MAXN vs PLUG Stock Comparison
Compare MAXN and PLUG across AIQ Score, fundamentals, valuation, momentum, risk, analyst expectations and current market evidence.
What is the main difference between MAXN and PLUG?
MAXN leads the current stock comparison as Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd., with the clearest separation coming from quality and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd. vs Plug Power Inc.
MAXN leads
MAXN leads by 30 AIQ points, primarily on Quality and Value, but the lead has narrowed from 37 points over 30 sessions.
Competitive: 4 of 6 evidence groups support MAXN, and its lead is narrowing.
Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd.
Plug Power Inc.
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors MAXN over PLUG, 61 versus 31 as of Sep 11, 2026. MAXN's advantage is driven primarily by stronger quality and value. MAXN also shows the weaker technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 4 of 6 covered evidence groups favor MAXN today, and the comparison is rated Competitive on stability: the leader's advantage has been narrowing. MAXN lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 37 to 30 points over 30 sessions.
Compare Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd. and Plug Power Inc. across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Price-return comparison using available daily close history.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000
Based on available close-price history. Distribution reinvestment is not added unless already reflected in the source series.
Compare MAXN and PLUG against another ticker
Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.
AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Quality50 vs 9MAXN +41
- Value75 vs 46MAXN +29
- Risk Resilience54 vs 31MAXN +23
4 of 6 evidence groups favor MAXN. MAXN’s edge is concentrated in quality and value.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-09-10, compared against the prior scored session 2026-09-09.
No factor moved materially.
No new signals fired.
No factor moved materially.
No new signals fired.
MAXN's lead was unchanged in the latest snapshot.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — MAXN and PLUG both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
MAXN (Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd.): the stronger current systematic profile, led by quality and value.
PLUG (Plug Power Inc.): the counter-case, on fundamentals, technicals.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
MAXNMAXN on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
PLUGPLUG on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
MAXNMAXN on the peer-relative Value factor, by 29 points.
Momentum
EvenThe two are level on Momentum.
Lower downside
MAXNMAXN on Risk Resilience, by 23 points.
Analyst upside
MAXNMAXN on implied upside to the consensus price target.
AIQ vs Wall Street
Where the systematic read and the analyst consensus line up — and where they do not.
| Measure | MAXN | PLUG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | +376.2% | +49% | MAXN has more room |
| Target dispersion | 0% | +107% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Hold | Hold | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 1 | 3 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
4 of 6 covered evidence groups favor MAXN. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | MAXN | 61 vs 31 |
| Fundamentals | PLUGon balance | TTM ROE 20% vs -176.2%; gross margin -39.2% vs -18.5%; operating margin -176.3% vs -70.2% — PLUG takes 2 of 3 decided legs, not all of them |
| Valuation | MAXN | Value 75 vs 46 |
| Technicals | PLUG | Price vs 50-day -88.6% vs -5.1%; vs 200-day -37.9% vs -14.8% |
| Risk Resilience | MAXN | Risk Resilience 54 vs 31 |
| Analyst expectations | MAXN | Target upside 376.2% vs 49% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of MAXN and PLUG and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The two are close enough that your objective, not the score, should decide.
- The AIQ gap is wide at 30 points. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The leader's advantage has been narrowing. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on MAXN.
How the comparison changed
119 daily snapshots · May 4 – Sep 10MAXN lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 37 to 30 points over 30 sessions.
- Today
- MAXN +30
- 61 vs 31
- 7 sessions ago
- MAXN +31
- 61 vs 30
- 30 sessions ago
- MAXN +37
- 70 vs 33
- 90 sessions ago
- MAXN +42
- 70 vs 28
The lead has not changed hands in this window.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
No active signals
1 bullish / 2 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted
- Death Cross Active — bearish, trend, long horizon (11.86%)
- Downtrend Structure Active — bearish, trend, long horizon
- ATR Expansion - Breakout Mode — neutral, volatility, short horizon (6.04%)
PLUG is conflicted, so the timing case there is weaker than the score alone suggests.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price -0.47%, AIQ 0 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1PLUG closes the Quality gap — currently 41 points behind, the largest single contributor to MAXN's edge.
