HASI vs NEE vs BEP vs CWEN

For growth investors, NextEra Energy, Inc.

(NEE) is the stronger pick with 11. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -36. 6% for HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. (HASI). Clearway Energy, Inc. (CWEN) offers the better valuation at 26. 9x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. (HASI) a "Buy" — based on 17 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, Clearway Energy, Inc.

(CWEN) is the cheapest at 26. 9x versus HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. at 30. 1x. On forward P/E, HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: NextEra Energy, Inc. wins at 1. 33x versus HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. 's 2. 82x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Clearway Energy, Inc.

(CWEN) delivered a total return of +72. 5%, compared to +4. 9% for HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. (HASI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NEE returned +266. 0% versus HASI's +179. 3%. 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), NextEra Energy, Inc.

(NEE) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 21β versus HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. 's 1. 05β — meaning HASI is approximately 405% more volatile than NEE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Brookfield Renewable Partners L. P. (BEP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 102% versus 191% for HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), NextEra Energy, Inc.

(NEE) is pulling ahead at 11. 0% versus -36. 6% for HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. (HASI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Brookfield Renewable Partners L. P. grew EPS 92. 4% year-over-year, compared to -13. 0% for HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, BEP leads at 11. 4% 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.

HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc.

(HASI) is the more profitable company, earning 46. 1% net margin versus -0. 3% for Brookfield Renewable Partners L. P. — meaning it keeps 46. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HASI leads at 66. 2% versus 12. 3% for CWEN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HASI leads at 99. 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 33x versus HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. 's 2. 82x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. (HASI) trades at 14. 3x forward P/E versus 23. 1x for NextEra Energy, Inc. — 8. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CWEN: 14. 5% to $43. 67.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Brookfield Renewable Partners L. P. (BEP) offers the highest yield at 11. 7%, versus 2. 4% for NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE).

For long-horizon retirement investors, NextEra Energy, Inc.

(NEE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 21), 2. 4% yield, +266. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NEE: +266. 0%, HASI: +179. 3%), 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 (HASI (Financial Services) and NEE (Utilities) and BEP (Utilities) and CWEN (Utilities)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: HASI is a small-cap income-oriented stock; NEE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; BEP is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; CWEN is a small-cap income-oriented 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.