ELPC vs NEE vs DUK vs SO vs AEP

For growth investors, Companhia Paranaense de Energia (ELPC) is the stronger pick with 13.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 6. 2% for Duke Energy Corporation (DUK). Companhia Paranaense de Energia (ELPC) offers the better valuation at 4. 3x trailing P/E (3. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) a "Buy" — based on 36 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 (ELPC) is the cheapest at 4.

3x versus NextEra Energy, Inc. at 28. 4x. On forward P/E, Companhia Paranaense de Energia is actually cheaper at 3. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Companhia Paranaense de Energia wins at 0. 12x versus The Southern Company's 3. 45x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Companhia Paranaense de Energia (ELPC) delivered a total return of +72.

7%, compared to +38. 2% for NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NEE returned +266. 0% versus ELPC's +72. 7%. 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), Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

24β versus Companhia Paranaense de Energia's 0. 91β — meaning ELPC is approximately -474% more volatile than DUK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Companhia Paranaense de Energia (ELPC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 88% versus 171% for Duke Energy Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Companhia Paranaense de Energia (ELPC) is pulling ahead at 13.

0% versus 6. 2% for Duke Energy Corporation (DUK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: American Electric Power Company, Inc. grew EPS 19. 4% year-over-year, compared to -17. 6% for Companhia Paranaense de Energia. Over a 3-year CAGR, NEE leads at 9. 4% 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.

NextEra Energy, Inc.

(NEE) is the more profitable company, earning 24. 9% net margin versus 10. 3% for Companhia Paranaense de Energia — meaning it keeps 24. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NEE leads at 30. 1% versus 17. 6% for ELPC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NEE leads at 62. 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, Companhia Paranaense de Energia (ELPC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 12x versus The Southern Company's 3. 45x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Companhia Paranaense de Energia (ELPC) trades at 3. 1x forward P/E versus 23. 1x for NextEra Energy, Inc. — 19. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DUK: 8. 5% to $135. 44.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Companhia Paranaense de Energia (ELPC) offers the highest yield at 21. 8%, versus 2. 4% for NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.

24), 3. 4% yield, +104. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (DUK: +104. 1%, ELPC: +72. 7%), 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: ELPC is a small-cap deep-value stock; NEE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; DUK is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; SO is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; AEP 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.