HE vs ED vs AEE vs WEC vs PWR

For growth investors, Quanta Services, Inc.

(PWR) is the stronger pick with 19. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 1% for Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HE). Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED) offers the better valuation at 18. 9x trailing P/E (17. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Quanta Services, Inc. (PWR) a "Buy" — based on 35 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, Consolidated Edison, Inc.

(ED) is the cheapest at 18. 9x versus Quanta Services, Inc. at 110. 4x. On forward P/E, Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 4x — 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: Consolidated Edison, Inc. wins at 1. 52x versus WEC Energy Group, Inc. 's 4. 06x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Quanta Services, Inc.

(PWR) delivered a total return of +651. 1%, compared to -58. 2% for Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PWR returned +31. 4% versus HE's -25. 0%. 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), Consolidated Edison, Inc.

(ED) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 41β versus Quanta Services, Inc. 's 1. 30β — meaning PWR is approximately -415% more volatile than ED relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Quanta Services, Inc. (PWR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 13% versus 2% for Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Quanta Services, Inc.

(PWR) is pulling ahead at 19. 8% versus -2. 1% for Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Ameren Corporation grew EPS 21. 0% year-over-year, compared to -720. 4% for Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PWR leads at 18. 4% 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.

Ameren Corporation (AEE) is the more profitable company, earning 16.

5% net margin versus -44. 2% for Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WEC leads at 24. 2% versus -53. 0% for HE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ED leads at 62. 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.

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, Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 52x versus WEC Energy Group, Inc. 's 4. 06x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HE) trades at 14. 4x forward P/E versus 57. 4x for Quanta Services, Inc. — 43. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AEE: 11. 4% to $121. 11.

In this comparison, WEC (3.

1% yield), ED (3. 1% yield), AEE (2. 6% yield), HE (1. 3% yield) pay a dividend. PWR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Consolidated Edison, Inc.

(ED) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 41), 3. 1% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ED: +84. 5%, PWR: +31. 4%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (HE (Utilities) and ED (Utilities) and AEE (Utilities) and WEC (Utilities) and PWR (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: HE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ED is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; AEE is a mid-cap high-growth stock; WEC is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; PWR is a mid-cap high-growth stock. HE, ED, AEE, WEC pay a dividend while PWR 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.