Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) vs GE Vernova Inc. (GEV) 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 | FE | 12.0% revenue growth vs GEV's 8.9% |
| Value | FE | Lower P/E (18.7x vs 61.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | GEV | 12.8% net margin vs FE's 8.4% |
| Stability / Safety | FE | Beta 0.07 vs GEV's 1.59 |
| Dividends | FE | 3.4% yield, 4-year raise streak, vs GEV's 0.1% |
| Momentum (1Y) | GEV | +161.0% vs FE's +36.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | GEV | 7.8% ROA vs FE's 2.3%, ROIC 27.9% 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.
GE Vernova is a diversified energy technology company that provides power generation equipment and grid solutions across multiple energy sources. It makes money primarily through three segments: Power (gas, nuclear, and hydro turbines), Wind (onshore and offshore wind turbines), and Electrification (grid equipment and power conversion systems). The company's competitive advantage lies in its comprehensive energy portfolio—spanning traditional and renewable technologies—and its deep expertise in large-scale power infrastructure projects.
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
FE leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). GEV leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
GEV is the larger business by revenue, generating $38.1B annually — 2.5x FE's $15.1B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 12.8% (GEV) 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. | GEVGE Vernova Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $15.1B | $38.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $4.4B | $2.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.3B | $4.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.5B | $3.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +65.3% | +19.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +18.8% | +3.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +8.4% | +12.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +16.8% | +9.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +19.6% | +3.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -118.7% | +6.7% |
Valuation Metrics
At 29.1x trailing earnings, FE trades at a 41% valuation discount to GEV's 49.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, FE's 6.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than GEV's 101.1x.
| Metric | FEFirstEnergy Corp. | GEVGE Vernova Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $697M | $235.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $26.9B | $226.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 29.07x | 49.38x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 18.74x | 61.04x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.12x | 101.12x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.05x | 6.19x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.12x | 19.61x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 0.19x | 63.45x |
Profitability & Efficiency
GEV delivers a 39.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $40 in annual profit, vs $9 for FE. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), GEV scores 6/9 vs FE's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | FEFirstEnergy Corp. | GEVGE Vernova Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.1% | +39.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.3% | +7.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.4% | +27.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.6% | +6.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.88x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $26.2B | -$8.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $57M | $8.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $26.2B | $0 |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.49x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in GEV five years ago would be worth $66,674 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $17,767 for FE. Over the past 12 months, GEV leads with a +161.0% total return vs FE's +36.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors GEV at 88.2% vs FE's 12.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | FEFirstEnergy Corp. | GEVGE Vernova Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +14.0% | +28.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +36.5% | +161.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +42.2% | +566.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +77.7% | +566.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +99.6% | +566.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +12.5% | +88.2% |
Risk & Volatility
FE is the less volatile stock with a 0.07 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than GEV's 1.59 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | FEFirstEnergy Corp. | GEVGE Vernova Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.07x | 1.59x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $51.34 | $894.93 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $37.58 | $252.25 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.6% | +97.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 71.9 | 73.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.9M | 2.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates FE as "Hold" and GEV as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply -1.3% upside for FE (target: $51) vs -4.5% for GEV (target: $835). For income investors, FE offers the higher dividend yield at 3.44% vs GEV's 0.11%.
| Metric | FEFirstEnergy Corp. | GEVGE Vernova Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $50.50 | $834.72 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 27 | 27 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.4% | +0.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.76 | $1.00 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.4% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Apr 24 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) | 100 | 122.47 | +22.5% |
| GE Vernova Inc. (GEV) | 108.21 | 575.22 | +431.6% |
GE Vernova Inc. (GEV) returned +567% over 5 years vs FirstEnergy Corp. (FE)'s +78%. A $10,000 investment in GEV 5 years ago would be worth $66,674 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) | $14.6B | $15.1B | +3.6% |
| GE Vernova Inc. (GEV) | $29.7B | $38.1B | +28.4% |
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% |
| GE Vernova Inc. (GEV) | -9.2% | 12.8% | +239.1% |
FirstEnergy Corp.'s net margin went from -42% (2016) to 8% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2018 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) | 18.9 | 25.4 | +34.4% |
FirstEnergy Corp. has traded in a 15x–59x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~29x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) | -14.49 | 1.76 | +112.1% |
| GE Vernova Inc. (GEV) | -10.06 | 17.69 | +275.8% |
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). GE Vernova Inc. generated $4B FCF in 2025 (+692% vs 2022).
FE vs GEV: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is FE or GEV a better buy right now?
FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) offers the better valuation at 29.1x trailing P/E (18.7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate GE Vernova Inc. (GEV) a "Buy" — 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 GEV?
On trailing P/E, FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) is the cheapest at 29.1x versus GE Vernova Inc. at 49.4x. On forward P/E, FirstEnergy Corp. is actually cheaper at 18.7x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — FE or GEV?
Over the past 5 years, GE Vernova Inc. (GEV) delivered a total return of +566.7%, compared to +77.7% for FirstEnergy Corp. (FE). A $10,000 investment in GEV five years ago would be worth approximately $67K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GEV returned +566.7% versus FE's +99.6%. 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 GEV?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.07β versus GE Vernova Inc.'s 1.59β — meaning GEV is approximately 2035% more volatile than FE relative to the S&P 500.
05Which has better profit margins — FE or GEV?
GE Vernova Inc. (GEV) is the more profitable company, earning 12.8% net margin versus 8.4% for FirstEnergy Corp. — meaning it keeps 12.8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FE leads at 18.8% versus 3.6% for GEV. 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 GEV more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) trades at 18.7x forward P/E versus 61.0x for GE Vernova Inc. — 42.3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FE: -1.3% to $50.50.
07Which pays a better dividend — FE or GEV?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) offers the highest yield at 3.4%, versus 0.1% for GE Vernova Inc. (GEV).
08Is FE or GEV 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). GE Vernova Inc. (GEV) carries a higher beta of 1.59 — 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%, GEV: +566.7%), 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 GEV?
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; GEV is a large-cap quality compounder stock. FE pays a dividend while GEV 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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