RUN vs ENPH

For growth investors, Sunrun Inc.

(RUN) is the stronger pick with 45. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 7% for Enphase Energy, Inc. (ENPH). Sunrun Inc. (RUN) offers the better valuation at 7. 9x trailing P/E (22. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Sunrun Inc. (RUN) a "Buy" — based on 36 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, Sunrun Inc.

(RUN) is the cheapest at 7. 9x versus Enphase Energy, Inc. at 27. 9x. On forward P/E, Enphase Energy, Inc. is actually cheaper at 17. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Sunrun Inc.

(RUN) delivered a total return of -67. 8%, compared to -71. 6% for Enphase Energy, Inc. (ENPH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ENPH returned +1632% versus RUN's +85. 1%. 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), Enphase Energy, Inc.

(ENPH) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 70β versus Sunrun Inc. 's 2. 89β — meaning RUN is approximately 70% more volatile than ENPH relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Enphase Energy, Inc. (ENPH) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 114% versus 5% for Sunrun Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Sunrun Inc.

(RUN) is pulling ahead at 45. 1% versus 10. 7% for Enphase Energy, Inc. (ENPH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Sunrun Inc. grew EPS 113. 3% year-over-year, compared to 72. 0% for Enphase Energy, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, RUN leads at 8. 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.

Sunrun Inc.

(RUN) is the more profitable company, earning 15. 2% net margin versus 11. 7% for Enphase Energy, Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ENPH leads at 11. 2% versus -4. 3% for RUN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ENPH leads at 46. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Enphase Energy, Inc.

(ENPH) trades at 17. 9x forward P/E versus 22. 2x for Sunrun Inc. — 4. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RUN: 34. 8% to $18. 14.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

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

(ENPH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1632% 10Y return). Sunrun Inc. (RUN) carries a higher beta of 2. 89 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ENPH: +1632%, RUN: +85. 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.

Both stocks operate in the Energy sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: RUN is a small-cap high-growth stock; ENPH is a small-cap quality compounder 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.