Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN) vs Brookfield Renewable Corporation (BEPC) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | BEPC | 4.4% revenue growth vs AQN's -3.5% |
| Value | AQN | Lower P/E (19.2x vs 26.2x) |
| Quality / Margins | BEPC | -23.2% net margin vs AQN's -57.7% |
| Stability / Safety | AQN | Beta 0.44 vs BEPC's 0.80, lower leverage |
| Dividends | AQN | 5.6% yield; BEPC pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | BEPC | +60.2% vs AQN's +51.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | BEPC | -1.9% ROA vs AQN's -10.0%, ROIC 2.6% vs 2.5% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Algonquin Power & Utilities is a diversified utility company that operates both regulated utilities and renewable energy generation assets. It generates revenue through regulated utility services — primarily electric, natural gas, and water distribution — and through selling electricity from its renewable portfolio of hydro, wind, and solar facilities. The company benefits from stable cash flows from its regulated utility operations while capitalizing on growth opportunities in renewable energy development.
Brookfield Renewable Corporation is a global owner and operator of renewable power generation assets — primarily hydroelectric, wind, and solar facilities. It generates revenue by selling electricity under long-term power purchase agreements — with hydro (~50%), wind (~30%), and solar (~20%) as its main segments — and through development and asset management fees. The company's competitive advantage lies in its massive scale, diversified global portfolio, and access to Brookfield Asset Management's capital and development expertise.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
BEPC leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). AQN leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
BEPC is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.8B annually — 1.6x AQN's $2.4B. BEPC is the more profitable business, keeping -23.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AQN's -57.7%. On growth, AQN holds the edge at +2.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | AQNAlgonquin Power &… | BEPCBrookfield Renewa… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.4B | $3.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $792M | $2.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$1.4B | -$877M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.6B | -$1.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +65.1% | +59.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +19.4% | +23.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -57.7% | -23.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +109.0% | -48.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.4% | -10.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -89.3% | +65.3% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, BEPC's 8.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than AQN's 13.0x.
| Metric | AQNAlgonquin Power &… | BEPCBrookfield Renewa… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5.4B | $6.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $12.0B | $19.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -3.86x | 26.21x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 19.20x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.06x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.03x | 8.77x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.31x | 1.49x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.83x | 0.51x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
BEPC delivers a -8.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-8 in annual profit, vs $-27 for AQN. AQN carries lower financial leverage with a 1.08x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to BEPC's 1.16x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), BEPC scores 7/9 vs AQN's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | AQNAlgonquin Power &… | BEPCBrookfield Renewa… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -26.7% | -8.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -10.0% | -1.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +2.5% | +2.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.8% | +2.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.08x | 1.16x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $6.7B | $13.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $35M | $392M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $6.7B | $14.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.29x | 0.60x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in BEPC five years ago would be worth $10,737 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,015 for AQN. Over the past 12 months, BEPC leads with a +60.2% total return vs AQN's +51.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors BEPC at 19.1% vs AQN's 2.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AQNAlgonquin Power &… | BEPCBrookfield Renewa… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +14.1% | +8.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +51.5% | +60.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +6.0% | +68.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -39.8% | +7.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +55.5% | +76.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +2.0% | +19.1% |
Risk & Volatility
AQN is the less volatile stock with a 0.44 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BEPC's 0.80 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AQN currently trades 98.2% from its 52-week high vs BEPC's 94.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | AQNAlgonquin Power &… | BEPCBrookfield Renewa… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.44x | 0.80x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $7.11 | $45.10 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $4.29 | $23.73 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.2% | +94.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 68.6 | 63.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.0M | 783K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AQN as "Hold" and BEPC as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 0.3% upside for AQN (target: $7) vs -15.8% for BEPC (target: $36). AQN is the only dividend payer here at 5.58% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | AQNAlgonquin Power &… | BEPCBrookfield Renewa… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $7.00 | $36.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 12 | 4 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +5.6% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.39 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.1% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Aug 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algonquin Power & U… (AQN) | 100 | 47.35 | -52.7% |
| Brookfield Renewabl… (BEPC) | 109.7 | 143.52 | +30.8% |
Brookfield Renewabl… (BEPC) returned +7% over 5 years vs Algonquin Power & U… (AQN)'s -40%. A $10,000 investment in BEPC 5 years ago would be worth $10,737 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algonquin Power & U… (AQN) | $741M | $2.3B | +213.2% |
| Brookfield Renewabl… (BEPC) | $2.0B | $4.1B | +103.5% |
Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.'s revenue grew from $741M (2015) to $2.3B (2024) — a 13.5% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algonquin Power & U… (AQN) | 11.4% | -59.5% | -620.7% |
| Brookfield Renewabl… (BEPC) | -0.3% | 5.7% | +2032.7% |
Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.'s net margin went from 11% (2015) to -60% (2024).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algonquin Power & U… (AQN) | 30.2 | 210.7 | +597.7% |
| Brookfield Renewabl… (BEPC) | 6.7 | 17 | +153.7% |
Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. has traded in a 12x–211x P/E range over 6 years; current trailing P/E is ~-4x. Brookfield Renewable Corporation has traded in a 3x–17x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~26x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algonquin Power & U… (AQN) | 0.3 | -1.81 | -703.3% |
| Brookfield Renewabl… (BEPC) | -0.02 | 1.63 | +8416.3% |
Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.'s EPS grew from $0.30 (2015) to $-1.81 (2024) — a NaN% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. generated $-391M FCF in 2024 (+67% vs 2021). Brookfield Renewable Corporation generated $-1B FCF in 2024 (-39% vs 2021).
AQN vs BEPC: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AQN or BEPC a better buy right now?
Brookfield Renewable Corporation (BEPC) offers the better valuation at 26.2x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Brookfield Renewable Corporation (BEPC) a "Buy" — based on 4 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.
02Which is the better long-term investment — AQN or BEPC?
Over the past 5 years, Brookfield Renewable Corporation (BEPC) delivered a total return of +7.4%, compared to -39.8% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN). A $10,000 investment in BEPC five years ago would be worth approximately $11K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BEPC returned +76.7% versus AQN's +55.5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — AQN or BEPC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.44β versus Brookfield Renewable Corporation's 0.80β — meaning BEPC is approximately 83% more volatile than AQN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 108% versus 116% for Brookfield Renewable Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — AQN or BEPC?
Brookfield Renewable Corporation (BEPC) is the more profitable company, earning 5.7% net margin versus -59.5% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. — meaning it keeps 5.7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BEPC leads at 24.3% versus 19.2% for AQN. 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.
05Is AQN or BEPC more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AQN: 0.3% to $7.00.
06Which pays a better dividend — AQN or BEPC?
In this comparison, AQN (5.6% yield) pays a dividend. BEPC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
07Is AQN or BEPC better for a retirement portfolio?
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 0.44), 5.6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AQN: +55.5%, BEPC: +76.7%), 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.
08What are the main differences between AQN and BEPC?
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; BEPC is a small-cap quality compounder stock. AQN pays a dividend while BEPC does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.
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