CNP vs NI vs EVRG vs SO

For growth investors, NiSource Inc.

(NI) is the stronger pick with 21. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 4% for Evergy, Inc. (EVRG). Evergy, Inc. (EVRG) offers the better valuation at 22. 1x trailing P/E (19. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate NiSource Inc. (NI) a "Buy" — based on 22 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, Evergy, Inc.

(EVRG) is the cheapest at 22. 1x versus CenterPoint Energy, Inc. at 26. 5x. On forward P/E, Evergy, Inc. is actually cheaper at 19. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Evergy, Inc. wins at 3. 12x versus The Southern Company's 3. 49x.

Over the past 5 years, NiSource Inc.

(NI) delivered a total return of +104. 3%, compared to +46. 7% for Evergy, Inc. (EVRG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SO returned +141. 5% versus EVRG's +99. 4%. 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), The Southern Company (SO) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

15β versus NiSource Inc. 's 0. 22β — meaning NI is approximately -243% more volatile than SO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Evergy, Inc. (EVRG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 2% for CenterPoint Energy, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), NiSource Inc.

(NI) is pulling ahead at 21. 8% versus 2. 4% for Evergy, Inc. (EVRG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: NiSource Inc. grew EPS 20. 4% year-over-year, compared to -3. 4% for Evergy, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NI leads at 4. 3% 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.

The Southern Company (SO) is the more profitable company, earning 14.

7% net margin versus 11. 2% for CenterPoint Energy, Inc. — meaning it keeps 14. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NI leads at 27. 6% versus 22. 6% for CNP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EVRG leads at 83. 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, Evergy, Inc. (EVRG) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 3. 12x versus The Southern Company's 3. 49x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Evergy, Inc. (EVRG) trades at 19. 1x forward P/E versus 23. 1x for NiSource Inc. — 4. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EVRG: 9. 9% to $89. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Evergy, Inc. (EVRG) offers the highest yield at 3. 2%, versus 2. 1% for CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CNP).

For long-horizon retirement investors, The Southern Company (SO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.

15), 2. 9% yield, +141. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SO: +141. 5%, NI: +141. 5%), 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: CNP is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; NI is a mid-cap high-growth stock; EVRG is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; SO is a mid-cap quality compounder 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.