ES vs AEE

For growth investors, Ameren Corporation (AEE) is the stronger pick with 15.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 13. 8% for Eversource Energy (ES). Eversource Energy (ES) offers the better valuation at 14. 7x trailing P/E (14. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Eversource Energy (ES) a "Hold" — based on 29 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, Eversource Energy (ES) is the cheapest at 14.

7x versus Ameren Corporation at 20. 3x. On forward P/E, Eversource Energy is actually cheaper at 14. 2x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Ameren Corporation wins at 2. 29x versus Eversource Energy's 2. 77x.

Over the past 5 years, Ameren Corporation (AEE) delivered a total return of +43.

0%, compared to -4. 0% for Eversource Energy (ES). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AEE returned +170. 4% versus ES's +58. 1%. 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), Ameren Corporation (AEE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

05β versus Eversource Energy's 0. 27β — meaning ES is approximately 443% more volatile than AEE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Ameren Corporation (AEE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 147% versus 185% for Eversource Energy — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Ameren Corporation (AEE) is pulling ahead at 15.

4% versus 13. 8% for Eversource Energy (ES). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Eversource Energy grew EPS 100. 9% year-over-year, compared to 21. 0% for Ameren Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, AEE leads at 3. 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.

Ameren Corporation (AEE) is the more profitable company, earning 16.

5% net margin versus 12. 5% for Eversource Energy — meaning it keeps 16. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AEE leads at 23. 0% versus 22. 1% for ES. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ES leads at 30. 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.

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, Ameren Corporation (AEE) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 29x versus Eversource Energy's 2. 77x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Eversource Energy (ES) trades at 14. 2x forward P/E versus 20. 3x for Ameren Corporation — 6. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AEE: 11. 4% to $121. 11.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Eversource Energy (ES) offers the highest yield at 4. 4%, versus 2. 6% for Ameren Corporation (AEE).

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

05), 2. 6% yield, +170. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AEE: +170. 4%, ES: +58. 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.

In terms of investment character: ES is a mid-cap deep-value stock; AEE is a mid-cap high-growth 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.