We recently compiled a list of the 12 Best Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Stocks to Buy for 2025. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) stands against the other hydrogen and fuel cell stocks.
Hydrogen produced from renewable electricity could transform heavy industry and transportation, offering a clean, sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. Seen as a key to decarbonizing heavy industry, hydrogen provides a greener way to generate heat and power vehicles. While global investments in renewable energy have surged, electricity alone can’t meet the fuel needs of many industrial operations. Hydrogen steps in as a versatile option, functioning much like traditional oil and gas, allowing vehicles to run on clean fuel instead of petrol or diesel. The global hydrogen market, worth $148 billion in 2023, is expected to grow to $259 billion by 2033 at a steady CAGR of 5.75%. Moreover, BloombergNEF predicts hydrogen supply will expand thirtyfold, reaching 16.4 million metric tons annually by 2030.
U.S. regulations
Hydrogen holds immense potential, but its adoption still faces significant challenges. A 2024 report by IDTechEx estimated that only 4% of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) will run on hydrogen in the next two decades. However, it projected that around 20% of ZEV trucks could be hydrogen-powered by 2044. The report emphasized that expanding blue, gray, and green hydrogen markets—combined with supportive government policies—could accelerate innovation in fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).
In the global hydrogen race, the United States is positioned to be a leading player, thanks to its mature projects and favorable tax policies that incentivize hydrogen development. However, the sector’s future faces uncertainty with the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. Reduced federal support for green hydrogen initiatives could make it difficult for the industry to compete with cheaper fossil-fuel alternatives like natural gas, putting billions of dollars in planned projects at risk. “Lots of people in industry continue to see the long-term value of producing hydrogen to the U.S. economy and for export around the world,” said Frank Wolak, president and CEO of the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association. “But there’s definitely a trepidation about what this industry looks like going into 2025.”
Overall, hydrogen remains in its early stages. The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Global Hydrogen Review 2024 highlighted sluggish policy implementation in critical sectors like heavy industry, refineries, and long-haul transport. In 2023, global hydrogen demand reached just over 97 million tons, with a modest rise to 100 million tons expected in 2024—largely driven by economic trends rather than effective policy measures. As the IEA stated, “Hydrogen demand remains concentrated in refining and industrial applications, where it has been used for decades. Its adoption in new applications crucial for the clean energy transition—such as heavy industry, long-distance transport, and energy storage—accounts for less than 1% of global demand, despite a 40% growth compared to 2022.”
China leading the pack
China dominated nearly 60% of the global 25-gigawatt electrolyzer manufacturing capacity in 2023, according to a report from the IEA. The Paris-based organization projects that China will remain a leader, producing over half of the world’s electrolyzers by 2035. By 2050, the IEA estimates global installed electrolyzer capacity could reach 320 GW, assuming countries meet their Paris Agreement commitments. The report highlights that EU initiatives promoting low-carbon aviation fuel are a key driver of electrolyzer demand. It predicts that transportation will account for two-thirds of global demand by 2050, with the remainder distributed across industrial, refining, and power sectors. By midcentury, China is expected to utilize 25% of installed electrolyzers, followed by the U.S. at 14%.
Our Methodology
To compile our list of the Best Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Stocks to Buy, we started with companies that have a significant presence in the hydrogen and fuel cell industry. We sifted through ETFs and lists on the internet. We then refined the selection by focusing on the number of hedge fund holders as of Q3 2024, based on data from Insider Monkey’s database, which tracks the activity of 900 hedge funds.
Why do we care about what hedge funds do? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
A line of workers in a refinery wearing protective suits and masks, overseeing the production process of specialty gases.
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 45
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) is a global leader in industrial gases and liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing technology and equipment. It ranks among the largest suppliers of merchant hydrogen and is a pioneer in hydrogen fuel infrastructure, operating over 100 hydrogen plants with a combined production capacity of 7 million kilograms daily.
The company is committed to addressing global energy and environmental challenges through gasification, carbon capture, and clean hydrogen initiatives. Among its notable projects is a $4.5 billion investment in Louisiana to construct the world’s largest blue hydrogen facility. Scheduled for completion in 2026, the project aims to capture and permanently store over 5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually.
In its Q4 2024 results, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) reported a 13% year-over-year increase in adjusted earnings per share, aligning with its guidance. For fiscal year 2025, the company forecasts EPS growth of 6% to 9%, even after divesting its LNG business to Honeywell. Following these results, Mizuho reaffirmed an Outperform rating and raised its price target to $385 from $360. Similarly, BMO Capital maintained an Outperform rating, increasing its target to $350 from $323, citing the company’s strong financial performance.
ClearBridge Large Cap Value Strategy stated the following regarding Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) in its Q3 2024 investor letter:
“Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) has also made strong contributions recently, delivering operationally and announcing a major offtake agreement for its NEOM green hydrogen project in June. Strong fundamentals for APD are shining through a soft Chinese industrial economy, and it continues to shore up the strength of its core industrial gases franchise, committing to not invest additional capital on big projects until they soak up existing capacity, putting a management structure in place to allow for more accountability and announcing board-initiated succession planning that will help built investor confidence for the future. The company is also tightening up its operational focus by divesting non-core assets and streamlining operations.”
Overall APD ranks 6th on our list of the best hydrogen and fuel cell stocks to buy for 2025. While we acknowledge the potential of APD as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that certain AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than APD but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.