AQNB vs AES

For growth investors, The AES Corporation (AES) is the stronger pick with -0.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -14. 0% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Cor (AQNB). The AES Corporation (AES) offers the better valuation at 11. 4x trailing P/E (6. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate The AES Corporation (AES) a "Hold" — based on 21 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, The AES Corporation (AES) is the cheapest at 11.

4x versus Algonquin Power & Utilities Cor at 174. 1x.

Over the past 5 years, Algonquin Power & Utilities Cor (AQNB) delivered a total return of +24.

9%, compared to -30. 5% for The AES Corporation (AES). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AES returned +83. 4% versus AQNB's +48. 4%. 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 Cor (AQNB) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

12β versus The AES Corporation's 1. 01β — meaning AES is approximately 712% more volatile than AQNB relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Algonquin Power & Utilities Cor (AQNB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 109% versus 3% for The AES Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), The AES Corporation (AES) is pulling ahead at -0.

4% versus -14. 0% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Cor (AQNB). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Algonquin Power & Utilities Cor grew EPS 400. 0% year-over-year, compared to -46. 6% for The AES Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, AQNB leads at 1. 8% 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.

The AES Corporation (AES) is the more profitable company, earning 7.

8% net margin versus -59. 5% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Cor — meaning it keeps 7. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AQNB leads at 19. 2% versus 16. 1% for AES. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AQNB leads at 36. 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.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

The AES Corporation (AES) offers the highest yield at 4. 9%, versus 1. 5% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Cor (AQNB).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Algonquin Power & Utilities Cor (AQNB) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

12), 1. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AQNB: +48. 4%, AES: +83. 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.

In terms of investment character: AQNB is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; AES is a mid-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.