CPK vs OGS

For growth investors, Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (CPK) is the stronger pick with 18.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 16. 5% for ONE Gas, Inc. (OGS). ONE Gas, Inc. (OGS) offers the better valuation at 19. 5x trailing P/E (17. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (CPK) a "Buy" — based on 12 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, ONE Gas, Inc.

(OGS) is the cheapest at 19. 5x versus Chesapeake Utilities Corporation at 21. 3x. On forward P/E, ONE Gas, Inc. is actually cheaper at 17. 7x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Chesapeake Utilities Corporation wins at 2. 78x versus ONE Gas, Inc. 's 5. 07x.

Over the past 5 years, ONE Gas, Inc.

(OGS) delivered a total return of +25. 2%, compared to +15. 8% for Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (CPK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CPK returned +133. 1% versus OGS's +76. 9%. 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), ONE Gas, Inc.

(OGS) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 00β versus Chesapeake Utilities Corporation's 0. 04β — meaning CPK is approximately -1447% more volatile than OGS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ONE Gas, Inc. (OGS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 99% versus 102% for Chesapeake Utilities Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (CPK) is pulling ahead at 18.

1% versus 16. 5% for ONE Gas, Inc. (OGS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Chesapeake Utilities Corporation grew EPS 13. 5% year-over-year, compared to 12. 1% for ONE Gas, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CPK leads at 11. 0% 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.

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (CPK) is the more profitable company, earning 15.

1% net margin versus 10. 9% for ONE Gas, Inc. — meaning it keeps 15. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CPK leads at 27. 7% versus 18. 8% for OGS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — OGS leads at 58. 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.

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, Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (CPK) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 78x versus ONE Gas, Inc. 's 5. 07x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, ONE Gas, Inc. (OGS) trades at 17. 7x forward P/E versus 19. 5x for Chesapeake Utilities Corporation — 1. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CPK: 11. 8% to $142. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

ONE Gas, Inc. (OGS) offers the highest yield at 3. 1%, versus 2. 0% for Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (CPK).

For long-horizon retirement investors, ONE Gas, Inc.

(OGS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 00), 3. 1% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (OGS: +76. 9%, CPK: +133. 1%), 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.

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.