NEXT vs CLNE vs HYLN vs UGI vs ET

For growth investors, Hyliion Holdings Corp.

(HYLN) is the stronger pick with 130. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 1% for Energy Transfer LP (ET). UGI Corporation (UGI) offers the better valuation at 10. 5x trailing P/E (10. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE) a "Buy" — based on 22 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, UGI Corporation (UGI) is the cheapest at 10.

5x versus Energy Transfer LP at 14. 8x. On forward P/E, UGI Corporation is actually cheaper at 10. 6x.

Over the past 5 years, NextDecade Corporation (NEXT) delivered a total return of +275.

4%, compared to -73. 8% for Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ET returned +142. 6% 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), NextDecade Corporation (NEXT) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

14β versus Hyliion Holdings Corp. 's 2. 39β — meaning HYLN is approximately -1843% more volatile than NEXT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hyliion Holdings Corp. (HYLN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 4% for NextDecade Corporation — 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 -0. 1% for Energy Transfer LP (ET). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: UGI Corporation grew EPS 147. 2% year-over-year, compared to -387. 5% for NextDecade Corporation. 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.

UGI Corporation (UGI) is the more profitable company, earning 9.

3% net margin versus -1645. 7% for Hyliion Holdings Corp. — meaning it keeps 9. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UGI leads at 15. 2% versus -1886. 4% for HYLN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UGI leads at 49. 9%, 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, UGI Corporation (UGI) trades at 10.

6x forward P/E versus 12. 3x for Energy Transfer LP — 1. 7x 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, ET (6.

5% yield), UGI (4. 5% yield) pay a dividend. NEXT, CLNE, HYLN do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Energy Transfer LP (ET) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

19), 6. 5% yield, +142. 6% 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 (ET: +142. 6%, 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 (NEXT (Energy) and CLNE (Energy) and HYLN (Consumer Cyclical) and UGI (Utilities) and ET (Energy)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: NEXT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CLNE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HYLN is a small-cap high-growth stock; UGI is a small-cap deep-value stock; ET is a mid-cap deep-value stock. UGI, ET pay a dividend while NEXT, CLNE, 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.