Regulated Electric
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ED vs ES
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Regulated Electric
ED vs ES — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Regulated Electric | Regulated Electric |
| Market Cap | $25.17B | $25.75B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $16.59B | $13.55B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2.04B | $1.69B |
| Gross Margin | 64.4% | 47.8% |
| Operating Margin | 17.8% | 22.1% |
| Forward P/E | 17.5x | 14.5x |
| Total Debt | $315M | $30.28B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1M | $135M |
ED vs ES — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consolidated Edison… (ED) | 100 | 142.4 | +42.4% |
| Eversource Energy (ES) | 100 | 81.9 | -18.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ED vs ES
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
ED is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 85.6% 10Y total return vs ES's 61.8%
- Lower volatility, beta -0.41, Low D/E 1.3%, current ratio 0.22x
- PEG 1.53 vs ES's 2.93
ES carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 24 yrs, beta 0.27, yield 4.3%
- Rev growth 13.8%, EPS growth 100.9%, 3Y rev CAGR 3.3%
- Beta 0.27, yield 4.3%, current ratio 0.65x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 13.8% revenue growth vs ED's 10.9% | |
| Value | PEG 1.53 vs 2.93 | |
| Quality / Margins | 12.5% margin vs ED's 12.3% | |
| Stability / Safety | Lower D/E ratio (1.3% vs 185.2%) | |
| Dividends | 4.3% yield, 24-year raise streak, vs ED's 3.0% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +20.9% vs ED's -0.1% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 2.8% ROA vs ES's 2.7%, ROIC 6.0% vs 4.9% |
ED vs ES — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
ED vs ES — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ES leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ED and ES operate at a comparable scale, with $16.6B and $13.5B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 12.5% (ES) to 12.3% (ED).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $16.6B | $13.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $5.2B | $5.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.0B | $1.7B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $3.4B | -$45M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +64.4% | +47.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +17.8% | +22.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.3% | +12.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +20.4% | -0.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +10.7% | +13.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +12.4% | +4.6% |
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — ED and ES each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 15.0x trailing earnings, ES trades at a 21% valuation discount to ED's 18.9x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), ED offers better value at 1.65x vs ES's 2.93x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $25.2B | $25.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $25.5B | $55.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.95x | 15.03x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 17.52x | 14.54x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.65x | 2.93x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 4.85x | 10.36x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.49x | 1.90x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.58x | 1.56x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 5.56x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
ED leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ES delivers a 10.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $8 for ED. ED carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ES's 1.85x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ED scores 7/9 vs ES's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.4% | +10.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.8% | +2.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.0% | +4.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.6% | +5.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.01x | 1.85x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $314M | $30.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1M | $135M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $315M | $30.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.77x | 2.40x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ED leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ED five years ago would be worth $15,824 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,752 for ES. Over the past 12 months, ES leads with a +20.9% total return vs ED's -0.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ED at 5.7% vs ES's 0.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +7.8% | +1.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -0.1% | +20.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +18.1% | +0.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +58.2% | -2.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +85.6% | +61.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +5.7% | +0.2% |
Risk & Volatility
ED leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ED is the less volatile stock with a -0.41 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ES's 0.27 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | -0.41x | 0.27x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $116.17 | $76.41 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $94.96 | $58.92 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +92.0% | +89.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 44.4 | 47.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.8M | 2.1M |
Analyst Outlook
ES leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ED as "Hold" and ES as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 8.0% upside for ES (target: $74) vs 1.8% for ED (target: $109). For income investors, ES offers the higher dividend yield at 4.30% vs ED's 2.96%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $108.78 | $74.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 27 | 29 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.0% | +4.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 24 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3.16 | $2.94 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
ED leads in 3 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). ES leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
ED vs ES: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ED or ES a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Eversource Energy (ES) is the stronger pick with 13.
8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 9% for Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED). Eversource Energy (ES) offers the better valuation at 15. 0x trailing P/E (14. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED) a "Hold" — based on 27 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 — ED or ES?
On trailing P/E, Eversource Energy (ES) is the cheapest at 15.
0x versus Consolidated Edison, Inc. at 18. 9x. On forward P/E, Eversource Energy is actually cheaper at 14. 5x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ED or ES?
Over the past 5 years, Consolidated Edison, Inc.
(ED) delivered a total return of +58. 2%, compared to -2. 5% for Eversource Energy (ES). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ED returned +85. 6% versus ES's +61. 8%. 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 — ED or ES?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Consolidated Edison, Inc.
(ED) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 41β versus Eversource Energy's 0. 27β — meaning ES is approximately -164% more volatile than ED relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 185% for Eversource Energy — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ED or ES?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Eversource Energy (ES) is pulling ahead at 13.
8% versus 10. 9% for Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Eversource Energy grew EPS 100. 9% year-over-year, compared to 7. 6% for Consolidated Edison, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ES leads at 3. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — ED or ES?
Eversource Energy (ES) is the more profitable company, earning 12.
5% net margin versus 12. 0% for Consolidated Edison, Inc. — meaning it keeps 12. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ES leads at 22. 1% versus 17. 3% for ED. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ED leads at 81. 0%, 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 ED or ES more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Eversource Energy (ES) trades at 14.
5x forward P/E versus 17. 5x for Consolidated Edison, Inc. — 3. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ES: 8. 0% to $74. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — ED or ES?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Eversource Energy (ES) offers the highest yield at 4. 3%, versus 3. 0% for Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED).
09Is ED or ES better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Consolidated Edison, Inc.
(ED) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 41), 3. 0% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ED: +85. 6%, ES: +61. 8%), 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 ED and ES?
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: ED is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; ES is a mid-cap deep-value 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.
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