FE vs EXC vs PPL vs ES vs ETR

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

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 3% for Exelon Corporation (EXC). Eversource Energy (ES) offers the better valuation at 15. 0x trailing P/E (14. 5x 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 15.

0x versus Entergy Corporation at 28. 9x. On forward P/E, Eversource Energy is actually cheaper at 14. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Exelon Corporation wins at 2. 50x versus Entergy Corporation's 10. 14x.

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

7%, compared to -2. 5% for Eversource Energy (ES). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ETR returned +251. 0% versus PPL's +31. 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), Exelon Corporation (EXC) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

14β versus Entergy Corporation's 0. 30β — meaning ETR is approximately -316% more volatile than EXC 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 5. 3% for Exelon Corporation (EXC). 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, EXC leads at 8. 3% 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.

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, Exelon Corporation (EXC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 50x versus Entergy Corporation's 10. 14x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Eversource Energy (ES) trades at 14. 5x forward P/E versus 25. 7x for Entergy Corporation — 11. 2x 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.

Eversource Energy (ES) offers the highest yield at 4. 3%, versus 2. 1% for Entergy Corporation (ETR).

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

14), 3. 5% yield, +124. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EXC: +124. 7%, ES: +61. 8%), 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; EXC is a mid-cap deep-value stock; PPL is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; ES is a mid-cap deep-value 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.