AQNB vs OTTR vs AES vs AVA

For growth investors, Avista Corporation (AVA) is the stronger pick with 1.

3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -14. 0% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Cor (AQNB). The AES Corporation (AES) offers the better valuation at 11. 3x trailing P/E (6. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR) a "Hold" — based on 7 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.

3x versus Algonquin Power & Utilities Cor at 174. 1x. On forward P/E, The AES Corporation is actually cheaper at 6. 2x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: The AES Corporation wins at 0. 08x versus Avista Corporation's 3. 41x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR) delivered a total return of +98.

1%, compared to -31. 7% for The AES Corporation (AES). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: OTTR returned +242. 5% versus AVA's +39. 7%. 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.

01β versus The AES Corporation's 0. 99β — meaning AES is approximately -8083% more volatile than AVA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 59% versus 3% for The AES Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Avista Corporation (AVA) is pulling ahead at 1.

3% 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, AVA leads at 4. 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.

Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR) is the more profitable company, earning 21.

2% net margin versus -59. 5% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Cor — meaning it keeps 21. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: OTTR leads at 26. 5% 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.

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, The AES Corporation (AES) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 08x versus Avista Corporation's 3. 41x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, The AES Corporation (AES) trades at 6. 2x forward P/E versus 15. 7x for Avista Corporation — 9. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AES: 27. 8% to $18. 25.

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, 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.

01), 4. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AVA: +39. 7%, AES: +82. 0%), 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; OTTR is a small-cap deep-value stock; AES is a mid-cap deep-value stock; AVA 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.