FSI vs PESI vs ERII vs FLUX vs HYLN

For growth investors, Hyliion Holdings Corp.

(HYLN) is the stronger pick with 130. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 1% for Energy Recovery, Inc. (ERII). Energy Recovery, Inc. (ERII) offers the better valuation at 21. 7x trailing P/E (35. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Energy Recovery, Inc. (ERII) 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.

On trailing P/E, Energy Recovery, Inc.

(ERII) is the cheapest at 21. 7x versus Flexible Solutions International, Inc. at 25. 5x.

Over the past 5 years, Flexible Solutions International, Inc.

(FSI) delivered a total return of +106. 1%, compared to -88. 4% for Flux Power Holdings, Inc. (FLUX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FSI returned +390. 3% versus FLUX's -76. 0%. 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), Flexible Solutions International, Inc.

(FSI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 95β versus Hyliion Holdings Corp. 's 2. 34β — meaning HYLN is approximately 147% more volatile than FSI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hyliion Holdings Corp. (HYLN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 26% for Flexible Solutions International, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hyliion Holdings Corp.

(HYLN) is pulling ahead at 130. 3% versus -7. 1% for Energy Recovery, Inc. (ERII). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. grew EPS 43. 6% year-over-year, compared to -10. 0% for Hyliion Holdings Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HYLN leads at 18. 2% 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.

Energy Recovery, Inc.

(ERII) is the more profitable company, earning 17. 0% net margin versus -1645. 7% for Hyliion Holdings Corp. — meaning it keeps 17. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ERII leads at 18. 2% versus -1886. 4% for HYLN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ERII leads at 65. 2%, 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 PESI: 63.

6% to $18. 00.

In this comparison, FSI (1.

6% yield) pays a dividend. PESI, ERII, FLUX, HYLN do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Flexible Solutions International, Inc.

(FSI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 95), 1. 6% yield, +390. 3% 10Y return). Flux Power Holdings, Inc. (FLUX) carries a higher beta of 2. 23 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (FSI: +390. 3%, FLUX: -76. 0%), 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 (FSI (Basic Materials) and PESI (Industrials) and ERII (Industrials) and FLUX (Industrials) and HYLN (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: FSI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PESI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ERII is a small-cap quality compounder stock; FLUX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HYLN is a small-cap high-growth stock. FSI pays a dividend while PESI, ERII, FLUX, HYLN do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.