ENPH vs SHLS vs GNRC vs SEDG vs RUN

For growth investors, Sunrun Inc.

(RUN) is the stronger pick with 45. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 0% for Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC). 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 Shoals Technologies Group, Inc. (SHLS) 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, Sunrun Inc.

(RUN) is the cheapest at 8. 1x versus Generac Holdings Inc. at 99. 2x. On forward P/E, Enphase Energy, Inc. is actually cheaper at 17. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Generac Holdings Inc.

(GNRC) delivered a total return of -18. 5%, compared to -82. 5% for SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (SEDG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ENPH returned +1738% versus SHLS's -74. 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 Sunrun Inc. 's 2. 89β — meaning RUN is approximately 71% more volatile than GNRC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Shoals Technologies Group, Inc. (SHLS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 29% versus 3% for Sunrun 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. 0% for Generac Holdings Inc. (GNRC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Sunrun Inc. grew EPS 113. 3% year-over-year, compared to -50. 1% for Generac Holdings Inc.. 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.

Sunrun Inc.

(RUN) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 2% net margin versus -34. 2% for SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SHLS leads at 11. 9% versus -24. 1% for SEDG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ENPH leads at 46. 6%, 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, Enphase Energy, Inc.

(ENPH) trades at 17. 6x forward P/E versus 610. 9x for SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. — 593. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RUN: 31. 4% to $18. 14.

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, Enphase Energy, Inc.

(ENPH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1738% 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 (ENPH: +1738%, 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 (ENPH (Energy) and SHLS (Energy) and GNRC (Industrials) and SEDG (Energy) and RUN (Energy)), 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; SHLS is a small-cap high-growth stock; GNRC is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; SEDG is a small-cap high-growth stock; RUN 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.