Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Fortis Inc. (FTS) vs Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) vs Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) vs Entergy Corporation (ETR) 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.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | PEG | 18.3% revenue growth vs XEL's -5.4% |
| Value | DUK | Lower P/E (19.5x vs 19.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | PEG | 17.3% net margin vs XEL's 13.5% |
| Stability / Safety | XEL | Beta 0.19 vs PEG's 0.44 |
| Dividends | XEL | 2.5% yield, 16-year raise streak, vs ETR's 2.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | FTS | +35.2% vs PEG's +9.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | PEG | 19.9% ROA vs FTS's 2.2%, ROIC 5.6% vs 4.4% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Fortis Inc. is a North American regulated electric and gas utility that generates, transmits, and distributes electricity and natural gas to millions of customers across Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean. It earns stable, regulated returns primarily from rate-regulated utility operations — with electricity distribution contributing roughly 60% of revenue and gas distribution about 30% — supplemented by contracted wholesale power sales. The company's key advantage is its geographically diversified portfolio of essential utility assets operating under predictable regulatory frameworks that provide stable cash flows and inflation-protected returns.
Duke Energy is a regulated electric and gas utility serving customers across six states in the Southeast and Midwest. It makes money primarily through regulated rate-based returns on its electric utility infrastructure (~70% of revenue) and gas distribution operations (~20%), with additional income from commercial renewable energy projects. Its key advantage is its monopoly status as a regulated utility in its service territories, which provides stable, predictable returns through government-approved rate structures.
Xcel Energy is a regulated electric and natural gas utility serving customers across eight Midwestern and Western states. It generates revenue primarily through regulated rate structures — earning returns on its infrastructure investments in generation, transmission, and distribution — with electricity contributing roughly 75% of operating income and natural gas about 25%. Its key advantage is its regulated monopoly status in its service territories, providing stable, predictable returns through cost recovery mechanisms approved by state utility commissions.
Entergy Corporation is a regulated electric utility that generates, transmits, and distributes power to approximately 3 million customers across four southern states. It earns revenue primarily through regulated retail electricity sales — about 80% of its income — with the remainder from wholesale power generation and commodity trading. Its key advantage is its regulated monopoly status in its service territories, which provides stable, predictable returns through rate-based investments in transmission and generation infrastructure.
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 5 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
PEG leads in 2 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). DUK leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
DUK is the larger business by revenue, generating $31.8B annually — 2.8x FTS's $11.3B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 17.3% (PEG) to 13.5% (XEL). On growth, PEG holds the edge at +18.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | FTSFortis Inc. | DUKDuke Energy Corpo… | XELXcel Energy Inc. | ETREntergy Corporati… | PEGPublic Service En… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $11.3B | $31.8B | $14.2B | $12.9B | $12.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $5.2B | $15.1B | $5.4B | $5.6B | $4.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.7B | $5.0B | $1.9B | $1.8B | $2.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$2.0B | $9.0B | -$5.2B | -$2.7B | $1.0B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +56.5% | +59.7% | +46.3% | +29.9% | +69.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +28.6% | +27.1% | +16.5% | +23.6% | +24.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +14.8% | +15.7% | +13.5% | +13.7% | +17.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -17.7% | +28.2% | -36.2% | -21.2% | +8.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.4% | +6.3% | +7.4% | +7.9% | +18.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +3.8% | +15.3% | -25.6% | -21.5% | -100.0% |
Valuation Metrics
At 20.7x trailing earnings, DUK trades at a 24% valuation discount to ETR's 27.4x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), DUK offers better value at 0.70x vs ETR's 10.81x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | FTSFortis Inc. | DUKDuke Energy Corpo… | XELXcel Energy Inc. | ETREntergy Corporati… | PEGPublic Service En… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $29.2B | $101.8B | $49.3B | $48.5B | $42.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $54.2B | $192.4B | $79.3B | $79.3B | $66.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 23.14x | 20.74x | 24.23x | 27.39x | — |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 15.87x | 19.52x | 20.12x | 24.37x | 19.58x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 4.60x | 0.70x | 4.46x | 10.81x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.37x | 12.91x | 15.08x | 14.19x | 15.77x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.28x | 3.16x | 3.67x | 3.74x | 3.52x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.61x | 1.92x | 2.40x | 2.80x | 2.52x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 8.25x | — | — | 18.60x |
