ATO vs SWX

For growth investors, Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) is the stronger pick with 12.

9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -62. 0% for Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (SWX). Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (SWX) offers the better valuation at 14. 9x trailing P/E (21. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (SWX) a "Buy" — 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.

On trailing P/E, Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.

(SWX) is the cheapest at 14. 9x versus Atmos Energy Corporation at 24. 7x. On forward P/E, Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 21. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Atmos Energy Corporation wins at 2. 52x versus Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 67x.

Over the past 5 years, Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) delivered a total return of +93.

7%, compared to +46. 9% for Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (SWX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ATO returned +185. 9% versus SWX's +69. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

00β versus Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. 's 0. 06β — meaning SWX is approximately -1800% more volatile than ATO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 69% versus 89% for Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) is pulling ahead at 12.

9% versus -62. 0% for Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (SWX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 120. 3% year-over-year, compared to 9. 2% for Atmos Energy Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, ATO leads at 3. 8% 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.

Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) is the more profitable company, earning 25.

5% net margin versus 22. 7% for Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 25. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ATO leads at 33. 2% versus 24. 4% for SWX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ATO leads at 52. 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 52x versus Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 67x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (SWX) trades at 21. 3x forward P/E versus 22. 2x for Atmos Energy Corporation — 0. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SWX: 5. 7% to $96. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (SWX) offers the highest yield at 2. 7%, versus 1. 9% for Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.

00), 1. 9% yield, +185. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ATO: +185. 9%, SWX: +69. 3%), 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.

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: ATO is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; SWX 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.