CREG vs AMRC vs PESI vs SHLS

For growth investors, Shoals Technologies Group, Inc.

(SHLS) is the stronger pick with 19. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 3% for Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (PESI). Ameresco, Inc. (AMRC) offers the better valuation at 35. 8x trailing P/E (25. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ameresco, Inc. (AMRC) a "Buy" — based on 23 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, Ameresco, Inc.

(AMRC) is the cheapest at 35. 8x versus Shoals Technologies Group, Inc. at 39. 2x. On forward P/E, Shoals Technologies Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 19. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc.

(PESI) delivered a total return of +45. 6%, compared to -99. 5% for Smart Powerr Corp. (CREG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AMRC returned +542. 4% versus CREG's -99. 8%. 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), Smart Powerr Corp.

(CREG) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 83β versus Shoals Technologies Group, Inc. 's 2. 08β — meaning SHLS is approximately 14% more volatile than CREG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Smart Powerr Corp. (CREG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 173% for Ameresco, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Shoals Technologies Group, Inc.

(SHLS) is pulling ahead at 19. 1% versus 4. 3% for Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (PESI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. grew EPS 43. 6% year-over-year, compared to -89. 6% for Smart Powerr Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SHLS leads at 13. 3% 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.

Shoals Technologies Group, Inc.

(SHLS) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 1% net margin versus -36. 2% for Smart Powerr Corp. — meaning it keeps 7. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SHLS leads at 11. 9% versus -32. 9% for CREG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SHLS leads at 35. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Shoals Technologies Group, Inc.

(SHLS) trades at 19. 4x forward P/E versus 25. 0x for Ameresco, Inc. — 5. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PESI: 61. 1% to $18. 00.

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, Ameresco, Inc.

(AMRC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+542. 4% 10Y return). Shoals Technologies Group, Inc. (SHLS) carries a higher beta of 2. 08 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AMRC: +542. 4%, SHLS: -74. 7%), 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 (CREG (Utilities) and AMRC (Industrials) and PESI (Industrials) and SHLS (Energy)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CREG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; AMRC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PESI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SHLS is a small-cap high-growth 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.