BKH vs MGEE vs NWE vs OTTR

For growth investors, MGE Energy, Inc.

(MGEE) is the stronger pick with 9. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 0% for Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR). Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR) offers the better valuation at 13. 4x trailing P/E (15. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Black Hills Corporation (BKH) a "Hold" — based on 15 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, Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR) is the cheapest at 13.

4x versus Northwestern Energy Group Inc at 24. 6x. On forward P/E, Otter Tail Corporation is actually cheaper at 15. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Otter Tail Corporation wins at 0. 68x versus Black Hills Corporation's 9. 90x — 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 +11. 2% for MGE Energy, Inc. (MGEE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: OTTR returned +242. 5% versus BKH's +60. 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), MGE Energy, Inc.

(MGEE) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 18β versus Otter Tail Corporation's 0. 36β — meaning OTTR is approximately 95% more volatile than MGEE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 59% versus 120% for Black Hills Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), MGE Energy, Inc.

(MGEE) is pulling ahead at 9. 9% versus -2. 0% for Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: MGE Energy, Inc. grew EPS 11. 7% year-over-year, compared to -19. 5% for Northwestern Energy Group Inc. Over a 3-year CAGR, NWE leads at 2. 9% 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 11. 2% for Northwestern Energy Group Inc — 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 20. 2% for NWE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MGEE leads at 97. 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, Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 68x versus Black Hills Corporation's 9. 90x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR) trades at 15. 5x forward P/E versus 19. 3x for Northwestern Energy Group Inc — 3. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BKH: 21. 0% to $91. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Northwestern Energy Group Inc (NWE) offers the highest yield at 3. 6%, versus 2. 4% for Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR).

For long-horizon retirement investors, MGE Energy, Inc.

(MGEE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 18), 2. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MGEE: +71. 3%, NWE: +65. 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.

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: BKH is a small-cap income-oriented stock; MGEE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; NWE is a small-cap income-oriented stock; OTTR 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.