RUN vs XOM

For growth investors, Sunrun Inc.

(RUN) is the stronger pick with 45. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 5% for Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM). Sunrun Inc. (RUN) offers the better valuation at 7. 5x trailing P/E (21. 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. 5x versus Exxon Mobil Corporation at 22. 2x. On forward P/E, Exxon Mobil Corporation is actually cheaper at 15. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) delivered a total return of +171.

8%, compared to -72. 5% for Sunrun Inc. (RUN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: XOM returned +107. 4% versus RUN's +71. 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), Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

15β versus Sunrun Inc. 's 2. 89β — meaning RUN is approximately -2079% more volatile than XOM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 16% versus 3% 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 -4. 5% for Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Sunrun Inc. grew EPS 113. 3% year-over-year, compared to -14. 5% for Exxon Mobil Corporation. 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 8. 9% for Exxon Mobil Corporation — meaning it keeps 15. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: XOM leads at 10. 5% versus -4. 3% for RUN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RUN leads at 26. 8%, 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, Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) trades at 15.

0x forward P/E versus 21. 2x for Sunrun Inc. — 6. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RUN: 41. 4% to $18. 14.

In this comparison, XOM (2.

7% yield) pays a dividend. RUN does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.

15), 2. 7% yield, +107. 4% 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 (XOM: +107. 4%, RUN: +71. 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; XOM is a large-cap quality compounder stock. XOM pays a dividend while RUN 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.