ENPH vs GTLS vs RUN vs PLUG

For growth investors, Sunrun Inc.

(RUN) is the stronger pick with 45. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 5% for Chart Industries, Inc. (GTLS). Sunrun Inc. (RUN) offers the better valuation at 8. 1x trailing P/E (22. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Chart Industries, Inc. (GTLS) a "Buy" — based on 37 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, Sunrun Inc.

(RUN) is the cheapest at 8. 1x versus Chart Industries, Inc. at 628. 5x. On forward P/E, Chart Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 16. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Chart Industries, Inc.

(GTLS) delivered a total return of +29. 5%, compared to -86. 4% for Plug Power Inc. (PLUG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ENPH returned +1738% versus PLUG's +62. 2%. 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), Chart Industries, Inc.

(GTLS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 56β versus Sunrun Inc. 's 2. 89β — meaning RUN is approximately 419% more volatile than GTLS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Chart Industries, Inc. (GTLS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 111% versus 20% for Plug Power Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Sunrun Inc.

(RUN) is pulling ahead at 45. 1% versus 2. 5% for Chart Industries, Inc. (GTLS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Sunrun Inc. grew EPS 113. 3% year-over-year, compared to -92. 0% for Chart Industries, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, GTLS leads at 38. 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.

Sunrun Inc.

(RUN) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 2% net margin versus -229. 8% for Plug Power Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PLUG leads at 38. 1% versus -4. 3% for RUN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PLUG leads at 99. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Chart Industries, Inc.

(GTLS) trades at 16. 4x forward P/E versus 22. 8x for Sunrun Inc. — 6. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RUN: 31. 4% to $18. 14.

In this comparison, GTLS (0.

3% yield) pays a dividend. ENPH, RUN, PLUG do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Chart Industries, Inc.

(GTLS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 56), +772. 5% 10Y return). Plug Power Inc. (PLUG) carries a higher beta of 2. 57 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (GTLS: +772. 5%, PLUG: +62. 2%), 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 (ENPH (Energy) and GTLS (Industrials) and RUN (Energy) and PLUG (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: ENPH is a small-cap quality compounder stock; GTLS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; RUN is a small-cap high-growth stock; PLUG is a small-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.