CIG vs UGP vs SBS vs ELP

For growth investors, Companhia Paranaense de Energia - COPEL (ELP) is the stronger pick with 5.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 3% for Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP (SBS). Companhia Paranaense de Energia - COPEL (ELP) offers the better valuation at 3. 0x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais (CIG) a "Buy" — based on 5 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, Companhia Paranaense de Energia - COPEL (ELP) is the cheapest at 3.

0x versus Ultrapar Participações S. A. at 13. 3x. On forward P/E, Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP is actually cheaper at 0. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP wins at 0. 01x versus Ultrapar Participações S. A. 's 0. 11x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP (SBS) delivered a total return of +415.

1%, compared to +67. 9% for Ultrapar Participações S. A. (UGP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SBS returned +506. 8% versus UGP's -24. 3%. 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), Companhia Paranaense de Energia - COPEL (ELP) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

54β versus Ultrapar Participações S. A. 's 0. 94β — meaning UGP is approximately 74% more volatile than ELP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Companhia Paranaense de Energia - COPEL (ELP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 69% versus 123% for Ultrapar Participações S. A. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Companhia Paranaense de Energia - COPEL (ELP) is pulling ahead at 5.

5% versus 3. 3% for Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP (SBS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Companhia Paranaense de Energia - COPEL grew EPS 6. 8% year-over-year, compared to -31. 7% for Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais. Over a 3-year CAGR, SBS leads at 19. 2% 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.

Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP (SBS) is the more profitable company, earning 22.

2% net margin versus 1. 7% for Ultrapar Participações S. A. — meaning it keeps 22. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SBS leads at 32. 2% versus 3. 2% for UGP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SBS leads at 36. 6%, 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, Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP (SBS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 01x versus Ultrapar Participações S. A. 's 0. 11x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP (SBS) trades at 0. 6x forward P/E versus 2. 5x for Ultrapar Participações S. A. — 1. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SBS: 273. 5% to $23. 79.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais (CIG) offers the highest yield at 11. 5%, versus 2. 1% for Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP (SBS).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP (SBS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

63), 2. 1% yield, +506. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SBS: +506. 8%, UGP: -24. 3%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (CIG (Utilities) and UGP (Energy) and SBS (Utilities) and ELP (Utilities)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.