We recently published a list of 10 Best Solar Energy Stocks To Buy Now. In this article, we are going to look at where Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN) stands against other best solar energy stocks to buy now.
During Joe Biden’s presidency, the U.S. solar industry experienced a significant boost, primarily driven by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This $369 billion package, signed into law in 2022, has been a game-changer for the renewable energy sector. The IRA provided substantial incentives for renewable energy, including tax credits, grants, and investments in clean energy infrastructure. The IRA has also reduced the U.S. reliance on imported energy resources. The economic benefits of the IRA have been widely recognized, with bipartisan support from both Democratic and Republican leaders.
According to a report by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) published on December 4, the US solar market installed 8.6 GW of capacity in Q3, continuing the trend of record-setting quarterly volumes this year and marking a notable 21% increase compared to the same quarter in the prior year. The report also highlights significant growth in domestic solar module manufacturing capacity, which increased by over 9 GW in Q3, reaching nearly 40 GW. This marks a substantial rise from less than 7 GW at the end of Q2 2022, before the introduction of domestic manufacturing and procurement tax credits under the IRA. Additionally, the first US cell manufacturing facility opened in Q3 marking a significant milestone in reshoring cell production for the first time since 2019. Utility-scale solar remained the largest contributor, with 6.6 GW installed in Q3, which signifies a 44% increase year-over-year and marks the highest third-quarter performance on record for the segment.
Solar’s Future Under Trump
As Donald Trump prepares for a second term as president, the future of the U.S. solar industry is a topic of significant interest. Trump’s campaign rhetoric has signaled intentions to bolster the fossil fuel industry, repeal Biden-era policies such as the IRA, and increase trade tariffs.
In an interview with CNBC on November 9, John Berger, CEO of Sunnova, discussed the impact of a potential second Trump administration on the solar industry. Berger emphasized that the market is currently driven by wild speculation and emotional responses, but he believes that the fundamentals of the solar industry remain strong and the demand for energy is increasing, suggesting it could bring even more success and growth for the solar industry and his company.
Berger addressed the speculation about future policy changes, particularly regarding the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). He stated that the IRA is unlikely to change significantly, noting its success and the bipartisan support for domestic manufacturing, especially in the production of solar panels, batteries, inverters, and electric vehicles. He also stated that 85% of the plants that manufacture solar panels and batteries are located in Republican districts. Berger concluded by praising the IRA, particularly the tax credit for manufacturing (45X), which has played an instrumental role in growing and building domestic manufacturing plants in the U.S.
Despite the potential for federal policy changes, the solar industry will undoubtedly play an increasingly vital role in global energy systems.
Our Methodology
To compile our list of the 10 best solar energy stocks to buy now, we used Finviz and Yahoo stock screeners, clean energy ETFs, and online rankings to compile an initial list of 25 solar energy stocks. Then we used Insider Monkey’s Hedge Fund database to rank 10 stocks according to the largest number of hedge fund holders, as of Q3 2024. The list is sorted in ascending order of hedge fund sentiment.
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).
Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN)
Number of Hedge Fund Investors: 43
Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN) is one of the largest residential solar and battery storage companies in the United States. The company provides solar panel installations, energy storage systems, and energy services through long-term subscription-based leases, power purchase agreements (PPAs), and direct sales. Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN) sells solar power to residential customers and offers financing solutions.
Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN) is transitioning into a multi-product company and is focusing on upselling and cross-selling to expand its revenue. The company is actively testing and scaling new products and services for new customers and is offering storage solutions for its existing customer base. Approximately 87% of its one million customers are not yet equipped with the company’s storage systems, which presents a large untapped potential for the company to increase its revenue streams. This strategic focus on storage is not only enhancing the customer value proposition by providing backup power but is also a part of the company’s higher margin strategy. Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN) is leveraging its app to facilitate these sales, making it easy and cost-effective for customers to sign up for additional products.
Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN) is also partnering with leading home builders to integrate solar and storage solutions into new homes. The company is currently working with 9 of the top 10 new home builders in California and over half of the top 20 home builders in the U.S. These partnerships are crucial in expanding the company’s market reach and ensuring that new homeowners have access to clean, affordable, and resilient energy from the start.
Overall, RUN ranks 4th on our list of best solar energy stocks to buy now. While we acknowledge the potential of RUN to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than RUN but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock.
Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
