GTLS vs CECO vs CLNE vs HYLN

For growth investors, Hyliion Holdings Corp.

(HYLN) is the stronger pick with 130. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 2% for Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE). CECO Environmental Corp. (CECO) offers the better valuation at 59. 4x trailing P/E (48. 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, CECO Environmental Corp.

(CECO) is the cheapest at 59. 4x 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, CECO Environmental Corp.

(CECO) delivered a total return of +1003%, compared to -73. 8% for Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CECO returned +1282% versus HYLN's -74. 5%. 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 Hyliion Holdings Corp. 's 2. 39β — meaning HYLN is approximately 329% more volatile than GTLS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hyliion Holdings Corp. (HYLN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 111% for Chart Industries, 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 2. 2% for Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CECO Environmental Corp. grew EPS 280. 6% year-over-year, compared to -173. 0% for Clean Energy Fuels Corp.. 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.

CECO Environmental Corp.

(CECO) is the more profitable company, earning 6. 5% net margin versus -1645. 7% for Hyliion Holdings Corp. — meaning it keeps 6. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GTLS leads at 15. 2% versus -1886. 4% for HYLN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CECO leads at 32. 7%, 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 48. 8x for CECO Environmental Corp. — 32. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CLNE: 51. 5% to $3. 50.

In this comparison, GTLS (0.

3% yield) pays a dividend. CECO, CLNE, HYLN 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). Hyliion Holdings Corp. (HYLN) carries a higher beta of 2. 39 — 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%, HYLN: -74. 5%), 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 (GTLS (Industrials) and CECO (Industrials) and CLNE (Energy) 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: GTLS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CECO is a small-cap high-growth stock; CLNE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HYLN 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.