AQN
Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.
Renewable Utilities
Market Cap$4.82B
5Y Perf.-55.1%
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Stock Comparison
AQN vs AVA
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
AVA
Avista Corporation
Diversified Utilities
Market Cap$3.39B
5Y Perf.+4.6%
AQN vs AVA — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | AQN | AVA |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Renewable Utilities | Diversified Utilities |
| Market Cap | $4.82B | $3.39B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.39B | $1.92B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-27M | $206M |
| Gross Margin | 65.0% | 45.9% |
| Operating Margin | 20.9% | 18.9% |
| Forward P/E | 17.4x | 16.0x |
| Total Debt | $6.70B | $3.38B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $35M | $19M |
AQN vs AVA — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
AQN
AVA
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algonquin Power & U… (AQN) | 100 | 44.9 | -55.1% |
| Avista Corporation (AVA) | 100 | 104.6 | +4.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: AQN vs AVA
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: AVA leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
AQN
Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.
The Income Pick
AQN is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.35, yield 5.9%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.35, current ratio 0.76x
- Beta 0.35, yield 5.9%, current ratio 0.76x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
AVA
Avista Corporation
The Growth Play
AVA carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 1.3%, EPS growth 4.4%, 3Y rev CAGR 4.7%
- 40.1% 10Y total return vs AQN's 32.5%
- 1.3% revenue growth vs AQN's -3.5%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | AVA | 1.3% revenue growth vs AQN's -3.5% |
| Value | AVA | Lower P/E (16.0x vs 17.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | AVA | 10.7% margin vs AQN's -1.1% |
| Stability / Safety | AQN | Lower D/E ratio (108.4% vs 124.6%) |
| Dividends | AQN | 5.9% yield, vs AVA's 4.8% |
| Momentum (1Y) | AQN | +19.8% vs AVA's +4.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AVA | 2.5% ROA vs AQN's -0.2%, ROIC 4.5% vs 2.5% |
AQN vs AVA — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2022
FY 2025
AQN vs AVA — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLAVALAGGINGAQN
AQNAlgonquin Power & Uti…
1leads
AVAAvista Corporation
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs AQNMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
AQN5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
AVA3/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
AVA7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
AVA5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
AVA2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AQN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AQN and AVA operate at a comparable scale, with $2.4B and $1.9B in trailing revenue. AVA is the more profitable business, keeping 10.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AQN's -1.1%. On growth, AQN holds the edge at +1.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | AQNAlgonquin Power &… | AVAAvista Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.4B | $1.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $815M | $648M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$27M | $206M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.6B | $417M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +65.0% | +45.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +20.9% | +18.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -1.1% | +10.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +109.1% | +21.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +1.7% | -7.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +102.7% | +14.3% |
AQN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
AVA leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, AVA's 10.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than AQN's 12.4x.
| Metric | AQNAlgonquin Power &… | AVAAvista Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.8B | $3.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $11.5B | $6.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -3.47x | 17.22x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 17.39x | 15.99x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 3.74x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.45x | 10.49x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.08x | 1.72x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.74x | 1.23x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
AVA leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AVA leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AVA delivers a 7.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $8 in annual profit, vs $-0 for AQN. AQN carries lower financial leverage with a 1.08x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AVA's 1.25x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AQN scores 6/9 vs AVA's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | AQNAlgonquin Power &… | AVAAvista Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -0.5% | +7.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -0.2% | +2.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +2.5% | +4.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.8% | +4.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.08x | 1.25x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $6.7B | $3.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $35M | $19M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $6.7B | $3.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.29x | 2.47x |
AVA leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
AVA leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in AVA five years ago would be worth $10,688 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $5,568 for AQN. Over the past 12 months, AQN leads with a +19.8% total return vs AVA's +4.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AVA at 1.7% vs AQN's -6.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AQNAlgonquin Power &… | AVAAvista Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +3.7% | +7.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +19.8% | +4.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -16.8% | +5.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -44.3% | +6.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +32.5% | +40.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -6.0% | +1.7% |
AVA leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
AVA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
AVA is the less volatile stock with a -0.00 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AQN's 0.35 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AVA currently trades 94.2% from its 52-week high vs AQN's 88.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | AQNAlgonquin Power &… | AVAAvista Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.35x | -0.00x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $7.11 | $43.49 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $5.32 | $35.50 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +88.3% | +94.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 51.7 | 47.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.1M | 546K |
AVA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — AQN and AVA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AQN as "Hold" and AVA as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 8.1% upside for AQN (target: $7) vs -0.8% for AVA (target: $41). For income investors, AQN offers the higher dividend yield at 5.91% vs AVA's 4.79%.
| Metric | AQNAlgonquin Power &… | AVAAvista Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $6.79 | $40.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 13 | 15 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +5.9% | +4.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 22 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.37 | $1.96 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Evenly matched — AQN and AVA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
AVA leads in 4 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). AQN leads in 1 (Income & Cash Flow). 1 tied.
Best OverallAvista Corporation (AVA)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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AQN vs AVA: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AQN or AVA a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Avista Corporation (AVA) is the stronger pick with 1.
3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 5% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN). Avista Corporation (AVA) offers the better valuation at 17. 2x trailing P/E (16. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN) a "Hold" — based on 13 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — AQN or AVA?
On forward P/E, Avista Corporation is actually cheaper at 16.
0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AQN or AVA?
Over the past 5 years, Avista Corporation (AVA) delivered a total return of +6.
9%, compared to -44. 3% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AVA returned +40. 1% versus AQN's +32. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — AQN or AVA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Avista Corporation (AVA) is the lower-risk stock at -0.
00β versus Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. 's 0. 35β — meaning AQN is approximately -11787% more volatile than AVA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 108% versus 125% for Avista Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — AQN or AVA?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Avista Corporation (AVA) is pulling ahead at 1.
3% versus -3. 5% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Avista Corporation grew EPS 4. 4% year-over-year, compared to -61. 3% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AVA leads at 4. 7% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — AQN or AVA?
Avista Corporation (AVA) is the more profitable company, earning 9.
8% net margin versus -59. 5% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. — meaning it keeps 9. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AQN leads at 19. 2% versus 18. 0% for AVA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AQN leads at 74. 4%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is AQN or AVA more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Avista Corporation (AVA) trades at 16.
0x forward P/E versus 17. 4x for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. — 1. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AQN: 8. 1% to $6. 79.
08Which pays a better dividend — AQN or AVA?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN) offers the highest yield at 5. 9%, versus 4. 8% for Avista Corporation (AVA).
09Is AQN or AVA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Avista Corporation (AVA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.
00), 4. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AVA: +40. 1%, AQN: +32. 5%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between AQN and AVA?
Both stocks operate in the Utilities sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: AQN is a small-cap income-oriented stock; AVA is a small-cap deep-value stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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