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CEG vs AES
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Diversified Utilities
CEG vs AES — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Renewable Utilities | Diversified Utilities |
| Market Cap | $100.82B | $10.23B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $25.53B | $12.49B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2.32B | $1.05B |
| Gross Margin | 75.8% | 14.2% |
| Operating Margin | 12.1% | 11.8% |
| Forward P/E | 27.8x | 6.2x |
| Total Debt | $8.99B | $30.33B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $3.75B | $2.07B |
CEG vs AES — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Jan 22 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constellation Energ… (CEG) | 100 | 672.5 | +572.5% |
| The AES Corporation (AES) | 100 | 64.7 | -35.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CEG vs AES
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
CEG is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 8.3%, EPS growth -37.8%, 3Y rev CAGR 1.5%
- 6.8% 10Y total return vs AES's 83.4%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.44, Low D/E 60.5%, current ratio 1.53x
AES carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and valuation efficiency.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 1.01, yield 4.9%
- PEG 0.08 vs CEG's 0.85
- Beta 1.01, yield 4.9%, current ratio 0.77x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 8.3% revenue growth vs AES's -0.4% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (6.2x vs 27.8x), PEG 0.08 vs 0.85 | |
| Quality / Margins | 9.1% margin vs AES's 8.4% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.01 vs CEG's 1.44 | |
| Dividends | 4.9% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs CEG's 0.5% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +44.1% vs CEG's +18.5% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 4.1% ROA vs AES's 2.1%, ROIC 11.9% vs 3.9% |
CEG vs AES — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
CEG vs AES — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CEG leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CEG is the larger business by revenue, generating $25.5B annually — 2.0x AES's $12.5B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 9.1% (CEG) to 8.4% (AES). On growth, AES holds the edge at +8.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $25.5B | $12.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $4.7B | $2.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.3B | $1.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.3B | -$1.5B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +75.8% | +14.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +12.1% | +11.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +9.1% | +8.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +5.0% | -11.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +1.4% | +8.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -49.1% | -100.0% |
Valuation Metrics
AES leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 11.4x trailing earnings, AES trades at a 74% valuation discount to CEG's 43.6x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), AES offers better value at 0.15x vs CEG's 1.34x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $100.8B | $10.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $106.1B | $38.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 43.62x | 11.38x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 27.82x | 6.18x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.34x | 0.15x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 26.05x | 11.23x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.95x | 0.84x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 6.82x | 0.86x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 78.28x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
CEG leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CEG delivers a 15.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $16 in annual profit, vs $11 for AES. CEG carries lower financial leverage with a 0.61x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AES's 2.54x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CEG scores 7/9 vs AES's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +15.6% | +10.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.1% | +2.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +11.9% | +3.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.5% | +4.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.61x | 2.54x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $5.2B | $28.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3.7B | $2.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $9.0B | $30.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 6.04x | 1.05x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CEG leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CEG five years ago would be worth $78,062 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,948 for AES. Over the past 12 months, AES leads with a +44.1% total return vs CEG's +18.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CEG at 60.8% vs AES's -8.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -11.8% | -0.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +18.5% | +44.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +315.5% | -24.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +680.6% | -30.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +680.6% | +83.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +60.8% | -8.9% |
Risk & Volatility
AES leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
AES is the less volatile stock with a 1.01 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CEG's 1.44 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AES currently trades 81.2% from its 52-week high vs CEG's 78.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.44x | 1.01x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $412.70 | $17.65 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $243.30 | $9.46 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +78.2% | +81.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 59.7 | 46.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.8M | 13.6M |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — CEG and AES each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CEG as "Buy" and AES as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 27.3% upside for AES (target: $18) vs 25.6% for CEG (target: $405). For income investors, AES offers the higher dividend yield at 4.91% vs CEG's 0.48%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $405.33 | $18.25 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 19 | 21 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.5% | +4.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.55 | $0.70 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.4% | 0.0% |
CEG leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). AES leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
CEG vs AES: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CEG or AES a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG) is the stronger pick with 8.
3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 4% for The AES Corporation (AES). 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 Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG) a "Buy" — based on 19 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 has the better valuation — CEG or AES?
On trailing P/E, The AES Corporation (AES) is the cheapest at 11.
4x versus Constellation Energy Corporation at 43. 6x. 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 Constellation Energy Corporation's 0. 85x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CEG or AES?
Over the past 5 years, Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG) delivered a total return of +680.
6%, compared to -30. 5% for The AES Corporation (AES). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CEG returned +680. 6% versus AES's +83. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — CEG or AES?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), The AES Corporation (AES) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
01β versus Constellation Energy Corporation's 1. 44β — meaning CEG is approximately 43% more volatile than AES relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 61% versus 3% for The AES Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CEG or AES?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG) is pulling ahead at 8.
3% versus -0. 4% for The AES Corporation (AES). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Constellation Energy Corporation grew EPS -37. 8% year-over-year, compared to -46. 6% for The AES Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, CEG leads at 1. 5% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — CEG or AES?
Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG) is the more profitable company, earning 9.
1% net margin versus 7. 8% for The AES Corporation — meaning it keeps 9. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AES leads at 16. 1% versus 12. 1% for CEG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CEG leads at 75. 8%, 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.
07Is CEG or AES more undervalued right now?
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 Constellation Energy Corporation's 0. 85x. 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 27. 8x for Constellation Energy Corporation — 21. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AES: 27. 3% to $18. 25.
08Which pays a better dividend — CEG or AES?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
The AES Corporation (AES) offers the highest yield at 4. 9%, versus 0. 5% for Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG).
09Is CEG or AES better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, The AES Corporation (AES) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.
01), 4. 9% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AES: +83. 4%, CEG: +680. 6%), 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.
10What are the main differences between CEG and AES?
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: CEG is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; AES is a mid-cap deep-value stock. AES pays a dividend while CEG 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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