Since 1997, Plug Power Inc (NASDAQ:PLUG) has helped businesses optimize their carbon footprints, and over the past 5 years, produced eye-popping returns for investors.

Since September 2017, Plug Power stock's 5-year return has outperformed several of the world's most popular tech and consumer discretionary stocks: Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX), Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL), Walt Disney Co (NYSE:DIS), Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:NFLX) and Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN).

Plug Power is an innovator of modern hydrogen and fuel cell technology. It has revolutionized the material handling industry with its full-service GenKey solution, which is designed to increase productivity, lower operating costs and reduce carbon footprints in a reliable and cost-effective way.

The company's GenKey solution couples together all the necessary elements to power, fuel and serve a customer. With proven hydrogen and fuel cell products, the company replaces lead-acid batteries to power electric industrial vehicles, such as the lift trucks customers use in their distribution centers.

Here's how the returns break down from September 2017 to present:

• Starbucks is up from $53.71 to $85.85 for a return of 61.21%
• Ford is flat from $11.97 to $12.06
• Microsoft is up from $74.49 to $239.16 for a return of 221.07%
• Apple is up from $38.53 to $153.12 for a return of 297.40%
• Disney is flat from $98.57 to $98.49
• Netflix is up from $181.35 to $226.64 for a return of 24.97%
• Amazon is up from $48.07 to $116.02 for a return of 141.37%

And finally, Plug Power is up from $2.61 to $22.49 for a return of 761.69%