CLNE vs UGI vs NWN vs SR vs SWX

For growth investors, Northwest Natural Holding Company (NWN) is the stronger pick with 11.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -62. 0% for Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (SWX). UGI Corporation (UGI) offers the better valuation at 10. 5x trailing P/E (10. 6x 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.

On trailing P/E, UGI Corporation (UGI) is the cheapest at 10.

5x versus Spire Inc. at 19. 6x. On forward P/E, UGI Corporation is actually cheaper at 10. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Spire Inc. wins at 0. 66x versus Northwest Natural Holding Company's 4. 55x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.

(SWX) delivered a total return of +46. 5%, compared to -73. 8% for Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SR returned +71. 4% 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), Northwest Natural Holding Company (NWN) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

05β versus Clean Energy Fuels Corp. 's 1. 19β — meaning CLNE is approximately -2365% more volatile than NWN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 18% versus 187% for Northwest Natural Holding Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Northwest Natural Holding Company (NWN) is pulling ahead at 11.

8% versus -62. 0% for Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (SWX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: UGI Corporation grew EPS 147. 2% year-over-year, compared to -173. 0% for Clean Energy Fuels Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NWN leads at 7. 5% 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.

Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.

(SWX) is the more profitable company, earning 22. 7% net margin versus -52. 3% for Clean Energy Fuels Corp. — meaning it keeps 22. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NWN leads at 31. 4% versus -22. 1% for CLNE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SR leads at 78. 1%, 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, Spire Inc. (SR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 66x versus Northwest Natural Holding Company's 4. 55x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, UGI Corporation (UGI) trades at 10. 6x forward P/E versus 21. 3x for Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. — 10. 7x 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, UGI (4.

5% yield), NWN (3. 8% yield), SR (3. 6% yield), SWX (2. 7% yield) pay a dividend. CLNE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Northwest Natural Holding Company (NWN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.

05), 3. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NWN: +22. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (CLNE (Energy) and UGI (Utilities) and NWN (Utilities) and SR (Utilities) and SWX (Utilities)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CLNE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; UGI is a small-cap deep-value stock; NWN is a small-cap income-oriented stock; SR is a small-cap income-oriented stock; SWX is a small-cap deep-value stock. UGI, NWN, SR, SWX 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.