Plug Power Eyes Expansion in Green Energy Sector: Can It Deliver Growth?

Plug Power Inc. PLUG has been plagued with a high cash burn rate and negative gross margins over the past several quarters. Decline in revenues from the sales of hydrogen equipment and related infrastructure has been weighing on its performance. The company has been subject to lower sales of GenDrive units, GenSure stationary backup power units, cryogenic storage equipment and liquefiers.Despite this, PLUG has been considering to scale up its business and invest in hydrogen plants, given the long-term growth potential of the green hydrogen energy market. Going by some estimates the green hydrogen energy market is expected to grow to $30 billion by 2030. PLUG looks forward to capitalize on the opportunity with increased green hydrogen production at its new plant in Georgia, as well as a new joint venture with chemical products company, Olin Corporation OLN in Louisiana.In January 2025, Plug Power also secured a loan guarantee worth $1.66 billion from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to support the construction of six green hydrogen production facilities. This marks a significant step in the expansion of its domestic manufacturing and hydrogen production capabilities. Also, the Senate's revision of the Trump administration's proposed tax bill is expected to offer two-year tax credit extensions for the hydrogen industry. This is likely to help Plug Power remain solvent as it considers scaling up its business.Although, the ongoing challenges, including negative gross margins and cash outflows, are likely to affect PLUG’s near-term performance, its investments in the lucrative green hydrogen market and the Quantum Leap project are likely to be beneficial in the long run.Growth Investments in Clean Energy Space from PLUG’s PeersAmong Plug Power’s major peers, Bloom Energy Corporation BE is poised to benefit from its expanding domestic and international commercial capability. In February 2025, Bloom Energy announced an expansion of its longstanding relationship with Equinix. Its fuel cells allow Equinix to generate on-site power at its data centers more sustainably than typical grid-delivered energy. Also, Bloom Energy’s fuel cell projects with SK ecoplant in South Korea have significantly contributed to its performance in the past several quarters.Its another peer, FuelCell Energy, Inc. FCEL, remains focused on investing in the development and commercialization of its solid oxide fuel cell platform. This includes strategic collaborations that will allow FuelCell Energy to deploy the technology in energy, hydrogen generation and emissions reduction projects. FuelCell Energy continues to deploy its mature carbonate fuel cell systems, which generate clean electricity, heat and hydrogen, and support carbon capture.The Zacks Rundown for PLUGShares of Plug Power have gained 14.7% in the past three months compared with the industry’s growth of 48.7%.Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchFrom a valuation standpoint, Plug Power is trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of a negative 2.83X against the industry average of 20.88X. PLUG carries a Value Score of F.Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for PLUG’s bottom line for 2025 has been stable in the past 60 days.Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchPLUG stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.5 Stocks Set to DoubleEach was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in the coming year. While not all picks can be winners, previous recommendations have soared +112%, +171%, +209% and +232%.Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Plug Power, Inc. (PLUG): Free Stock Analysis Report FuelCell Energy, Inc. (FCEL): Free Stock Analysis Report Olin Corporation (OLN): Free Stock Analysis Report Bloom Energy Corporation (BE): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks