ERII

Industrials

Energy Recovery, Inc. · Industrial - Pollution & Treatment Controls · $460M

UQS Score — Balanced Preset
50.6
Below Average

Energy Recovery, Inc. scores 50.6/100 using the Balanced preset.

UQS vs Industrials Sector
ERII
50.6
Sector avg
42.4
Quality
Good
Moat
Weak
Growth
Weak
Risk
Strong
Valuation
Neutral

What is Energy Recovery, Inc.?

Energy Recovery, Inc. is a San Leandro, California-based industrial technology company focused on reducing energy waste in water treatment and industrial processes. Its devices are deployed in desalination plants and industrial facilities worldwide.

The company designs and manufactures energy recovery devices that capture and reuse pressure energy that would otherwise be wasted in high-pressure fluid systems. Its core market is seawater reverse osmosis desalination, where its Pressure Exchanger technology dramatically cuts the energy required to produce fresh water. Beyond water, Energy Recovery is expanding into industrial wastewater treatment, natural gas processing, and refrigeration systems that use carbon dioxide as a refrigerant.

Energy Recovery was incorporated in 1992 and is headquartered in San Leandro, California.

  • PX Pressure Exchanger energy recovery devices for desalination
  • High-pressure feed and recirculation pumps
  • Hydraulic turbochargers and boosters
  • IsoBoost and VorTeq systems for industrial applications
  • Repair, field, and commissioning services

Is ERII a Good Stock to Buy?

UQS Score rates ERII as Good overall, reflecting a balanced profile with meaningful strengths offset by areas of concern.

The Risk pillar stands out as the clearest positive — Energy Recovery carries a Strong rating there, suggesting the balance sheet and financial stability are well-managed relative to peers. The Quality and Valuation pillars both register as Good, indicating the business generates reasonable returns and is not obviously mispriced by the market.

The Moat and Growth pillars both rate as Weak, pointing to questions about competitive durability and near-term revenue expansion — factors worth weighing carefully.

See the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →

Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.

Does ERII pay dividends?

No — Energy Recovery, Inc. does not currently pay a dividend.

Energy Recovery does not currently pay a dividend. For a smaller industrial technology company still expanding into emerging markets like CO2 refrigeration and industrial wastewater, retaining capital to fund product development and market penetration is a common strategic choice. Income-focused investors should factor this into their assessment.

When does ERII report earnings?

Energy Recovery reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for US-listed equities.

Results have reflected the company's dual focus on its established water segment and its longer-horizon emerging technologies segment. Revenue trends in desalination can be lumpy given the project-based nature of large infrastructure contracts.

For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit Energy Recovery's investor relations page directly.

ERII Price History

-45.4% over 5Y

Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.

Return Calculator

What if I invested in Energy Recovery, Inc.?

$
Today it would be worth
$5,761
That's a -42.4% total return, or -10.4% annualized.

Based on Energy Recovery, Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.

ERII Long-term Outlook

The UQS Growth pillar rates as Weak, suggesting the near-term revenue trajectory faces headwinds or uncertainty. However, the Strong Risk rating indicates the company enters any slower-growth period from a position of financial stability. The emerging technologies segment — spanning CO2 refrigeration and industrial wastewater — represents a longer-dated growth option that is not yet reflected in the core business fundamentals.

Growth drivers

  • Expanding global demand for fresh water driving desalination project pipelines
  • Emerging Technologies segment penetrating CO2 refrigeration and industrial wastewater markets
  • Aftermarket services and spare parts providing recurring revenue alongside project cycles

Key risks

  • Weak Moat rating signals limited pricing power if competition intensifies
  • Project-based revenue in desalination creates lumpy, hard-to-predict quarters
  • Emerging Technologies segment remains early-stage with uncertain commercialization timelines

ERII vs Peers

Energy Recovery operates in a niche corner of the industrials sector, but several companies address overlapping themes of environmental efficiency and industrial water treatment.

PCTERII scores higher
PureCycle Technologies, Inc.

PureCycle focuses on plastic waste purification rather than water or energy recovery, targeting the circular economy through polymer recycling technology.

CECOSimilar UQS
CECO Environmental Corp.

CECO provides industrial air quality and fluid handling solutions, competing in the broader environmental and industrial process equipment space.

CLWTERII scores higher
Euro Tech Holdings Company Limited

Euro Tech focuses on water and wastewater treatment solutions primarily in China, serving a geographically distinct but thematically similar market.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Energy Recovery do?

Energy Recovery designs and manufactures devices that capture wasted pressure energy in industrial fluid systems and put it back to work. Its primary market is seawater desalination, where its Pressure Exchanger technology reduces the energy cost of producing fresh water. The company is also expanding into CO2 refrigeration and industrial wastewater treatment.

Does ERII pay dividends?

No, Energy Recovery does not currently pay a dividend. The company retains earnings to fund operations and expand its emerging technologies segment. Investors seeking regular income should note this before investing.

When does ERII report earnings?

Energy Recovery follows a standard quarterly earnings cadence for US-listed companies. Specific dates are not covered by our data source — check the company's investor relations page for the current reporting schedule.

Is ERII a good stock to buy?

