margin versus -52. 3% for Clean Energy Fuels Corp. — meaning it keeps 0. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NEXT leads at 0. 0% versus -35. 0% for CLNE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NEXT leads at 0. 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.
06Which pays a better dividend — NEXT or CLNE?
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.
07Is NEXT or CLNE better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, NextDecade Corporation (NEXT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.
14)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NEXT: -23. 0%, CLNE: -26. 9%), 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.
08What are the main differences between NEXT and CLNE?
Both stocks operate in the Energy 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.
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