Plug Power (NASDAQ:PLUG – Get Free Report) and Orion Energy Systems (NASDAQ:OESX – Get Free Report) are both small-cap industrials companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, earnings, dividends, analyst recommendations, risk, valuation and institutional ownership.
Insider and Institutional Ownership
43.5% of Plug Power shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 52.6% of Orion Energy Systems shares are held by institutional investors. 1.4% of Plug Power shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 5.3% of Orion Energy Systems shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for Plug Power and Orion Energy Systems, as provided by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Plug Power | 3 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 2.25 |
| Orion Energy Systems | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2.50 |
Plug Power currently has a consensus price target of $3.40, suggesting a potential upside of 139.76%. Orion Energy Systems has a consensus price target of $36.50, suggesting a potential upside of 82.50%. Given Plug Power’s higher probable upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Plug Power is more favorable than Orion Energy Systems.
Valuation and Earnings
This table compares Plug Power and Orion Energy Systems”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Plug Power | $744.09 million | 2.67 | -$1.63 billion | ($1.26) | -1.13 |
| Orion Energy Systems | $92.47 million | 0.88 | -$3.16 million | ($0.05) | -400.00 |
Orion Energy Systems has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Plug Power. Orion Energy Systems is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Plug Power, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Profitability
This table compares Plug Power and Orion Energy Systems’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Plug Power | -220.59% | -56.01% | -21.09% |
| Orion Energy Systems | 0.04% | 11.66% | 3.40% |
Risk & Volatility
Plug Power has a beta of 2.28, suggesting that its share price is 128% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Orion Energy Systems has a beta of 0.87, suggesting that its share price is 13% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Summary
Orion Energy Systems beats Plug Power on 8 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Plug Power
Plug Power Inc. develops hydrogen and fuel cell product solutions in North America, Europe, Asia, and internationally. The company offers GenDrive, a hydrogen-fueled proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell system that provides power to material handling electric vehicles; GenSure, a stationary fuel cell solution that offers modular PEM fuel cell power to support the backup and grid-support power requirements of the telecommunications, transportation, and utility sectors; ProGen, a fuel cell stack and engine technology used in mobility and stationary fuel cell systems, and as engines in electric delivery vans; GenFuel, a liquid hydrogen fueling delivery, generation, storage, and dispensing system; GenCare, an ongoing Internet of Things-based maintenance and on-site service program for GenDrive fuel cell systems, GenSure fuel cell systems, GenFuel hydrogen storage and dispensing products, and ProGen fuel cell engines; and GenKey, an integrated turn-key solution for transitioning to fuel cell power. It also provides electrolyzers, a hydrogen generator for clean hydrogen production; liquefaction systems that provides liquid hydrogen to customers; cryogenic equipment for the distribution of liquified hydrogen, oxygen, argon, nitrogen and other cryogenic gases, including trailers and mobile storage equipment; and liquid hydrogen, an alternative fuel to fossil-based energy. The company sells its products through a direct product sales force, original equipment manufacturers, and dealer networks. Plug Power Inc. was incorporated in 1997 and is headquartered in Latham, New York.
About Orion Energy Systems
Orion Energy Systems, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, researches, designs, develops, manufactures, markets, sells, installs, and implements energy management systems for commercial office and retail, area lighting, industrial applications, and government in North America and Germany. It operates in three segments: Lighting, Maintenance, and Electric Vehicle (EV). The company offers light emitting diode (LED) lighting products; construction and engineering services for commercial lighting and energy management system; lighting and electrical system maintenance, repair, and replacement services; and EV charging station and installation solutions. It also provides LED high bay fixtures and LED troffer retrofits; smart lighting controls, a wireless Internet of Things enabled control solution that provides lighting control options and data intelligence capabilities for building managers; and various LED fixtures for lighting and energy management needs comprising fixtures for agribusinesses, parking lots, roadways, retail, mezzanine, outdoor applications, and private label resale. In addition, the company offers lighting-related energy management services, such as site assessment, site field verification, utility incentive and government subsidy management, engineering design, project management, facility design commissioning, and recycling. It serves customers directly and through independent sales agencies and distributors, national account end-users, federal and state government facilities, regional account end-users, electrical distributors, electrical contractors, and energy service companies. Orion Energy Systems, Inc. was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
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