The alternative fuel and renewable energy industry is currently one of the fastest-growing sectors globally. Examples of alternatives include wind, solar, nuclear, hydropower, and biofuel energy. According to the Business Research Company, the global alternative fuel or renewable energy market was valued at $1.10 trillion in 2024 and is projected to reach $1.55 trillion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 8.8%. Growing environmental concerns and stringent environmental regulations in many developed countries have significantly boosted the renewable energy sector, leading to an increase in installed capacity for renewable sources. The increasing power demand and energy consumption are also key drivers of the growing demand in the alternative or renewable fuels industry.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global energy demand is expected to increase by 3.4% annually by 2026, with 85% of this additional demand coming from China and India. India’s electricity demand alone is predicted to grow by over 6% annually until 2026, driven by economic growth and rising air conditioning use. Southeast Asia is also expected to see a 5% annual increase in electricity demand through 2026. In the United States, a moderate rise in electricity demand is anticipated in the coming years, primarily driven by data centers. The electricity consumption by data centers, artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrency could potentially double to 1,000 TWh by 2026. The IEA forecasts that the surge in electricity generation from low-emission sources will meet global demand growth over the next three years, with renewable energy expected to surpass coal as the leading energy source by early 2025.
On November 11, Reuters reported that hedge funds rapidly increased their investments in bank stocks, marking the fastest pace in three years, while simultaneously reducing their holdings in renewable energy companies, according to a note from Goldman Sachs. This shift in investment strategy came in response to Donald Trump’s win in the U.S. presidential election. Financial stocks, including banks, have become the most favored and most net-purchased sector on Goldman’s prime brokerage trading desk.
Additionally, hedge funds placed long bets on consumer finance, capital markets, and financial services companies, with a focus on US stocks and equities in developing Asia and Europe, where they exited short positions and added long ones. In contrast, utility companies, especially independent power, and renewable electricity producers faced heavy selling, with hedge funds taking two short positions for every long position in U.S. utility companies.
Despite short-term challenges, the rapid growth and increasing investment in alternative fuel and renewable energy reflects a global shift towards sustainable and environmentally friendly energy solutions. As renewable technologies continue to advance and become more cost-effective, they are increasingly becoming the preferred choice for new energy projects worldwide.
Why Clearway Energy, Inc. (CWEN) is One the Best Alternative Fuel Stocks To Buy According to Hedge Funds?
Our Methodology
To compile our list of the 10 best alternative fuel stocks to buy according to hedge funds, we used Clean Energy ETFs plus online rankings to compile an initial list of 25 alternative fuel stocks. We then 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)
Clearway Energy Inc. (NYSE:CWEN) is a leading renewable energy company operating across the United States. The company operates a portfolio of 6,000 MW of installed renewable energy capacity, which includes a diverse range of wind and solar energy projects. Additionally, Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CWEN) manages 2.5 GW of natural gas generation facilities.
Clearway Energy Inc. (NYSE:CWEN) is actively pursuing a multi-faceted approach to drive future growth, starting with the strategic expansion of its renewable and storage assets. The company has recently committed to the Pine Forest Solar Plus Storage project, a project that is expected to contribute significantly to the company’s cash flow and earnings. Additionally, on November 25, Clearway Energy Inc. (NYSE:CWEN) announced its agreement to acquire the Tuolumne Wind Project, a 137 MW facility located in Washington State. The project will operate under a new 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Turlock Irrigation District.
Clearway Energy Inc. (NYSE:CWEN) has received an offer for Phase 1 of the Honeycomb battery hybridization program, which, if approved, will further enhance the company’s position in the storage market. The company is also selectively engaging in M&A opportunities that are right-sized and complementary to its fleet, focusing on assets that offer accretive returns and align with its underwriting requirements.
Overall, CWEN ranks 8th on our list of one of the best alternative fuel stocks to buy according to hedge funds. While we acknowledge the potential of CWEN 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 CWEN but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
