EDN vs PAM

For growth investors, Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) is the stronger pick with 191.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 3% for Pampa Energía S. A. (PAM). Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) offers the better valuation at 4. 9x trailing P/E (0. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Pampa Energía S. A. (PAM) a "Buy" — based on 8 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, Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) is the cheapest at 4.

9x versus Pampa Energía S. A. at 7. 3x. On forward P/E, Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima is actually cheaper at 0. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima wins at 0. 00x versus Pampa Energía S. A. 's 1. 18x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) delivered a total return of +596.

0%, compared to +476. 5% for Pampa Energía S. A. (PAM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PAM returned +273. 0% versus EDN's +66. 1%. 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), Pampa Energía S.

A. (PAM) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 96β versus Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima's 1. 94β — meaning EDN is approximately 101% more volatile than PAM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 32% versus 64% for Pampa Energía S. A. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) is pulling ahead at 191.

4% versus 8. 3% for Pampa Energía S. A. (PAM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Pampa Energía S. A. grew EPS 429. 4% year-over-year, compared to 59. 9% for Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima. Over a 3-year CAGR, EDN leads at 43. 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.

Pampa Energía S.

A. (PAM) is the more profitable company, earning 33. 0% net margin versus 13. 3% for Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima — meaning it keeps 33. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PAM leads at 23. 5% versus 2. 1% for EDN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PAM leads at 31. 8%, 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, Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 00x versus Pampa Energía S. A. 's 1. 18x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) trades at 0. 1x forward P/E versus 9. 2x for Pampa Energía S. A. — 9. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Pampa Energía S.

A. (PAM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 96), +273. 0% 10Y return). Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) carries a higher beta of 1. 94 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (PAM: +273. 0%, EDN: +66. 1%), 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: EDN is a small-cap high-growth stock; PAM 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.