GPRE
Green Plains Inc.
Chemicals - Specialty
Market Cap$1.19B
5Y Perf.+98.5%
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Try these comparisons:
Stock Comparison
GPRE vs AVA
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
AVA
Avista Corporation
Diversified Utilities
Market Cap$3.35B
5Y Perf.+3.6%
GPRE vs AVA — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | GPRE | AVA |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Chemicals - Specialty | Diversified Utilities |
| Market Cap | $1.19B | $3.35B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.09B | $1.96B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-121M | $193M |
| Gross Margin | 1.8% | 54.6% |
| Operating Margin | -4.0% | 18.0% |
| Forward P/E | 48.1x | 15.8x |
| Total Debt | $508M | $3.38B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $230M | $19M |
GPRE vs AVA — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
GPRE
AVA
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Plains Inc. (GPRE) | 100 | 198.5 | +98.5% |
| Avista Corporation (AVA) | 100 | 103.6 | +3.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: GPRE vs AVA
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: AVA leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Green Plains Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and recent price momentum and sentiment. This set spans 2 sectors — these stocks serve different portfolio roles, not just different price points.
GPRE
Green Plains Inc.
The Defensive Pick
GPRE is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night and defensive.
- Lower volatility, beta 1.22, Low D/E 65.9%, current ratio 1.79x
- Beta 1.22, current ratio 1.79x
- Lower D/E ratio (65.9% vs 124.6%)
Best for: sleep-well-at-night and defensive
AVA
Avista Corporation
The Income Pick
AVA carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 22 yrs, beta -0.00, yield 4.8%
- Rev growth 1.3%, EPS growth 4.4%, 3Y rev CAGR 4.7%
- 39.6% 10Y total return vs GPRE's 17.1%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | AVA | 1.3% revenue growth vs GPRE's -14.9% |
| Value | AVA | Lower P/E (15.8x vs 48.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | AVA | 9.8% margin vs GPRE's -5.8% |
| Stability / Safety | GPRE | Lower D/E ratio (65.9% vs 124.6%) |
| Dividends | AVA | 4.8% yield; 22-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | GPRE | +363.7% vs AVA's +1.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AVA | 2.4% ROA vs GPRE's -7.7%, ROIC 4.5% vs -5.3% |
GPRE vs AVA — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2025
GPRE vs AVA — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLAVALAGGINGGPRE
GPREGreen Plains Inc.
0leads
AVAAvista Corporation
6leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs GPREMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
AVA5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
AVA3/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
AVA6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
AVA4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
AVA2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
AVA1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AVA leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
GPRE and AVA operate at a comparable scale, with $2.1B and $2.0B in trailing revenue. AVA is the more profitable business, keeping 9.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to GPRE's -5.8%. On growth, AVA holds the edge at +0.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | GPREGreen Plains Inc. | AVAAvista Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.1B | $2.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $14M | $643M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$121M | $193M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $74M | $469M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +1.8% | +54.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -4.0% | +18.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -5.8% | +9.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +3.5% | +23.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -26.6% | +0.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +119.8% | +3.6% |
AVA leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
AVA leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, AVA's 10.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than GPRE's 103.0x.
| Metric | GPREGreen Plains Inc. | AVAAvista Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.2B | $3.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.5B | $6.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -9.43x | 17.05x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 48.06x | 15.83x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 3.70x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 102.96x | 10.43x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.57x | 1.71x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.48x | 1.21x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 16.09x | — |
AVA leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AVA leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AVA delivers a 7.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $7 in annual profit, vs $-16 for GPRE. GPRE carries lower financial leverage with a 0.66x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AVA's 1.25x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AVA scores 5/9 vs GPRE's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | GPREGreen Plains Inc. | AVAAvista Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -15.7% | +7.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -7.7% | +2.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -5.3% | +4.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -6.2% | +4.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.66x | 1.25x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $278M | $3.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $230M | $19M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $508M | $3.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -0.88x | 2.47x |
AVA leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
AVA leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in AVA five years ago would be worth $10,560 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $5,303 for GPRE. Over the past 12 months, GPRE leads with a +363.7% total return vs AVA's +1.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AVA at 1.4% vs GPRE's -18.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | GPREGreen Plains Inc. | AVAAvista Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +65.1% | +6.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +363.7% | +1.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -45.2% | +4.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -47.0% | +5.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +17.1% | +39.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -18.2% | +1.4% |
AVA leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
AVA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
AVA is the less volatile stock with a -0.00 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than GPRE's 1.22 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AVA currently trades 93.3% from its 52-week high vs GPRE's 89.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | GPREGreen Plains Inc. | AVAAvista Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.22x | -0.00x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $18.94 | $43.49 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $3.39 | $35.50 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +89.6% | +93.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 68.5 | 50.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.4M | 559K |
AVA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
AVA leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates GPRE as "Buy" and AVA as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 0.2% upside for AVA (target: $41) vs -18.7% for GPRE (target: $14). AVA is the only dividend payer here at 4.83% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | GPREGreen Plains Inc. | AVAAvista Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $13.80 | $40.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 20 | 15 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +4.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 22 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.96 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.5% | 0.0% |
AVA leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
AVA leads in 6 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics.
Best OverallAvista Corporation (AVA)Leads 6 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
GPRE vs AVA: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is GPRE or AVA a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Avista Corporation (AVA) is the stronger pick with 1.
3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -14. 9% for Green Plains Inc. (GPRE). Avista Corporation (AVA) offers the better valuation at 17. 1x trailing P/E (15. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Green Plains Inc. (GPRE) a "Buy" — based on 20 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 has the better valuation — GPRE or AVA?
On forward P/E, Avista Corporation is actually cheaper at 15.
8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — GPRE or AVA?
Over the past 5 years, Avista Corporation (AVA) delivered a total return of +5.
6%, compared to -47. 0% for Green Plains Inc. (GPRE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AVA returned +39. 6% versus GPRE's +17. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — GPRE or AVA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Avista Corporation (AVA) is the lower-risk stock at -0.
00β versus Green Plains Inc. 's 1. 22β — meaning GPRE is approximately -40610% more volatile than AVA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Green Plains Inc. (GPRE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 66% versus 125% for Avista Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — GPRE or AVA?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Avista Corporation (AVA) is pulling ahead at 1.
3% versus -14. 9% for Green Plains Inc. (GPRE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Avista Corporation grew EPS 4. 4% year-over-year, compared to -39. 5% for Green Plains Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AVA leads at 4. 7% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — GPRE or AVA?
Avista Corporation (AVA) is the more profitable company, earning 9.
8% net margin versus -5. 8% for Green Plains Inc. — meaning it keeps 9. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AVA leads at 18. 0% versus -4. 0% for GPRE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AVA leads at 24. 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.
07Is GPRE or AVA more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Avista Corporation (AVA) trades at 15.
8x forward P/E versus 48. 1x for Green Plains Inc. — 32. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AVA: 0. 2% to $40. 67.
08Which pays a better dividend — GPRE or AVA?
In this comparison, AVA (4.
8% yield) pays a dividend. GPRE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is GPRE or AVA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Avista Corporation (AVA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.
00), 4. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AVA: +39. 6%, GPRE: +17. 1%), 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.
10What are the main differences between GPRE and AVA?
These companies operate in different sectors (GPRE (Basic Materials) and AVA (Utilities)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: GPRE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; AVA is a small-cap deep-value stock. AVA pays a dividend while GPRE does 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.
Revenue Growth>
%
(GPRE: -26.6% · AVA: 0.0%)You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.