Renewable Utilities
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Stock Comparison
CEG vs TLN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Independent Power Producers
CEG vs TLN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Renewable Utilities | Independent Power Producers |
| Market Cap | $100.82B | $18.73B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $25.53B | $3.02B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2.32B | $-21M |
| Gross Margin | 75.8% | 35.2% |
| Operating Margin | 12.1% | 8.1% |
| Forward P/E | 27.8x | 18.6x |
| Total Debt | $8.99B | $6.81B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $3.75B | $752M |
CEG vs TLN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Jun 23 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constellation Energ… (CEG) | 100 | 352.6 | +252.6% |
| Talen Energy Corpor… (TLN) | 100 | 817.5 | +717.5% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CEG vs TLN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
CEG carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 3 yrs, beta 1.44, yield 0.5%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.44, Low D/E 60.5%, current ratio 1.53x
- Beta 1.44, yield 0.5%, current ratio 1.53x
TLN is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 21.8%, EPS growth -127.1%, 3Y rev CAGR 1.5%
- 7.8% 10Y total return vs CEG's 6.8%
- 21.8% revenue growth vs CEG's 8.3%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 21.8% revenue growth vs CEG's 8.3% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (18.6x vs 27.8x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 9.1% margin vs TLN's -0.7% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.44 vs TLN's 1.53, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 0.5% yield; 3-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +74.7% vs CEG's +18.5% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 4.1% ROA vs TLN's -0.2%, ROIC 11.9% vs -0.9% |
CEG vs TLN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
CEG vs TLN — 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 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CEG is the larger business by revenue, generating $25.5B annually — 8.4x TLN's $3.0B. CEG is the more profitable business, keeping 9.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to TLN's -0.7%. On growth, TLN holds the edge at +78.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $25.5B | $3.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $4.7B | $396M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.3B | -$21M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.3B | -$2.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +75.8% | +35.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +12.1% | +8.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +9.1% | -0.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +5.0% | -93.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +1.4% | +78.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -49.1% | +145.2% |
Valuation Metrics
CEG leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, CEG's 26.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than TLN's 119.2x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $100.8B | $18.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $106.1B | $24.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 43.62x | -85.59x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 27.82x | 18.64x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.34x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 26.05x | 119.20x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.95x | 7.42x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 6.82x | 17.14x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 78.28x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
CEG leads this category, winning 8 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 $-2 for TLN. CEG carries lower financial leverage with a 0.61x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to TLN's 6.23x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CEG scores 7/9 vs TLN's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +15.6% | -1.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.1% | -0.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +11.9% | -0.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.5% | -0.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.61x | 6.23x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $5.2B | $6.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3.7B | $752M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $9.0B | $6.8B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 6.04x | 0.45x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
TLN leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in TLN five years ago would be worth $88,170 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $78,062 for CEG. Over the past 12 months, TLN leads with a +74.7% total return vs CEG's +18.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors TLN at 106.6% vs CEG's 60.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -11.8% | +3.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +18.5% | +74.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +315.5% | +781.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +680.6% | +781.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +680.6% | +781.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +60.8% | +106.6% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — CEG and TLN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CEG is the less volatile stock with a 1.44 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than TLN's 1.53 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. TLN currently trades 90.9% 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 | 1.53x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $412.70 | $451.28 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $243.30 | $220.59 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +78.2% | +90.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 59.7 | 63.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.8M | 713K |
Analyst Outlook
CEG leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CEG as "Buy" and TLN as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 25.6% upside for CEG (target: $405) vs 16.1% for TLN (target: $476). CEG is the only dividend payer here at 0.48% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $405.33 | $475.80 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 19 | 12 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.5% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.55 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.4% | +0.5% |
CEG leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). TLN leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
CEG vs TLN: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CEG or TLN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Talen Energy Corporation (TLN) is the stronger pick with 21.
8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 3% for Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG). Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG) offers the better valuation at 43. 6x trailing P/E (27. 8x 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 TLN?
On forward P/E, Talen Energy Corporation is actually cheaper at 18.
6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CEG or TLN?
Over the past 5 years, Talen Energy Corporation (TLN) delivered a total return of +781.
7%, compared to +680. 6% for Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TLN returned +781. 7% versus CEG's +680. 6%. 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 TLN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
44β versus Talen Energy Corporation's 1. 53β — meaning TLN is approximately 6% more volatile than CEG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 61% versus 6% for Talen Energy Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CEG or TLN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Talen Energy Corporation (TLN) is pulling ahead at 21.
8% versus 8. 3% for Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Constellation Energy Corporation grew EPS -37. 8% year-over-year, compared to -127. 1% for Talen Energy Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, TLN 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 TLN?
Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG) is the more profitable company, earning 9.
1% net margin versus -8. 7% for Talen Energy Corporation — meaning it keeps 9. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CEG leads at 12. 1% versus -2. 8% for TLN. 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 TLN more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Talen Energy Corporation (TLN) trades at 18.
6x forward P/E versus 27. 8x for Constellation Energy Corporation — 9. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CEG: 25. 6% to $405. 33.
08Which pays a better dividend — CEG or TLN?
In this comparison, CEG (0.
5% yield) pays a dividend. TLN does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is CEG or TLN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+680.
6% 10Y return). Talen Energy Corporation (TLN) carries a higher beta of 1. 53 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CEG: +680. 6%, TLN: +781. 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.
10What are the main differences between CEG and TLN?
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; TLN is a mid-cap high-growth 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.
You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.