TE vs RUN

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 T1 Energy Inc (TE) a "Buy" — based on 7 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.

Over the past 5 years, T1 Energy Inc (TE) delivered a total return of -47.

1%, compared to -72. 5% for Sunrun Inc. (RUN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RUN returned +71. 1% versus TE's -46. 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), T1 Energy Inc (TE) is the lower-risk stock at 2.

49β versus Sunrun Inc. 's 2. 89β — meaning RUN is approximately 16% more volatile than TE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Sunrun Inc. (RUN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 3% for T1 Energy Inc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Sunrun Inc.

grew EPS 113. 3% year-over-year, compared to -527. 5% for T1 Energy Inc. 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 -153. 0% for T1 Energy Inc — meaning it keeps 15. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: RUN leads at -4. 3% versus -25. 2% for TE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TE leads at 41. 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TE: 99.

2% to $10. 50.

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, Sunrun Inc.

(RUN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. T1 Energy Inc (TE) carries a higher beta of 2. 49 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (RUN: +71. 1%, TE: -46. 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 (TE (Industrials) and RUN (Energy)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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