BLDP vs. PLUG
BLDP (Ballard Power Systems Inc.) and PLUG (Plug Power Inc.) are both stocks. Both are in the Industrials sector — BLDP in Specialty Industrial Machinery, PLUG in Electrical Equipment & Parts. Over the past 10 years, BLDP returned 12.62%/yr vs 4.71%/yr for PLUG. At a 0.47 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
BLDP vs. PLUG - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BLDP achieves a 64.17% return, which is significantly higher than PLUG's 37.56% return. Over the past 10 years, BLDP has outperformed PLUG with an annualized return of 12.62%, while PLUG has yielded a comparatively lower 4.71% annualized return.
BLDP
- 1D
- -3.47%
- 1M
- -24.73%
- YTD
- 64.17%
- 6M
- 56.18%
- 1Y
- 189.58%
- 3Y*
- -1.02%
- 5Y*
- -25.28%
- 10Y*
- 12.62%
PLUG
- 1D
- -2.87%
- 1M
- -28.31%
- YTD
- 37.56%
- 6M
- 32.20%
- 1Y
- 148.62%
- 3Y*
- -33.46%
- 5Y*
- -39.30%
- 10Y*
- 4.71%
BLDP vs. PLUG - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BLDP Ballard Power Systems Inc. | 64.17% | 53.01% | -55.14% | -22.76% | -61.86% | -46.32% | 225.91% | 200.42% | -45.80% | 167.27% |
PLUG Plug Power Inc. | 37.56% | -7.51% | -52.67% | -63.62% | -56.18% | -16.75% | 973.10% | 154.84% | -47.46% | 96.67% |
Correlation
The correlation between BLDP and PLUG is 0.67, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.67 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.69 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.75 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.66 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 29, 1999 | 0.47 |
The correlation between BLDP and PLUG shifts across timeframes, from 0.47 (all time) to 0.75 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
BLDP:
$1.25B
PLUG:
$3.77B
BLDP:
-$0.27
PLUG:
-$1.39
BLDP:
12.06
PLUG:
4.43
BLDP:
2.16
PLUG:
5.02
BLDP:
$103.13M
PLUG:
$739.76M
BLDP:
$11.79M
PLUG:
-$189.79M
BLDP:
-$77.20M
PLUG:
-$745.89M
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Return for Risk
BLDP vs. PLUG — Risk / Return Rank
BLDP
PLUG
BLDP vs. PLUG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Ballard Power Systems Inc. (BLDP) and Plug Power Inc. (PLUG). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| BLDP | PLUG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.91 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.44 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.37 | 1.28 | +0.09 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.78 | 2.64 | +1.14 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.33 | 4.43 | +2.90 |
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Drawdowns
BLDP vs. PLUG - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BLDP drawdown since its inception was -99.55%, roughly equal to the maximum PLUG drawdown of -99.99%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BLDP and PLUG.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BLDP | PLUG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -99.55% | -99.99% | +0.44% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -50.50% | -56.66% | +6.16% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -78.88% | -94.69% | +15.81% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -94.73% | -98.43% | +3.70% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -97.51% | -99.04% | +1.53% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -96.85% | -99.82% | +2.97% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -82.22% | -96.22% | +14.00% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 25.98% | 33.70% | -7.72% |
Volatility
BLDP vs. PLUG - Volatility Comparison
Ballard Power Systems Inc. (BLDP) has a higher volatility of 27.39% compared to Plug Power Inc. (PLUG) at 21.91%. This indicates that BLDP's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than PLUG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| BLDP | PLUG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 27.39% | 21.91% | +5.48% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 60.35% | 63.94% | -3.59% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 82.81% | 106.75% | -23.94% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 69.22% | 94.44% | -25.22% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 70.92% | 89.56% | -18.64% |
Dividends
BLDP vs. PLUG - Dividend Comparison
Neither BLDP nor PLUG has paid dividends to shareholders.
Financials
BLDP vs. PLUG - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Ballard Power Systems Inc. and Plug Power Inc.. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
Frequently Asked Questions
BLDP and PLUG have a correlation of 0.67, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
BLDP has higher volatility (27.39%) compared to PLUG (21.91%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BLDP dropped -99.55% vs PLUG's -99.99%.
BLDP currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.31 vs 1.40), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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