- 2PLUG's Death Cross Active resolves — a bearish trend rule currently active against it.
- 3MAXN starts generating bearish momentum or trend signals.
- 4The narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 7 points over 30 sessions, and a further 30-point move would eliminate MAXN's advantage entirely.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Fundamentals
PLUG leads on balance| Metric | MAXN | PLUG |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | 0% | 9% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | 0% | 22.2% |
| Gross margin | -39.2% | -18.5% |
| Operating margin | -176.3% | -70.2% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | 20% | -176.2% |
| Debt to equity | -0.98 | 1.41 |
Performance
PLUG leads 3 of 3 windows| Metric | MAXN | PLUG |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | -17.7% | 1% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | -30.7% | -7.9% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | — | -26.2% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | — | -5.4% |
| Year to date | -52.2% | 7.1% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | — | 46.5% |
Technicals
PLUG has the stronger structure| Metric | MAXN | PLUG |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 15.3 | 45.4 |
| ADX (14) | 22.2 | 13.3 |
| Price vs 50-day | -88.6% | -5.1% |
| Price vs 200-day | -37.9% | -14.8% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 143.7% | 53.7% |
Risk
MAXN is the more resilient| Metric | MAXN | PLUG |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 1.7 | 2.42 |
| Sharpe ratio | -1.1 | 0.83 |
| Sortino ratio | -1.57 | 1.88 |
| Max drawdown | -84.1% | -56.7% |
| Current drawdown | -82.3% | -49% |
| Annualized volatility | 134% | 97.9% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -11.9% | -8.2% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, MAXN or PLUG?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, MAXN is the stronger of the two as of Sep 11, 2026, scoring 61 against PLUG's 31. The edge comes from quality and value. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is MAXN or PLUG the better buy right now?
MAXN carries the stronger systematic profile as of Sep 11, 2026, and the comparison is rated Competitive — 4 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Competitive rating means the two are close enough that your objective, not the score, should decide.
Why does the AIQ Score favor MAXN over PLUG?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. MAXN leads Quality by 41 points; MAXN leads Value by 29 points; MAXN leads Risk Resilience by 23 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, MAXN or PLUG?
Analyst price targets imply +376.2% upside for MAXN and +49% for PLUG, so the Street currently favors MAXN. The model and the Street agree here, which is a broader base of evidence than either alone. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, MAXN or PLUG?
MAXN is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. MAXN on the peer-relative Value factor, by 29 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, MAXN or PLUG?
PLUG on combined revenue and EPS growth. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, MAXN or PLUG?
The two are level on Momentum. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, MAXN or PLUG?
MAXN is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. MAXN on Risk Resilience, by 23 points. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is MAXN more profitable than PLUG?
The profitability evidence is mixed: gross margin -39.2% vs -18.5%; operating margin -176.3% vs -70.2%; ttm roe 20% vs -176.2%. MAXN leads on one measure and PLUG on two measures, and there is no single profitability composite that resolves the split — which of the two reads as "more profitable" depends on whether you weight pricing power or operating leverage.
Is MAXN's lead over PLUG getting stronger or weaker?
MAXN lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 37 to 30 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 119 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-05-04 and 2026-09-10. The lead has not changed hands in that window.
What would change the MAXN vs PLUG verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: PLUG closes the Quality gap — currently 41 points behind, the largest single contributor to MAXN's edge; PLUG's Death Cross Active resolves — a bearish trend rule currently active against it; MAXN starts generating bearish momentum or trend signals; the narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 7 points over 30 sessions, and a further 30-point move would eliminate MAXN's advantage entirely.
What do the current signals say about MAXN and PLUG?
MAXN: No active signals. PLUG: 1 bullish / 2 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. On PLUG it is Death Cross Active (bearish, long horizon).
Compare MAXN and PLUG with others
Continue your research
This page answers which of the two. These answer the questions on either side of it.
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.