AQN vs AVA vs POR vs NWE

For growth investors, Northwestern Energy Group Inc (NWE) is the stronger pick with 6.

4% 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.

On trailing P/E, Avista Corporation (AVA) is the cheapest at 17.

2x versus Northwestern Energy Group Inc at 24. 6x. On forward P/E, Portland General Electric Company is actually cheaper at 14. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Portland General Electric Company wins at 1. 44x versus Avista Corporation's 3. 47x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Northwestern Energy Group Inc (NWE) delivered a total return of +25.

9%, compared to -44. 3% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NWE returned +65. 7% 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.

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 134% for Portland General Electric Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Northwestern Energy Group Inc (NWE) is pulling ahead at 6.

4% 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, POR leads at 8. 4% 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.

Northwestern Energy Group Inc (NWE) is the more profitable company, earning 11.

2% net margin versus -59. 5% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. — meaning it keeps 11. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NWE leads at 20. 2% versus 16. 4% for POR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NWE leads at 82. 3%, 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, Portland General Electric Company (POR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 44x versus Avista Corporation's 3. 47x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Portland General Electric Company (POR) trades at 14. 3x forward P/E versus 19. 3x for Northwestern Energy Group Inc — 5. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AQN: 8. 1% to $6. 79.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN) offers the highest yield at 5. 9%, versus 3. 6% for Northwestern Energy Group Inc (NWE).

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.

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; POR is a small-cap deep-value stock; NWE is a small-cap income-oriented 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.