Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) vs National Grid plc (NGG) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | EDN | 191.4% revenue growth vs NGG's -7.4% |
| Value | EDN | Lower P/E (0.1x vs 23.1x), PEG 0.00 vs 2.23 |
| Quality / Margins | NGG | 12.7% net margin vs EDN's 11.5% |
| Stability / Safety | NGG | Beta 0.04 vs EDN's 1.67 |
| Dividends | NGG | 2.2% yield; EDN pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | NGG | +55.9% vs EDN's -25.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | EDN | 6.0% ROA vs NGG's 4.5%, ROIC 1.9% vs 4.6% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima is an Argentine electricity distribution utility that operates regulated power networks in northern Buenos Aires. It generates revenue primarily through regulated electricity distribution tariffs — which account for the vast majority of its income — with additional income from connection fees and commercial electricity sales. Its key competitive advantage is its government-granted monopoly over electricity distribution in its exclusive service territory, creating a stable, regulated revenue stream.
National Grid is a regulated utility that operates electricity and gas transmission and distribution networks in the UK and northeastern United States. It earns revenue through regulated asset returns — collecting fees from customers for using its infrastructure — with its UK transmission business contributing roughly 40% of operating profit and its US operations about 35%. The company's primary moat comes from its natural monopoly position as an owner of critical energy infrastructure, protected by high regulatory barriers to entry and long-term, stable rate-of-return frameworks.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
NGG leads in 2 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Risk & Volatility). EDN leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
EDN is the larger business by revenue, generating $2.45T annually — 66.5x NGG's $36.8B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 12.7% (NGG) to 11.5% (EDN). On growth, EDN holds the edge at +2.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | EDNEmpresa Distribui… | NGGNational Grid plc |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.45T | $36.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $236.3B | $12.5B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $280.3B | $4.7B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$174.1B | -$4.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +18.4% | +100.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +2.2% | +24.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +11.5% | +12.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -7.1% | -13.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.3% | -11.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +41.7% | -7.1% |
Valuation Metrics
At 5.2x trailing earnings, EDN trades at a 78% valuation discount to NGG's 23.6x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), EDN offers better value at 0.08x vs NGG's 2.28x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | EDNEmpresa Distribui… | NGGNational Grid plc |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $529M | $93.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $850M | $155.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 5.18x | 23.63x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 0.07x | 23.15x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.08x | 2.28x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.09x | 16.27x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.36x | 3.77x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.05x | 1.81x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
EDN delivers a 15.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $15 in annual profit, vs $13 for NGG. EDN carries lower financial leverage with a 0.32x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NGG's 1.26x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NGG scores 7/9 vs EDN's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | EDNEmpresa Distribui… | NGGNational Grid plc |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +15.0% | +12.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.0% | +4.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.9% | +4.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +1.6% | +5.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.32x | 1.26x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $452.4B | $46.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $23.9B | $1.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $476.4B | $47.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.13x | 2.73x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in EDN five years ago would be worth $68,507 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $19,895 for NGG. Over the past 12 months, NGG leads with a +55.9% total return vs EDN's -25.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors EDN at 40.7% vs NGG's 19.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | EDNEmpresa Distribui… | NGGNational Grid plc |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -13.7% | +19.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -25.7% | +55.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +178.3% | +70.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +585.1% | +98.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +52.2% | +84.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +40.7% | +19.5% |
Risk & Volatility
NGG is the less volatile stock with a 0.04 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than EDN's 1.67 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. NGG currently trades 99.1% from its 52-week high vs EDN's 67.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | EDNEmpresa Distribui… | NGGNational Grid plc |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.67x | 0.04x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $38.10 | $94.64 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $14.38 | $59.35 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +67.4% | +99.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 41.2 | 75.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 86K | 695K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates EDN as "Hold" and NGG as "Buy". NGG is the only dividend payer here at 2.23% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | EDNEmpresa Distribui… | NGGNational Grid plc |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $85.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 2 | 20 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +2.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.56 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empresa Distribuido… (EDN) | 100 | 667.41 | +567.4% |
| National Grid plc (NGG) | 100 | 130.71 | +30.7% |
Empresa Distribuido… (EDN) returned +585% over 5 years vs National Grid plc (NGG)'s +99%. A $10,000 investment in EDN 5 years ago would be worth $68,507 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empresa Distribuido… (EDN) | $13.1B | $2.0T | +15520.7% |
| National Grid plc (NGG) | $13.2B | $18.4B | +39.1% |
National Grid plc's revenue grew from $13.2B (2016) to $18.4B (2025) — a 3.7% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empresa Distribuido… (EDN) | -9.1% | 13.3% | +246.6% |
| National Grid plc (NGG) | 14.4% | 15.8% | +9.9% |
National Grid plc's net margin went from 14% (2016) to 16% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empresa Distribuido… (EDN) | 0.3 | 0 | -100.0% |
| National Grid plc (NGG) | 5.2 | 26.2 | +403.8% |
Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima has traded in a 0x–0x P/E range over 5 years; current trailing P/E is ~5x. National Grid plc has traded in a 5x–33x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~24x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empresa Distribuido… (EDN) | 5.4 | 6,991.2 | +129366.7% |
| National Grid plc (NGG) | 3.75 | 2.95 | -21.3% |
National Grid plc's EPS grew from $3.75 (2016) to $2.95 (2025) — a -3% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima generated $-321B FCF in 2024 (-7558% vs 2021). National Grid plc generated $-2B FCF in 2025 (-211% vs 2021).
EDN vs NGG: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is EDN or NGG a better buy right now?
Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) offers the better valuation at 5.2x trailing P/E (0.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate National Grid plc (NGG) a "Buy" — based on 20 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 — EDN or NGG?
On trailing P/E, Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) is the cheapest at 5.2x versus National Grid plc at 23.6x. On forward P/E, Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima is actually cheaper at 0.1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima wins at 0.00x versus National Grid plc's 2.23x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — EDN or NGG?
Over the past 5 years, Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) delivered a total return of +585.1%, compared to +98.9% for National Grid plc (NGG). A $10,000 investment in EDN five years ago would be worth approximately $69K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NGG returned +84.4% versus EDN's +52.2%. 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 — EDN or NGG?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), National Grid plc (NGG) is the lower-risk stock at 0.04β versus Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima's 1.67β — meaning EDN is approximately 3757% more volatile than NGG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 32% versus 126% for National Grid plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — EDN or NGG?
National Grid plc (NGG) is the more profitable company, earning 15.8% net margin versus 13.3% for Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima — meaning it keeps 15.8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NGG leads at 26.8% versus 2.1% for EDN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NGG leads at 77.4%, 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.
06Is EDN or NGG more undervalued right now?
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, Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.00x versus National Grid plc's 2.23x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) trades at 0.1x forward P/E versus 23.1x for National Grid plc — 23.1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
07Which pays a better dividend — EDN or NGG?
In this comparison, NGG (2.2% yield) pays a dividend. EDN does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is EDN or NGG better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, National Grid plc (NGG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.04), 2.2% yield). Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) carries a higher beta of 1.67 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (NGG: +84.4%, EDN: +52.2%), 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.
09What are the main differences between EDN and NGG?
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: EDN is a small-cap deep-value stock; NGG is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. NGG pays a dividend while EDN does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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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