Plug Power (PLUG) Q2 Earnings: How Key Metrics Compare to Wall Street Estimates

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how Plug Power performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

• Net revenue- Sales of equipment, related infrastructure and other: $81.9 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $83.32 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -17.4%.
• Net revenue- Services performed on fuel cell systems and related infrastructure: $29.84 million compared to the $24.21 million average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of +82.3% year over year.
• Net revenue- Other: $0.15 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $0.53 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -61.6%.
• Net revenue- Fuel delivered to customers and related equipment: $39.47 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $33.37 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +14.8%.
• Net revenue- Power purchase agreements: $26.93 million versus $26.84 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +14% change.
• Gross profit- Sales of equipment, related infrastructure and other: $1.57 million versus $-6.48 million estimated by three analysts on average.
• Gross profit- Services performed on fuel cell systems and related infrastructure: $8.12 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $7.4 million.
• Gross profit- Other: $0.05 million compared to the $0.26 million average estimate based on three analysts.
• Gross profit- Fuel delivered to customers and related equipment: $-19.02 million versus $-10.29 million estimated by three analysts on average.
• Gross profit- Power purchase agreements: $-8.07 million versus $-4.58 million estimated by three analysts on average.

View all Key Company Metrics for Plug Power here>>>

Shares of Plug Power have returned -2.2% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.

Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"

Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.

This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Zacks Investment Research