AQN vs BEP

For growth investors, Brookfield Renewable Partners L.

P. (BEP) is the stronger pick with 10. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 5% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN). Analysts rate Brookfield Renewable Partners L. P. (BEP) a "Buy" — based on 20 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.

Over the past 5 years, Brookfield Renewable Partners L.

P. (BEP) delivered a total return of +13. 8%, compared to -43. 5% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BEP returned +198. 4% versus AQN's +31. 8%. 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), Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.

(AQN) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 35β versus Brookfield Renewable Partners L. P. 's 0. 85β — meaning BEP is approximately 143% more volatile than AQN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Brookfield Renewable Partners L. P. (BEP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 102% versus 108% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Brookfield Renewable Partners L.

P. (BEP) is pulling ahead at 10. 9% versus -3. 5% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Brookfield Renewable Partners L. P. grew EPS 92. 4% year-over-year, compared to -61. 3% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, BEP leads at 11. 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.

Brookfield Renewable Partners L.

P. (BEP) is the more profitable company, earning -0. 3% net margin versus -59. 5% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. — meaning it keeps -0. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AQN leads at 19. 2% versus 13. 4% for BEP. 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AQN: 7.

3% to $6. 79.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Brookfield Renewable Partners L. P. (BEP) offers the highest yield at 11. 7%, versus 5. 9% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.

(AQN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 35), 5. 9% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AQN: +31. 8%, BEP: +198. 4%), 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.

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.