Head to Head Analysis: Central Puerto (NYSE:CEPU) & Energy Vault (NYSE:NRGV)

Energy Vault (NYSE:NRGV) and Central Puerto (NYSE:CEPU) are both energy companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, risk, earnings, profitability, dividends, valuation and institutional ownership.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

40.0% of Energy Vault shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 3.0% of Central Puerto shares are owned by institutional investors. 19.8% of Energy Vault shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.1% of Central Puerto shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Energy Vault and Central Puerto’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Energy Vault	-172.61%	-111.85%	-57.02%
Central Puerto	21.30%	11.81%	8.32%

Risk and Volatility

Energy Vault has a beta of 0.94, suggesting that its share price is 6% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Central Puerto has a beta of 1.13, suggesting that its share price is 13% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

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

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Energy Vault	3	0	3	0	2.00
Central Puerto	1	0	1	0	2.00

Energy Vault presently has a consensus price target of $2.59, suggesting a potential downside of 39.21%. Central Puerto has a consensus price target of $17.50, suggesting a potential upside of 17.47%. Given Central Puerto’s higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Central Puerto is more favorable than Energy Vault.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Energy Vault and Central Puerto”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Energy Vault	$46.20 million	14.94	-$135.75 million	($0.97)	-4.40
Central Puerto	$749.35 billion	0.00	$54.56 million	$0.98	15.20

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

Summary

Central Puerto beats Energy Vault on 9 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Energy Vault

Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. develops and sells energy storage solutions. The company offers B-Vault, an electrochemical battery energy storage systems for shorter-duration energy storage needs; G-Vault, a proprietary gravity energy storage solution, including EVx solution; and H-Vault, a hybrid energy storage systems including systems that integrate green hydrogen. Its software solutions includes Vault-OS, an energy management system the management of one or more diverse storage mediums; Vault-Bidder that utilizes machine learning algorithms to match node-specific data with real-time weather and asset performance information; and Vault-Manager which designs to safeguard asset management and to help blend developing technologies seamlessly into existing solutions. Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. is based in Westlake Village, California.

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.