ELP vs AES

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

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 4% for The AES Corporation (AES). 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 The AES Corporation (AES) a "Hold" — based on 21 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 The AES Corporation at 11. 3x.

Over the past 5 years, Companhia Paranaense de Energia - COPEL (ELP) delivered a total return of +166.

8%, compared to -31. 7% for The AES Corporation (AES). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ELP returned +334. 7% versus AES's +81. 6%. 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.

56β versus The AES Corporation's 1. 01β — meaning AES is approximately 81% 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 3% for The AES Corporation — 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 -0. 4% for The AES Corporation (AES). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Companhia Paranaense de Energia - COPEL grew EPS 6. 8% year-over-year, compared to -46. 6% for The AES Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, AES leads at -1. 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.

Companhia Paranaense de Energia - COPEL (ELP) is the more profitable company, earning 12.

4% net margin versus 7. 8% for The AES Corporation — meaning it keeps 12. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ELP leads at 17. 9% versus 16. 1% for AES. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AES leads at 18. 1%, 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.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

The AES Corporation (AES) offers the highest yield at 4. 9%, versus 4. 3% for Companhia Paranaense de Energia - COPEL (ELP).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Companhia Paranaense de Energia - COPEL (ELP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

56), 4. 3% yield, +334. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ELP: +334. 7%, AES: +81. 6%), 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.