Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) vs Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | EDN | 191.4% revenue growth vs FE's 12.0% |
| Value | EDN | Lower P/E (0.1x vs 18.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | EDN | 11.5% net margin vs FE's 8.4% |
| Stability / Safety | FE | Beta 0.07 vs EDN's 1.67 |
| Dividends | FE | 3.4% yield; 4-year raise streak; EDN pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | FE | +36.5% vs EDN's -25.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | EDN | 6.0% ROA vs FE's 2.3%, ROIC 1.9% vs 5.4% |
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
FirstEnergy is a regulated electric utility that generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 6 million customers across six Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern states. It makes money primarily through regulated rate structures — with its distribution segment contributing about 60% of revenue and transmission about 40% — earning a government-approved return on its infrastructure investments. Its key advantage is its monopoly-like position as a regulated utility with exclusive service territories, providing stable cash flows through cost-plus regulation.
Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima is an Argentine electricity distribution utility that operates regulated power networks in northern Buenos Aires. It generates revenue primarily through regulated electricity distribution tariffs — which account for the vast majority of its income — with additional income from connection fees and commercial electricity sales. Its key competitive advantage is its government-granted monopoly over electricity distribution in its exclusive service territory, creating a stable, regulated revenue stream.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
FE leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). EDN leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
EDN is the larger business by revenue, generating $2.45T annually — 162.2x FE's $15.1B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 11.5% (EDN) to 8.4% (FE). On growth, FE holds the edge at +19.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | FEFirstEnergy Corp. | EDNEmpresa Distribui… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $15.1B | $2.45T |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $4.4B | $236.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.3B | $280.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.5B | -$174.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +65.3% | +18.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +18.8% | +2.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +8.4% | +11.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +16.8% | -7.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +19.6% | +2.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -118.7% | +41.7% |
Valuation Metrics
At 5.2x trailing earnings, EDN trades at a 82% valuation discount to FE's 29.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, EDN's 6.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than FE's 6.1x.
| Metric | FEFirstEnergy Corp. | EDNEmpresa Distribui… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $697M | $529M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $26.9B | $850M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 29.07x | 5.18x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 18.74x | 0.07x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.08x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.12x | 6.09x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.05x | 0.36x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.12x | 1.05x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 0.19x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
EDN delivers a 15.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $15 in annual profit, vs $9 for FE. EDN carries lower financial leverage with a 0.32x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to FE's 1.88x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), EDN scores 6/9 vs FE's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | FEFirstEnergy Corp. | EDNEmpresa Distribui… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.1% | +15.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.3% | +6.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.4% | +1.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.6% | +1.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.88x | 0.32x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $26.2B | $452.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $57M | $23.9B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $26.2B | $476.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.49x | 0.13x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in EDN five years ago would be worth $68,507 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $17,767 for FE. Over the past 12 months, FE leads with a +36.5% total return vs EDN's -25.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors EDN at 40.7% vs FE's 12.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | FEFirstEnergy Corp. | EDNEmpresa Distribui… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +14.0% | -13.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +36.5% | -25.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +42.2% | +178.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +77.7% | +585.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +99.6% | +52.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +12.5% | +40.7% |
Risk & Volatility
FE is the less volatile stock with a 0.07 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than EDN's 1.67 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. FE currently trades 99.6% from its 52-week high vs EDN's 67.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | FEFirstEnergy Corp. | EDNEmpresa Distribui… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.07x | 1.67x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $51.34 | $38.10 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $37.58 | $14.38 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.6% | +67.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 71.9 | 41.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.9M | 86K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates FE as "Hold" and EDN as "Hold". FE is the only dividend payer here at 3.44% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | FEFirstEnergy Corp. | EDNEmpresa Distribui… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $50.50 | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 27 | 2 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.4% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.76 | — |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) | 100 | 99.3 | -0.7% |
| Empresa Distribuido… (EDN) | 100 | 667.41 | +567.4% |
Empresa Distribuido… (EDN) returned +585% over 5 years vs FirstEnergy Corp. (FE)'s +78%. A $10,000 investment in EDN 5 years ago would be worth $68,507 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) | $14.6B | $15.1B | +3.6% |
| Empresa Distribuido… (EDN) | $13.1B | $2.0T | +15520.7% |
FirstEnergy Corp.'s revenue grew from $14.6B (2016) to $15.1B (2025) — a 0.4% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) | -42.4% | 8.4% | +119.9% |
| Empresa Distribuido… (EDN) | -9.1% | 13.3% | +246.6% |
FirstEnergy Corp.'s net margin went from -42% (2016) to 8% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) | 18.9 | 25.4 | +34.4% |
| Empresa Distribuido… (EDN) | 0.3 | 0 | -100.0% |
FirstEnergy Corp. has traded in a 15x–59x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~29x. Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima has traded in a 0x–0x P/E range over 5 years; current trailing P/E is ~5x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) | -14.49 | 1.76 | +112.1% |
| Empresa Distribuido… (EDN) | 5.4 | 6,991.2 | +129366.7% |
FirstEnergy Corp.'s EPS grew from $-14.49 (2016) to $1.76 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
FirstEnergy Corp. generated $4B FCF in 2025 (+911% vs 2021). Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima generated $-321B FCF in 2024 (-7558% vs 2021).
FE vs EDN: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is FE or EDN a better buy right now?
Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) offers the better valuation at 5.2x trailing P/E (0.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) a "Hold" — based on 27 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 — FE or EDN?
On trailing P/E, Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) is the cheapest at 5.2x versus FirstEnergy Corp. at 29.1x. On forward P/E, Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima is actually cheaper at 0.1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — FE or EDN?
Over the past 5 years, Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) delivered a total return of +585.1%, compared to +77.7% for FirstEnergy Corp. (FE). A $10,000 investment in EDN five years ago would be worth approximately $69K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FE returned +99.6% versus EDN's +52.2%. 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 — FE or EDN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.07β versus Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima's 1.67β — meaning EDN is approximately 2148% more volatile than FE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 32% versus 188% for FirstEnergy Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — FE or EDN?
Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) is the more profitable company, earning 13.3% net margin versus 8.4% for FirstEnergy Corp. — meaning it keeps 13.3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FE leads at 18.8% versus 2.1% for EDN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FE leads at 65.3%, 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 FE or EDN more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) trades at 0.1x forward P/E versus 18.7x for FirstEnergy Corp. — 18.7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
07Which pays a better dividend — FE or EDN?
In this comparison, FE (3.4% yield) pays a dividend. EDN does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is FE or EDN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.07), 3.4% yield). Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (EDN) carries a higher beta of 1.67 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (FE: +99.6%, EDN: +52.2%), 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 FE and EDN?
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: FE is a small-cap income-oriented stock; EDN is a small-cap deep-value stock. FE pays a dividend while EDN does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.
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