Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Clearway Energy, Inc. (CWEN) vs Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (BEP) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | BEP | 10.9% revenue growth vs CWEN's 4.2% |
| Quality / Margins | CWEN | 11.8% net margin vs BEP's 3.3% |
| Stability / Safety | CWEN | Beta 0.55 vs BEP's 0.73 |
| Dividends | CWEN | 7.9% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs BEP's 12.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | BEP | +49.6% vs CWEN's +43.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CWEN | 1.0% ROA vs BEP's 0.2%, ROIC 0.9% vs 1.0% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Clearway Energy is a renewable energy company that owns and operates wind, solar, and natural gas power generation facilities across the United States. It makes money primarily through long-term power purchase agreements — selling electricity to utilities and corporate customers — with its renewable segment contributing roughly two-thirds of revenue and natural gas making up the remainder. The company's key advantage is its portfolio of contracted assets with predictable cash flows, backed by long-term agreements that provide revenue stability in volatile energy markets.
Brookfield Renewable Partners is one of the world's largest publicly traded renewable power platforms, owning and operating hydroelectric, wind, solar, and storage facilities across multiple continents. It generates revenue primarily through long-term power purchase agreements — selling electricity to utilities and corporate customers — with additional income from development activities and asset sales. Its key advantage is scale and diversification across geographies and technologies, backed by Brookfield Asset Management's deep capital and operational expertise.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
CWEN leads in 2 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). BEP leads in 1 (Total Returns). 3 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
BEP is the larger business by revenue, generating $6.4B annually — 4.5x CWEN's $1.4B. CWEN is the more profitable business, keeping 11.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to BEP's 3.3%. On growth, CWEN holds the edge at +21.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CWENClearway Energy, … | BEPBrookfield Renewa… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.4B | $6.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.0B | $3.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $169M | $212M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $268M | -$8.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +50.3% | +44.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +12.0% | +13.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +11.8% | +3.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +18.8% | -128.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +21.1% | +9.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -35.3% | +25.3% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, CWEN's 10.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than BEP's 12.7x.
| Metric | CWENClearway Energy, … | BEPBrookfield Renewa… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.6B | $9.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $11.0B | $42.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 26.98x | -471.51x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 37.01x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.60x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.34x | 12.72x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.11x | 1.49x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.77x | 0.26x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 4.32x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
CWEN delivers a 2.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $3 in annual profit, vs $1 for BEP. BEP carries lower financial leverage with a 1.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CWEN's 1.72x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), BEP scores 5/9 vs CWEN's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | CWENClearway Energy, … | BEPBrookfield Renewa… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +2.9% | +0.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.0% | +0.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +0.9% | +1.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +1.2% | +1.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.72x | 1.00x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $9.4B | $32.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $818M | $2.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $10.2B | $34.8B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.45x | 0.35x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in CWEN five years ago would be worth $15,865 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,044 for BEP. Over the past 12 months, BEP leads with a +49.6% total return vs CWEN's +43.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors BEP at 11.4% vs CWEN's 11.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CWENClearway Energy, … | BEPBrookfield Renewa… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +12.8% | +15.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +43.0% | +49.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +37.8% | +38.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +58.6% | -9.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +289.9% | +214.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +11.3% | +11.4% |
Risk & Volatility
CWEN is the less volatile stock with a 0.55 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BEP's 0.73 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BEP currently trades 97.1% from its 52-week high vs CWEN's 92.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CWENClearway Energy, … | BEPBrookfield Renewa… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.55x | 0.73x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $41.47 | $32.72 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $25.63 | $19.29 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +92.4% | +97.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 51.7 | 70.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 877K | 446K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CWEN as "Buy" and BEP as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 9.0% upside for BEP (target: $35) vs 8.3% for CWEN (target: $42). For income investors, BEP offers the higher dividend yield at 12.72% vs CWEN's 7.85%.
| Metric | CWENClearway Energy, … | BEPBrookfield Renewa… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $41.50 | $34.63 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 16 | 20 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +7.9% | +12.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3.01 | $4.04 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clearway Energy, In… (CWEN) | 100 | 165.03 | +65.0% |
| Brookfield Renewabl… (BEP) | 100 | 103.72 | +3.7% |
Clearway Energy, In… (CWEN) returned +59% over 5 years vs Brookfield Renewabl… (BEP)'s -10%. A $10,000 investment in CWEN 5 years ago would be worth $15,865 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clearway Energy, In… (CWEN) | $1.0B | $1.4B | +40.0% |
| Brookfield Renewabl… (BEP) | $2.5B | $6.5B | +165.9% |
Clearway Energy, Inc.'s revenue grew from $1.0B (2016) to $1.4B (2025) — a 3.8% CAGR. Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P.'s revenue grew from $2.5B (2016) to $6.5B (2025) — a 11.5% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clearway Energy, In… (CWEN) | 5.6% | 11.8% | +111.8% |
| Brookfield Renewabl… (BEP) | -0.9% | -0.3% | +65.4% |
Clearway Energy, Inc.'s net margin went from 6% (2016) to 12% (2025). Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P.'s net margin went from -1% (2016) to -0% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 7 Years
| Stock | 2018 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clearway Energy, In… (CWEN) | 37.5 | 23.4 | -37.6% |
Clearway Energy, Inc. has traded in a 6x–145x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~27x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clearway Energy, In… (CWEN) | 0.58 | 1.42 | +144.8% |
| Brookfield Renewabl… (BEP) | -0.15 | -0.07 | +55.1% |
Clearway Energy, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.58 (2016) to $1.42 (2025) — a 10% CAGR. Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P.'s EPS grew from $-0.15 (2016) to $-0.07 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Clearway Energy, Inc. generated $369M FCF in 2025 (-33% vs 2021). Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. generated $-5B FCF in 2025 (-324% vs 2021).
CWEN vs BEP: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CWEN or BEP a better buy right now?
Clearway Energy, Inc. (CWEN) offers the better valuation at 27.0x trailing P/E (37.0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Clearway Energy, Inc. (CWEN) a "Buy" — based on 16 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.
02Which is the better long-term investment — CWEN or BEP?
Over the past 5 years, Clearway Energy, Inc. (CWEN) delivered a total return of +58.6%, compared to -9.6% for Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (BEP). A $10,000 investment in CWEN five years ago would be worth approximately $16K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CWEN returned +289.9% versus BEP's +214.6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — CWEN or BEP?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Clearway Energy, Inc. (CWEN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.55β versus Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P.'s 0.73β — meaning BEP is approximately 34% more volatile than CWEN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (BEP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 100% versus 172% for Clearway Energy, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — CWEN or BEP?
Clearway Energy, Inc. (CWEN) is the more profitable company, earning 11.8% net margin versus -0.3% for Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. — meaning it keeps 11.8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BEP leads at 13.4% versus 12.3% for CWEN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BEP leads at 16.8%, 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.
05Is CWEN or BEP more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BEP: 9.0% to $34.63.
06Which pays a better dividend — CWEN or BEP?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. (BEP) offers the highest yield at 12.7%, versus 7.9% for Clearway Energy, Inc. (CWEN).
07Is CWEN or BEP better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Clearway Energy, Inc. (CWEN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.55), 7.9% yield, +289.9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CWEN: +289.9%, BEP: +214.6%), 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.
08What are the main differences between CWEN and BEP?
Both stocks operate in the Utilities sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. 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.
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