UQS Score rates ERII as Good overall. The Risk pillar is Strong and both Quality and Valuation rate as Good, which are constructive signals. However, the Moat and Growth pillars are both Weak, indicating areas of concern. Whether that profile fits your investment goals depends on your own risk tolerance and time horizon.

Is ERII overvalued?

The UQS Valuation pillar rates ERII as Good, suggesting the stock is not obviously overpriced relative to its fundamentals. That said, valuation is one of five pillars — the full picture requires weighing it alongside Quality, Growth, Moat, and Risk. Pro members can view the complete breakdown.

How does ERII compare to its competitors?

Energy Recovery occupies a specialized niche in pressure energy recovery for desalination, which differentiates it from broader environmental services peers like CECO Environmental or geographically focused players like Euro Tech Holdings. Its Weak Moat rating, however, suggests that competitive advantages may not be as durable as the niche positioning implies.

What is ERII's market cap bracket?

Energy Recovery is classified as a small-cap company. This means it carries higher volatility risk than large- or mega-cap industrials, but may also offer more room for growth if its emerging technologies segment gains commercial traction.

Who founded Energy Recovery?

Energy Recovery was incorporated in 1992. Details on its founding team are publicly available through the company's official history and SEC filings for investors who want to research the leadership background.

Is ERII a long-term quality stock?

As a long-term quality indicator, ERII's profile is mixed. The Strong Risk rating and Good Quality score suggest financial resilience, but the Weak Moat and Weak Growth ratings raise questions about whether the business can compound value over time. The emerging technologies segment could change that picture, but it remains unproven at scale.

What is the main competitive advantage of Energy Recovery?

Energy Recovery's core advantage is its Pressure Exchanger technology, which is deeply embedded in large-scale desalination infrastructure. Switching costs in installed plants are high. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates as Weak, suggesting that this advantage may face pressure as the competitive landscape evolves.

What sector does ERII belong to?

Energy Recovery is classified in the Industrials sector. More specifically, it operates at the intersection of water infrastructure and energy efficiency technology — a niche that also draws interest from environmental and clean-technology investors.

Is ERII a growth stock or value stock?

Based on UQS pillar labels, ERII leans toward neither cleanly. The Growth pillar rates as Weak, which is not typical of a high-growth name, while the Valuation pillar rates as Good rather than deeply discounted. It sits in a middle ground that the full UQS analysis helps clarify for Pro members.

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Pro Analysis

ERII — Score History

455055606570Apr 2Apr 12Apr 22May 2May 12May 22May 24v5
Score changes· 22 most recent
DateUQSQualityMoatGrowthRiskValueChange
May 22, 202650.878.037.011.282.449.8-0.1
May 20, 202650.978.237.011.282.450.30.0
May 15, 202650.978.137.011.282.450.3-8.1
May 14, 202659.078.437.028.882.479.9+0.6
May 12, 202658.477.837.028.882.477.5-1.8
May 9, 202660.272.737.048.082.472.5+3.8
May 7, 202656.469.537.035.082.469.7-0.3
May 4, 202656.769.537.035.082.471.2-0.1
May 3, 202656.869.537.035.082.471.9+0.2
Apr 26, 202656.669.537.035.082.471.0-0.4

ERII — Pillar Breakdown

Quality

78.0/100 (25%)

Energy Recovery, Inc. demonstrates outstanding capital efficiency and profitability, placing it among the highest-quality businesses in the market.

Capital Efficiency (ROIC)Moderate

How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.

Return on EquityModerate

Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.

Operating ProfitabilityStrong

Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.

Net ProfitabilityStrong

Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.

Gross Profit / AssetsStrong

Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.

Cash GenerationStrong

Free cash flow relative to market value.

Growth

11.2/100 (20%)

Energy Recovery, Inc. faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.

Recent Revenue TrendWeak

Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.

3Y Revenue CAGRWeak

Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.

EPS GrowthWeak

Year-over-year earnings per share growth.

Forward Revenue OutlookWeak

Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.

Forward EPS GrowthWeak

Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.

Risk

82.4/100 (15%)

Energy Recovery, Inc. carries minimal financial risk with conservative leverage and strong solvency.

Financial LeverageStrong

Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.

Debt/EquityStrong

Total debt relative to shareholder equity.

Current RatioStrong

Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.

Interest CoverageWeak

Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.

Valuation

48.7/100 (15%)

Energy Recovery, Inc. has a mixed valuation — some metrics suggest fair value while others appear stretched.

Earnings YieldModerate

Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.

Price to Free Cash FlowStrong

How many years of FCF the market cap represents.

PEG RatioWeak

P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.

EV/EBITDA vs SectorStrong

Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.

Moat

37/100 (25%)

Energy Recovery, Inc. possesses some competitive advantages but faces meaningful competition. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for ERII.

Score Composition

Quality
78.0×25%19.5
Growth
11.2×20%2.2
Risk
82.4×15%12.4
Valuation
48.7×15%7.3
Moat
37.0×25%9.3
Total
50.6Below Average

Financial Data

More Stock Analysis

How is the ERII UQS Score Calculated?

The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Energy Recovery, Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.

Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.

Moat (25%) assesses Energy Recovery, Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.

Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.

Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.

Valuation (15%) measures whether Energy Recovery, Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.

Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.