Head-To-Head Comparison: Central Puerto (NYSE:CEPU) and OPAL Fuels (NASDAQ:OPAL)

Central Puerto (NYSE:CEPU) and OPAL Fuels (NASDAQ:OPAL) are both energy companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, profitability, earnings, risk, valuation, dividends and analyst recommendations.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Central Puerto and OPAL Fuels”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Central Puerto	$782.60 million	2.99	$277.08 million	$2.08	7.44
OPAL Fuels	$348.98 million	1.07	$14.75 million	$0.07	30.71

Central Puerto has higher revenue and earnings than OPAL Fuels. Central Puerto is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than OPAL Fuels, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Central Puerto and OPAL Fuels’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Central Puerto	37.86%	15.69%	10.94%
OPAL Fuels	1.33%	-479.62%	0.47%

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and price targets for Central Puerto and OPAL Fuels, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Central Puerto	0	1	1	0	2.50
OPAL Fuels	2	3	0	0	1.60

Central Puerto currently has a consensus target price of $17.50, indicating a potential upside of 13.07%. OPAL Fuels has a consensus target price of $2.72, indicating a potential upside of 26.36%. Given OPAL Fuels’ higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe OPAL Fuels is more favorable than Central Puerto.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

3.0% of Central Puerto shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 12.2% of OPAL Fuels shares are held by institutional investors. 0.1% of Central Puerto shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 84.6% of OPAL Fuels shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Risk & Volatility

Central Puerto has a beta of 0.83, indicating that its share price is 17% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, OPAL Fuels has a beta of 0.76, indicating that its share price is 24% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Central Puerto beats OPAL Fuels on 10 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Central Puerto

Central Puerto S.A. engages in the electric power generation in Argentina. It operates through three segments: Electric Power Generation from Conventional Sources, Electric Power Generation from Renewable Sources, and Natural Gas Transport and Distribution. The company generates energy through thermal, hydroelectric, and wind farms. It also engages in the natural gas transport and distribution business. Central Puerto S.A. was founded in 1898 and is based in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

About OPAL Fuels

OPAL Fuels Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production and distribution of renewable natural gas for use as a vehicle fuel for heavy and medium-duty trucking fleets. It also designs, develops, constructs, operates, and services fueling stations for trucking fleets that use natural gas to displace diesel as transportation fuel. In addition, it offers design, development, and construction services for hydrogen fueling stations. Further, the company engages in the generation and sale of renewable power to utilities. OPAL Fuels Inc. is based in White Plains, New York.