Based on the aggregated intelligence of 170,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, energy efficiency technologist Ameresco (NYSE: AMRC) has earned a coveted five-star ranking.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at Ameresco's business and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.

Ameresco facts

Headquarters (Founded)

Framingham, Mass. (2000)

Market Cap

$552.7 million

Industry

Industrial electrical equipment

Trailing-12-Month Revenue

$659 million

Management

Founder/Chairman/CEO George Sakellar

CFO Andrew Spence

Trailing-12-Month Return on Equity

21.2%

Cash/Debt

$29.4 million / $246.2 million

Competitors

Constellation Energy Group (NYSE: CEG)

Honeywell (NYSE: HON)

Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI)

Sources: Capital IQ (a division of Standard & Poor's) and Motley Fool CAPS.

On CAPS, 99.5% of the 194 members who have rated Ameresco believe the stock will outperform the S&P 500 going forward. These bulls include All-Star RedandBlack, who is ranked in the top 2% of our community, and Sparkynet.

Late last month, RedandBlack tapped Ameresco as a solid selection: "Quality management with a successful track record in the same industry. Large market opportunity and needed services mean this is a likely long term winner."

Over the next five years, in fact, Ameresco is expected to grow its bottom line at a brisk rate of 21% annually. That's faster than listed rivals like Constellation Energy (4%), Honeywell (16%), and Johnson Controls (18%).

CAPS member Sparkynet elaborates on the Ameresco bull case:

We will soon realize that for every dollar we use to subsidize alternative energy, could be put to much better use increasing the energy efficiency of our buildings. A megawatt saved is a megawatt earned. This is a good company with good management that is poised to reap the rewards at the government and corporate level.

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