Sunrun (NASDAQ:RUN – Get Free Report) and Ascent Solar Technologies (NASDAQ:ASTI – Get Free Report) are both energy companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, risk, analyst recommendations, profitability, institutional ownership, dividends and earnings.
Profitability
This table compares Sunrun and Ascent Solar Technologies’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Sunrun | -106.50% | 19.34% | 3.38% |
| Ascent Solar Technologies | N/A | -239.69% | -111.53% |
Analyst Recommendations
This is a summary of current ratings for Sunrun and Ascent Solar Technologies, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Sunrun | 1 | 8 | 13 | 0 | 2.55 |
| Ascent Solar Technologies | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
Institutional and Insider Ownership
91.7% of Sunrun shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 10.6% of Ascent Solar Technologies shares are owned by institutional investors. 3.4% of Sunrun shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 10.2% of Ascent Solar Technologies shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.
Volatility and Risk
Sunrun has a beta of 2.36, meaning that its share price is 136% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ascent Solar Technologies has a beta of 1.46, meaning that its share price is 46% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Valuation and Earnings
This table compares Sunrun and Ascent Solar Technologies”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Sunrun | $2.04 billion | 2.27 | -$2.85 billion | ($11.18) | -1.78 |
| Ascent Solar Technologies | $40,000.00 | 739.47 | -$9.13 million | ($2.92) | -2.15 |
Ascent Solar Technologies has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Sunrun. Ascent Solar Technologies is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Sunrun, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Summary
Sunrun beats Ascent Solar Technologies on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Sunrun
Sunrun Inc. designs, develops, installs, sells, owns, and maintains residential solar energy systems in the United States. It also sells solar energy systems and products, such as panels and racking; and solar leads generated to customers. In addition, the company offers battery storage along with solar energy systems; and sells services to commercial developers through multi-family and new homes. Its primary customers are residential homeowners. The company markets and sells its products through direct-to-consumer approach across online, retail, mass media, digital media, canvassing, field marketing, and referral channels, as well as its partner network. Sunrun Inc. was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
About Ascent Solar Technologies
Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc., a solar technology company, engages in the manufacture and sale of photovoltaic solar modules in the United States. The company markets and sells its products through OEMs, system integrators, distributors, retailers, and value-added resellers. It serves agrivoltaics, aerospace, satellites, near earth orbiting vehicles, and fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicles. Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Thornton, Colorado.
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