AMSC vs POWI vs VICR vs GNRC

For growth investors, American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) is the stronger pick with 53.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 0% for Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC). Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC) offers the better valuation at 99. 2x trailing P/E (30. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) a "Buy" — based on 15 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.

On trailing P/E, Generac Holdings Inc.

(GNRC) is the cheapest at 99. 2x versus American Superconductor Corporation at 332. 6x. On forward P/E, American Superconductor Corporation is actually cheaper at 15. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) delivered a total return of +255.

0%, compared to -18. 5% for Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VICR returned +27. 0% versus POWI's +232. 7%. 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), Generac Holdings Inc.

(GNRC) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 69β versus American Superconductor Corporation's 2. 90β — meaning AMSC is approximately 71% more volatile than GNRC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 51% for Generac Holdings Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) is pulling ahead at 53.

0% versus -2. 0% for Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Vicor Corporation grew EPS 1764% year-over-year, compared to -50. 1% for Generac Holdings Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AMSC leads at 27. 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.

Vicor Corporation (VICR) is the more profitable company, earning 29.

1% net margin versus 2. 7% for American Superconductor Corporation — meaning it keeps 29. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: VICR leads at 9. 0% versus -0. 5% for AMSC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — POWI leads at 54. 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.

On forward earnings alone, American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) trades at 15.

4x forward P/E versus 94. 3x for Vicor Corporation — 78. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AMSC: 15. 6% to $61. 50.

In this comparison, POWI (1.

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

For long-horizon retirement investors, Generac Holdings Inc.

(GNRC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+666. 1% 10Y return). Vicor Corporation (VICR) carries a higher beta of 2. 79 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (GNRC: +666. 1%, VICR: +27. 0%), 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 (AMSC (Industrials) and POWI (Technology) and VICR (Technology) and GNRC (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: AMSC is a small-cap high-growth stock; POWI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; VICR is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; GNRC is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. POWI pays a dividend while AMSC, VICR, GNRC 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.