AQN vs BEP vs CLNE vs AVA vs POR

For growth investors, Brookfield Renewable Partners L.

P. (BEP) is the stronger pick with 10. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 5% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN). Avista Corporation (AVA) offers the better valuation at 17. 2x trailing P/E (16. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Brookfield Renewable Partners L. P. (BEP) a "Buy" — based on 20 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, Avista Corporation (AVA) is the cheapest at 17.

2x versus Portland General Electric Company at 17. 6x. On forward P/E, Portland General Electric Company is actually cheaper at 14. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Portland General Electric Company wins at 1. 44x versus Avista Corporation's 3. 47x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Portland General Electric Company (POR) delivered a total return of +15.

8%, compared to -73. 8% for Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BEP returned +199. 1% 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.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Avista Corporation (AVA) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

00β versus Clean Energy Fuels Corp. 's 1. 19β — meaning CLNE is approximately -39807% more volatile than AVA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 18% versus 134% for Portland General Electric Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Brookfield Renewable Partners L.

P. (BEP) is pulling ahead at 10. 9% versus -3. 5% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Brookfield Renewable Partners L. P. grew EPS 92. 4% year-over-year, compared to -61. 3% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, BEP leads at 11. 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.

Avista Corporation (AVA) is the more profitable company, earning 9.

8% net margin versus -59. 5% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. — meaning it keeps 9. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AQN leads at 19. 2% versus -22. 1% for CLNE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AQN leads at 74. 4%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Portland General Electric Company (POR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 44x versus Avista Corporation's 3. 47x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Portland General Electric Company (POR) trades at 14. 3x forward P/E versus 17. 4x for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. — 3. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CLNE: 51. 5% to $3. 50.

In this comparison, BEP (11.

7% yield), AQN (5. 9% yield), AVA (4. 8% yield), POR (4. 2% yield) pay a dividend. CLNE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Avista Corporation (AVA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.

00), 4. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AVA: +40. 1%, 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (AQN (Utilities) and BEP (Utilities) and CLNE (Energy) and AVA (Utilities) and POR (Utilities)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: AQN is a small-cap income-oriented stock; BEP is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; CLNE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; AVA is a small-cap deep-value stock; POR is a small-cap deep-value stock. AQN, BEP, AVA, POR pay a dividend while CLNE 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.