BE vs GNRC

For growth investors, Bloom Energy Corporation (BE) is the stronger pick with 37.

3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 0% for Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC). Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC) offers the better valuation at 99. 4x trailing P/E (31. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Bloom Energy Corporation (BE) a "Buy" — based on 31 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 forward P/E, Generac Holdings Inc.

is actually cheaper at 31. 0x.

Over the past 5 years, Bloom Energy Corporation (BE) delivered a total return of +1184%, compared to -15.

9% for Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BE returned +1042% versus GNRC's +668. 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 Bloom Energy Corporation's 3. 61β — meaning BE is approximately 113% more volatile than GNRC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 51% versus 4% for Bloom Energy Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Bloom Energy Corporation (BE) is pulling ahead at 37.

3% versus -2. 0% for Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Generac Holdings Inc. grew EPS -50. 1% year-over-year, compared to -184. 6% for Bloom Energy Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, BE leads at 19. 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.

Generac Holdings Inc.

(GNRC) is the more profitable company, earning 3. 8% net margin versus -4. 4% for Bloom Energy Corporation — meaning it keeps 3. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GNRC leads at 6. 9% versus 3. 6% for BE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GNRC leads at 38. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Generac Holdings Inc.

(GNRC) trades at 31. 0x forward P/E versus 136. 4x for Bloom Energy Corporation — 105. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GNRC: 1. 4% to $271. 22.

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, Generac Holdings Inc.

(GNRC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+668. 7% 10Y return). Bloom Energy Corporation (BE) carries a higher beta of 3. 61 — 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: +668. 7%, BE: +1042%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: BE is a mid-cap high-growth stock; GNRC is a mid-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.