CPK vs NJR

For growth investors, Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (CPK) is the stronger pick with 18.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 13. 9% for New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR). New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR) offers the better valuation at 16. 5x trailing P/E (16. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (CPK) a "Buy" — based on 12 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, New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR) is the cheapest at 16.

5x versus Chesapeake Utilities Corporation at 21. 1x. On forward P/E, New Jersey Resources Corporation is actually cheaper at 16. 2x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: New Jersey Resources Corporation wins at 1. 14x versus Chesapeake Utilities Corporation's 2. 75x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR) delivered a total return of +46.

8%, compared to +15. 6% for Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (CPK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CPK returned +133. 0% versus NJR's +89. 9%. 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), New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

13β versus Chesapeake Utilities Corporation's 0. 04β — meaning CPK is approximately -133% more volatile than NJR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (CPK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 102% versus 158% for New Jersey Resources Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (CPK) is pulling ahead at 18.

1% versus 13. 9% for New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: New Jersey Resources Corporation grew EPS 14. 0% year-over-year, compared to 13. 5% for Chesapeake Utilities Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, CPK leads at 11. 0% 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.

New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR) is the more profitable company, earning 16.

5% net margin versus 15. 1% for Chesapeake Utilities Corporation — meaning it keeps 16. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CPK leads at 27. 7% versus 21. 4% for NJR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CPK leads at 31. 6%, 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, New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 14x versus Chesapeake Utilities Corporation's 2. 75x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR) trades at 16. 2x forward P/E versus 19. 4x for Chesapeake Utilities Corporation — 3. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CPK: 12. 8% to $142. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR) offers the highest yield at 3. 3%, versus 2. 1% for Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (CPK).

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

13), 3. 3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NJR: +89. 9%, CPK: +133. 0%), 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: CPK is a small-cap high-growth stock; NJR 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.