ENS vs AMTX vs CLNE vs PLUG

For growth investors, Plug Power Inc.

(PLUG) is the stronger pick with 12. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -22. 3% for Aemetis, Inc. (AMTX). EnerSys (ENS) offers the better valuation at 24. 8x trailing P/E (21. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate EnerSys (ENS) 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.

Over the past 5 years, EnerSys (ENS) delivered a total return of +149.

2%, compared to -86. 4% for Plug Power Inc. (PLUG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ENS returned +298. 5% 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), Clean Energy Fuels Corp.

(CLNE) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 19β versus Plug Power Inc. 's 2. 57β — meaning PLUG is approximately 115% more volatile than CLNE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 18% versus 20% for Plug Power Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Plug Power Inc.

(PLUG) is pulling ahead at 12. 9% versus -22. 3% for Aemetis, Inc. (AMTX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Plug Power Inc. grew EPS 100. 0% year-over-year, compared to -173. 0% for Clean Energy Fuels Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ENS leads at 2. 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.

EnerSys (ENS) is the more profitable company, earning 10.

1% net margin versus -229. 8% for Plug Power Inc. — meaning it keeps 10. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PLUG leads at 38. 1% versus -22. 1% for CLNE. 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CLNE: 51.

5% to $3. 50.

In this comparison, ENS (0.

4% yield) pays a dividend. AMTX, CLNE, PLUG do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Clean Energy Fuels Corp.

(CLNE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 19)). 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 (CLNE: -26. 9%, 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 (ENS (Industrials) and AMTX (Energy) and CLNE (Energy) and PLUG (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.