ES vs FE vs ED vs PPL

For growth investors, Eversource Energy (ES) is the stronger pick with 13.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 6. 9% for PPL Corporation (PPL). 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 PPL Corporation (PPL) a "Buy" — 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 FirstEnergy Corp. at 25. 7x. 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: Consolidated Edison, Inc. wins at 1. 52x versus Eversource Energy's 2. 77x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Consolidated Edison, Inc.

(ED) delivered a total return of +57. 2%, compared to -4. 0% for Eversource Energy (ES). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ED returned +84. 5% versus PPL's +31. 0%. 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), 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, PPL Corporation (PPL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 85% versus 194% for FirstEnergy Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Eversource Energy (ES) is pulling ahead at 13.

8% versus 6. 9% for PPL Corporation (PPL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Eversource Energy grew EPS 100. 9% year-over-year, compared to 3. 5% for FirstEnergy Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, FE leads at 6. 6% 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.

PPL Corporation (PPL) is the more profitable company, earning 13.

1% net margin versus 6. 8% for FirstEnergy Corp. — meaning it keeps 13. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PPL leads at 23. 6% versus 17. 3% for ED. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ED leads at 62. 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.

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, Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 52x 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 18. 9x for PPL Corporation — 4. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FE: 13. 9% to $51. 43.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Eversource Energy (ES) offers the highest yield at 4. 4%, versus 2. 9% for PPL Corporation (PPL).

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. 1% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ED: +84. 5%, 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; FE is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; ED is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; PPL 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.