Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Eversource Energy (ES) vs Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PEG) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | PEG | 18.3% revenue growth vs ES's -0.1% |
| Value | ES | Lower P/E (15.6x vs 19.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | PEG | 17.3% net margin vs ES's 10.2% |
| Stability / Safety | ES | Beta 0.36 vs PEG's 0.44 |
| Dividends | ES | 3.7% yield, 23-year raise streak, vs PEG's 2.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | ES | +25.7% vs PEG's +9.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | PEG | 19.9% ROA vs ES's 2.2%, ROIC 5.6% vs 4.8% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Eversource Energy is a regulated utility holding company that transmits and distributes electricity and natural gas across New England. It generates revenue primarily through regulated rate structures—earning returns on its infrastructure investments—with its electric distribution and transmission segments contributing the bulk of earnings. The company's moat stems from its regulated monopoly status in its service territories, which provides predictable cash flows and barriers to competition.
Public Service Enterprise Group is a regulated utility holding company operating primarily in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States. It generates revenue through its two main segments: PSE&G (regulated electric and gas distribution, ~70% of earnings) and PSEG Power (competitive power generation and wholesale energy marketing, ~30%). The company's primary moat comes from its regulated utility operations which provide stable, predictable returns through government-approved rate structures.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
PEG leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). ES leads in 3 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
ES and PEG operate at a comparable scale, with $13.1B and $12.2B in trailing revenue. PEG is the more profitable business, keeping 17.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ES's 10.2%. On growth, PEG holds the edge at +18.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ESEversource Energy | PEGPublic Service En… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $13.1B | $12.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $5.3B | $4.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.3B | $2.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$524M | $1.0B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +48.7% | +69.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +22.2% | +24.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +10.2% | +17.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -4.0% | +8.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.1% | +18.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.0% | -100.0% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, ES's 12.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PEG's 15.8x.
| Metric | ESEversource Energy | PEGPublic Service En… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $28.6B | $42.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $57.7B | $66.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 33.57x | — |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 15.57x | 19.58x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.87x | 15.77x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.40x | 3.52x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.79x | 2.52x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 18.60x |
Profitability & Efficiency
PEG delivers a 12.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 in annual profit, vs $8 for ES. PEG carries lower financial leverage with a 1.42x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ES's 1.92x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PEG scores 7/9 vs ES's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ESEversource Energy | PEGPublic Service En… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.3% | +12.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.2% | +19.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.8% | +5.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.3% | +14.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.92x | 1.42x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $29.1B | $24.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $27M | $106M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $29.1B | $24.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.43x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in PEG five years ago would be worth $17,693 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,116 for ES. Over the past 12 months, ES leads with a +25.7% total return vs PEG's +9.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PEG at 15.6% vs ES's 4.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ESEversource Energy | PEGPublic Service En… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +12.0% | +6.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +25.7% | +9.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +12.5% | +54.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +11.2% | +76.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +83.9% | +149.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +4.0% | +15.6% |
Risk & Volatility
ES is the less volatile stock with a 0.36 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PEG's 0.44 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ES currently trades 99.7% from its 52-week high vs PEG's 94.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ESEversource Energy | PEGPublic Service En… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.36x | 0.44x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $76.41 | $91.26 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $52.28 | $74.67 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.7% | +94.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 66.8 | 61.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.1M | 2.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ES as "Hold" and PEG as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 3.2% upside for PEG (target: $89) vs -4.0% for ES (target: $73). For income investors, ES offers the higher dividend yield at 3.68% vs PEG's 2.20%.
| Metric | ESEversource Energy | PEGPublic Service En… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $73.14 | $88.80 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 29 | 32 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.7% | +2.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 23 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.80 | $1.89 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eversource Energy (ES) | 100 | 72.54 | -27.5% |
| Public Service Ente… (PEG) | 100 | 149.53 | +49.5% |
Public Service Ente… (PEG) returned +77% over 5 years vs Eversource Energy (ES)'s +11%. A $10,000 investment in PEG 5 years ago would be worth $17,693 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eversource Energy (ES) | $7.6B | $11.9B | +55.8% |
| Public Service Ente… (PEG) | $9.1B | $12.2B | +34.3% |
Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated's revenue grew from $9.1B (2016) to $12.2B (2025) — a 3.3% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eversource Energy (ES) | 12.3% | 6.8% | -44.7% |
| Public Service Ente… (PEG) | 9.8% | 17.3% | +77.2% |
Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated's net margin went from 10% (2016) to 17% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eversource Energy (ES) | 20.3 | 25.3 | +24.6% |
| Public Service Ente… (PEG) | 16.6 | 23.9 | +44.0% |
Eversource Energy has traded in a 20x–30x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~34x. Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated has traded in a 12x–30x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~24x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eversource Energy (ES) | 2.96 | 2.27 | -23.3% |
| Public Service Ente… (PEG) | 1.75 | 0 | -100.0% |
Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated's EPS grew from $1.75 (2016) to $0.00 (2025) — a -100% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Eversource Energy generated $-2B FCF in 2024 (-91% vs 2021). Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated generated $2B FCF in 2025 (+334% vs 2021).
ES vs PEG: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ES or PEG a better buy right now?
Eversource Energy (ES) offers the better valuation at 33.6x trailing P/E (15.6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PEG) a "Buy" — based on 32 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 — ES or PEG?
On forward P/E, Eversource Energy is actually cheaper at 15.6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ES or PEG?
Over the past 5 years, Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PEG) delivered a total return of +76.9%, compared to +11.2% for Eversource Energy (ES). A $10,000 investment in PEG five years ago would be worth approximately $18K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PEG returned +149.6% versus ES's +83.9%. 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 — ES or PEG?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Eversource Energy (ES) is the lower-risk stock at 0.36β versus Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated's 0.44β — meaning PEG is approximately 20% more volatile than ES relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PEG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 142% versus 192% for Eversource Energy — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — ES or PEG?
Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PEG) is the more profitable company, earning 17.3% net margin versus 6.8% for Eversource Energy — meaning it keeps 17.3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PEG leads at 24.5% versus 22.7% for ES. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PEG leads at 69.0%, 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.
06Is ES or PEG more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Eversource Energy (ES) trades at 15.6x forward P/E versus 19.6x for Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated — 4.0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PEG: 3.2% to $88.80.
07Which pays a better dividend — ES or PEG?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Eversource Energy (ES) offers the highest yield at 3.7%, versus 2.2% for Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PEG).
08Is ES or PEG better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Eversource Energy (ES) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.36), 3.7% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ES: +83.9%, PEG: +149.6%), 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.
09What are the main differences between ES and PEG?
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 income-oriented stock; PEG 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.