Profitability & Efficiency
PEG delivers a 12.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 in annual profit, vs $6 for FTS. FTS carries lower financial leverage with a 1.34x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ETR's 1.80x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PEG scores 7/9 vs XEL's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | FTSFortis Inc. | DUKDuke Energy Corpo… | XELXcel Energy Inc. | ETREntergy Corporati… | PEGPublic Service En… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +6.5% | +9.5% | +9.0% | +10.3% | +12.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.2% | +2.6% | +2.4% | +2.5% | +19.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.4% | +4.6% | +3.8% | +5.0% | +5.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.2% | +5.0% | +3.9% | +5.0% | +14.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.34x | 1.71x | 1.55x | 1.80x | 1.42x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $34.3B | $90.6B | $30.0B | $30.9B | $24.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $367M | $245M | $179M | $46M | $106M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $34.6B | $90.9B | $30.2B | $30.9B | $24.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 2.36x | 2.02x | 2.28x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in ETR five years ago would be worth $26,928 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $15,839 for XEL. Over the past 12 months, FTS leads with a +35.2% total return vs PEG's +9.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ETR at 30.4% vs XEL's 11.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | FTSFortis Inc. | DUKDuke Energy Corpo… | XELXcel Energy Inc. | ETREntergy Corporati… | PEGPublic Service En… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +11.7% | +12.3% | +11.6% | +14.8% | +6.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +35.2% | +15.0% | +18.8% | +25.5% | +9.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +58.6% | +52.1% | +39.2% | +121.9% | +54.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +68.3% | +73.8% | +58.4% | +169.3% | +76.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +160.9% | +128.1% | +156.3% | +252.2% | +149.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +16.6% | +15.0% | +11.7% | +30.4% | +15.6% |
Risk & Volatility
FTS is the less volatile stock with a -0.10 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. ETR currently trades 99.9% from its 52-week high vs PEG's 94.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | FTSFortis Inc. | DUKDuke Energy Corpo… | XELXcel Energy Inc. | ETREntergy Corporati… | PEGPublic Service En… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | -0.10x | -0.05x | 0.19x | 0.43x | 0.44x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $57.93 | $131.57 | $84.23 | $107.20 | $91.26 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $43.19 | $111.22 | $65.21 | $75.57 | $74.67 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.3% | +99.5% | +99.0% | +99.9% | +94.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 67.0 | 70.2 | 71.6 | 69.3 | 61.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 863K | 3.4M | 4.5M | 2.1M | 2.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: FTS as "Hold", DUK as "Hold", XEL as "Buy", ETR as "Buy", PEG as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 7.4% upside for XEL (target: $90) vs -11.5% for FTS (target: $51). For income investors, XEL offers the higher dividend yield at 2.50% vs FTS's 2.10%.
| Metric | FTSFortis Inc. | DUKDuke Energy Corpo… | XELXcel Energy Inc. | ETREntergy Corporati… | PEGPublic Service En… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold | Buy | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $50.86 | $133.45 | $89.50 | $104.67 | $88.80 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 12 | 31 | 26 | 31 | 32 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.1% | — | +2.5% | +2.2% | +2.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 0 | 16 | 11 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.65 | — | $2.09 | $2.39 | $1.89 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortis Inc. (FTS) | 100 | 130.28 | +30.3% |
| Duke Energy Corpora… (DUK) | 100 | 130.31 | +30.3% |
| Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) | 100 | 119.54 | +19.5% |
| Entergy Corporation (ETR) | 100 | 163.34 | +63.3% |
| Public Service Ente… (PEG) | 100 | 156.52 | +56.5% |
Entergy Corporation (ETR) returned +169% over 5 years vs Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL)'s +58%. A $10,000 investment in ETR 5 years ago would be worth $26,928 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortis Inc. (FTS) | $6.8B | $12.2B | +78.0% |
| Duke Energy Corpora… (DUK) | $22.7B | $32.2B | +41.7% |
| Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) | $11.1B | $13.4B | +21.0% |
| Entergy Corporation (ETR) | $10.8B | $12.9B | +19.4% |
| Public Service Ente… (PEG) | $9.1B | $12.2B | +34.3% |
Fortis Inc.'s revenue grew from $6.8B (2016) to $12.2B (2025) — a 6.6% CAGR. Duke Energy Corporation's revenue grew from $22.7B (2016) to $32.2B (2025) — a 4.0% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortis Inc. (FTS) | 9.7% | 14.8% | +53.2% |
| Duke Energy Corpora… (DUK) | 11.7% | 15.4% | +31.5% |
| Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) | 10.1% | 14.4% | +42.4% |
| Entergy Corporation (ETR) | -5.2% | 13.7% | +363.2% |
| Public Service Ente… (PEG) | 9.8% | 17.3% | +77.2% |
Fortis Inc.'s net margin went from 10% (2016) to 15% (2025). Duke Energy Corporation's net margin went from 12% (2016) to 15% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortis Inc. (FTS) | 15.9 | 15.3 | -3.8% |
| Duke Energy Corpora… (DUK) | 19.3 | 18.6 | -3.6% |
| Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) | 21.4 | 19.6 | -8.4% |
| Entergy Corporation (ETR) | 35.7 | 23.6 | -33.9% |
| Public Service Ente… (PEG) | 16.6 | 23.9 | +44.0% |
Fortis Inc. has traded in a 11x–19x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~23x. Duke Energy Corporation has traded in a 18x–53x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~21x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortis Inc. (FTS) | 1.89 | 3.4 | +79.9% |
| Duke Energy Corpora… (DUK) | 3.11 | 6.31 | +102.9% |
| Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) | 2.21 | 3.44 | +55.7% |
| Entergy Corporation (ETR) | -1.63 | 3.91 | +339.9% |
| Public Service Ente… (PEG) | 1.75 | 0 | -100.0% |
Fortis Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.89 (2016) to $3.40 (2025) — a 7% CAGR. Duke Energy Corporation's EPS grew from $3.11 (2016) to $6.31 (2025) — a 8% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Fortis Inc. generated $-2B FCF in 2025 (-292% vs 2021). Duke Energy Corporation generated $12B FCF in 2025 (+965% vs 2021).
FTS vs DUK vs XEL vs ETR vs PEG: Key Questions Answered
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is FTS or DUK or XEL or ETR or PEG a better buy right now?
Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) offers the better valuation at 20.7x trailing P/E (19.5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) a "Buy" — based on 26 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 — FTS or DUK or XEL or ETR or PEG?
On trailing P/E, Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) is the cheapest at 20.7x versus Entergy Corporation at 27.4x. On forward P/E, Fortis Inc. is actually cheaper at 15.9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Duke Energy Corporation wins at 0.66x versus Entergy Corporation's 9.61x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — FTS or DUK or XEL or ETR or PEG?
Over the past 5 years, Entergy Corporation (ETR) delivered a total return of +169.3%, compared to +58.4% for Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL). A $10,000 investment in ETR five years ago would be worth approximately $27K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ETR returned +252.2% versus DUK's +128.1%. 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 — FTS or DUK or XEL or ETR or PEG?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Fortis Inc. (FTS) is the lower-risk stock at -0.10β versus Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated's 0.44β — meaning PEG is approximately -519% more volatile than FTS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Fortis Inc. (FTS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 134% versus 180% for Entergy Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — FTS or DUK or XEL or ETR or PEG?
Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PEG) is the more profitable company, earning 17.3% net margin versus 13.7% for Entergy Corporation — meaning it keeps 17.3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FTS leads at 28.7% versus 17.8% for XEL. 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 FTS or DUK or XEL or ETR or PEG more undervalued right now?
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, Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.66x versus Entergy Corporation's 9.61x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Fortis Inc. (FTS) trades at 15.9x forward P/E versus 24.4x for Entergy Corporation — 8.5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for XEL: 7.4% to $89.50.
07Which pays a better dividend — FTS or DUK or XEL or ETR or PEG?
In this comparison, XEL (2.5% yield), ETR (2.2% yield), PEG (2.2% yield), FTS (2.1% yield) pay a dividend. DUK does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is FTS or DUK or XEL or ETR or PEG better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Fortis Inc. (FTS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.10), 2.1% yield, +160.9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FTS: +160.9%, DUK: +128.1%), 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 FTS and DUK and XEL and ETR 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. FTS, XEL, ETR, PEG pay a dividend while DUK 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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