VVPR vs BE vs PLUG vs FCEL vs RUN

For growth investors, VivoPower International PLC (VVPR) is the stronger pick with 281.

3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 12. 9% for Plug Power Inc. (PLUG). Sunrun Inc. (RUN) offers the better valuation at 8. 5x trailing P/E (15. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Bloom Energy Corporation (BE) a "Buy" — based on 31 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 forward P/E, Sunrun Inc.

is actually cheaper at 15. 3x.

Over the past 5 years, Bloom Energy Corporation (BE) delivered a total return of +1199%, compared to -95.

3% for VivoPower International PLC (VVPR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BE returned +944. 1% versus FCEL's -99. 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), VivoPower International PLC (VVPR) is the lower-risk stock at 2.

20β versus Bloom Energy Corporation's 3. 62β — meaning BE is approximately 65% more volatile than VVPR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, FuelCell Energy, Inc. (FCEL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 20% versus 20% for Plug Power Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), VivoPower International PLC (VVPR) is pulling ahead at 281.

3% versus 12. 9% for Plug Power Inc. (PLUG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Sunrun Inc. grew EPS 113. 3% year-over-year, compared to -1414. 3% for FuelCell Energy, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, BE leads at 19. 1% 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 -209. 7% for VivoPower International PLC — meaning it keeps 15. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PLUG leads at 38. 1% versus -143. 3% for VVPR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PLUG leads at 99. 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, Sunrun Inc.

(RUN) trades at 15. 3x forward P/E versus 123. 5x for Bloom Energy Corporation — 108. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PLUG: 25. 3% to $3. 91.

In this comparison, FCEL (0.

9% yield) pays a dividend. VVPR, BE, PLUG, RUN do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Bloom Energy Corporation (BE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+944.

1% 10Y return). VivoPower International PLC (VVPR) carries a higher beta of 2. 20 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (BE: +944. 1%, VVPR: -97. 0%), 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 (VVPR (Energy) and BE (Industrials) and PLUG (Industrials) and FCEL (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: VVPR is a small-cap high-growth stock; BE is a mid-cap high-growth stock; PLUG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; FCEL is a small-cap high-growth stock; RUN is a small-cap high-growth stock. FCEL pays a dividend while VVPR, BE, PLUG, RUN 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.