FE vs ETR

For growth investors, FirstEnergy Corp.

(FE) is the stronger pick with 12. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 9. 0% for Entergy Corporation (ETR). FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) offers the better valuation at 25. 9x trailing P/E (16. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Entergy Corporation (ETR) a "Buy" — based on 31 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, FirstEnergy Corp.

(FE) is the cheapest at 25. 9x versus Entergy Corporation at 28. 9x. On forward P/E, FirstEnergy Corp. is actually cheaper at 16. 7x.

Over the past 5 years, Entergy Corporation (ETR) delivered a total return of +130.

7%, compared to +43. 6% for FirstEnergy Corp. (FE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ETR returned +251. 0% versus FE's +83. 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), FirstEnergy Corp.

(FE) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 02β versus Entergy Corporation's 0. 30β — meaning ETR is approximately -1896% more volatile than FE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Entergy Corporation (ETR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 180% versus 194% for FirstEnergy Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), FirstEnergy Corp.

(FE) is pulling ahead at 12. 0% versus 9. 0% for Entergy Corporation (ETR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Entergy Corporation grew EPS 59. 6% 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.

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

7% net margin versus 6. 8% for FirstEnergy Corp. — meaning it keeps 13. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ETR leads at 23. 6% versus 18. 8% for FE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FE leads at 54. 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.

On forward earnings alone, FirstEnergy Corp.

(FE) trades at 16. 7x forward P/E versus 25. 7x for Entergy Corporation — 9. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FE: 13. 0% to $51. 43.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) offers the highest yield at 3. 9%, versus 2. 1% for Entergy Corporation (ETR).

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. 02), 3. 9% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FE: +83. 7%, ETR: +251. 0%), 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: FE is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; ETR 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.