WPRT vs CLNE vs HYLN vs PESI vs ATMU

For growth investors, Hyliion Holdings Corp.

(HYLN) is the stronger pick with 130. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 9% for Westport Fuel Systems Inc. (WPRT). Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. (ATMU) offers the better valuation at 21. 9x trailing P/E (18. 8x 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.

Over the past 5 years, Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc.

(ATMU) delivered a total return of +155. 0%, compared to -96. 9% for Westport Fuel Systems Inc. (WPRT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PESI returned +178. 6% versus WPRT's -91. 9%. 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), Westport Fuel Systems Inc.

(WPRT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 88β versus Hyliion Holdings Corp. 's 2. 39β — meaning HYLN is approximately 171% more volatile than WPRT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hyliion Holdings Corp. (HYLN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 151% for Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc. — 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 -8. 9% for Westport Fuel Systems Inc. (WPRT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Westport Fuel Systems Inc. grew EPS 56. 9% year-over-year, compared to -173. 0% for Clean Energy Fuels Corp.. 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.

Atmus Filtration Technologies Inc.

(ATMU) is the more profitable company, earning 11. 8% net margin versus -1645. 7% for Hyliion Holdings Corp. — meaning it keeps 11. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ATMU leads at 16. 4% versus -1886. 4% for HYLN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ATMU leads at 28. 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PESI: 61.

1% to $18. 00.

In this comparison, ATMU (0.

4% yield) pays a dividend. WPRT, CLNE, HYLN, PESI do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Westport Fuel Systems Inc.

(WPRT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 88)). 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 (WPRT: -91. 9%, 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 (WPRT (Consumer Cyclical) and CLNE (Energy) and HYLN (Consumer Cyclical) and PESI (Industrials) and ATMU (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: WPRT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CLNE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HYLN is a small-cap high-growth stock; PESI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ATMU 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.