IDA
IDACORP, Inc.
Regulated Electric
Market Cap$7.98B
5Y Perf.+54.5%
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Stock Comparison
IDA vs NWE
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
NWE
Northwestern Energy Group Inc
Diversified Utilities
Market Cap$4.37B
5Y Perf.+18.2%
IDA vs NWE — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | IDA | NWE |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Regulated Electric | Diversified Utilities |
| Market Cap | $7.98B | $4.37B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.78B | $1.64B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $332M | $168M |
| Gross Margin | 36.3% | 61.9% |
| Operating Margin | 21.6% | 19.2% |
| Forward P/E | 22.6x | 18.9x |
| Total Debt | $3.66B | $3.29B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $216M | $9M |
IDA vs NWE — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
IDA
NWE
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| IDACORP, Inc. (IDA) | 100 | 154.5 | +54.5% |
| Northwestern Energy… (NWE) | 100 | 118.2 | +18.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: IDA vs NWE
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: NWE leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. IDACORP, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
IDA
IDACORP, Inc.
The Growth Play
IDA is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth -0.7%, EPS growth 7.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 3.3%
- 136.7% 10Y total return vs NWE's 63.9%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.15, current ratio 0.93x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
NWE
Northwestern Energy Group Inc
The Income Pick
NWE carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability.
- Dividend streak 20 yrs, beta 0.24, yield 3.7%
- 6.4% revenue growth vs IDA's -0.7%
- Lower P/E (18.9x vs 22.6x)
Best for: income & stability
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | NWE | 6.4% revenue growth vs IDA's -0.7% |
| Value | NWE | Lower P/E (18.9x vs 22.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | IDA | 18.6% margin vs NWE's 10.2% |
| Stability / Safety | IDA | Beta 0.15 vs NWE's 0.24, lower leverage |
| Dividends | NWE | 3.7% yield, 20-year raise streak, vs IDA's 2.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | NWE | +27.0% vs IDA's +26.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | IDA | 4.3% ROA vs NWE's 2.0%, ROIC 4.6% vs 4.0% |
IDA vs NWE — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
IDA vs NWE — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLIDALAGGINGNWE
NWENorthwestern Energy G…
2leads
IDAIDACORP, Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs NWEMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
NWE5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
IDA5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
IDA5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
IDA2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
NWE2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — IDA and NWE each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
IDA and NWE operate at a comparable scale, with $1.8B and $1.6B in trailing revenue. IDA is the more profitable business, keeping 18.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to NWE's 10.2%. On growth, NWE holds the edge at +6.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | IDAIDACORP, Inc. | NWENorthwestern Ener… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.8B | $1.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $649M | $569M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $332M | $168M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$796M | -$148M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +36.3% | +61.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +21.6% | +19.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +18.6% | +10.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -44.6% | -9.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -6.7% | +6.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +10.0% | -17.6% |
Evenly matched — IDA and NWE each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
NWE leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 24.2x trailing earnings, NWE trades at a 1% valuation discount to IDA's 24.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NWE's 13.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than IDA's 17.5x.
| Metric | IDAIDACORP, Inc. | NWENorthwestern Ener… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $8.0B | $4.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $11.4B | $7.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 24.42x | 24.18x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 22.61x | 18.95x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 5.20x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 17.45x | 13.30x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.40x | 2.71x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.21x | 1.51x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
NWE leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
IDA leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
IDA delivers a 9.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $9 in annual profit, vs $6 for NWE. IDA carries lower financial leverage with a 1.02x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NWE's 1.14x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NWE scores 5/9 vs IDA's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | IDAIDACORP, Inc. | NWENorthwestern Ener… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.4% | +5.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.3% | +2.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.6% | +4.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +4.3% | +4.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.02x | 1.14x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.4B | $3.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $216M | $9M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.7B | $3.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.85x | 2.25x |
IDA leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
IDA leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in IDA five years ago would be worth $15,610 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,256 for NWE. Over the past 12 months, NWE leads with a +27.0% total return vs IDA's +26.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors IDA at 12.0% vs NWE's 9.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | IDAIDACORP, Inc. | NWENorthwestern Ener… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +14.6% | +10.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +26.5% | +27.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +40.6% | +32.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +56.1% | +22.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +136.7% | +63.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +12.0% | +9.8% |
IDA leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
IDA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
IDA is the less volatile stock with a 0.15 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NWE's 0.24 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | IDAIDACORP, Inc. | NWENorthwestern Ener… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.15x | 0.24x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $149.73 | $75.18 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $108.15 | $50.46 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +96.2% | +94.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 49.9 | 51.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 423K | 459K |
IDA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
NWE leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates IDA as "Buy" and NWE as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 2.5% upside for IDA (target: $148) vs -6.7% for NWE (target: $66). For income investors, NWE offers the higher dividend yield at 3.70% vs IDA's 2.39%.
| Metric | IDAIDACORP, Inc. | NWENorthwestern Ener… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $147.71 | $66.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 13 | 18 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.4% | +3.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 15 | 20 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3.44 | $2.63 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.0% | 0.0% |
NWE leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
IDA leads in 3 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). NWE leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Best OverallIDACORP, Inc. (IDA)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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IDA vs NWE: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is IDA or NWE a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Northwestern Energy Group Inc (NWE) is the stronger pick with 6.
4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 7% for IDACORP, Inc. (IDA). Northwestern Energy Group Inc (NWE) offers the better valuation at 24. 2x trailing P/E (18. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate IDACORP, Inc. (IDA) a "Buy" — based on 13 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 — IDA or NWE?
On trailing P/E, Northwestern Energy Group Inc (NWE) is the cheapest at 24.
2x versus IDACORP, Inc. at 24. 4x. On forward P/E, Northwestern Energy Group Inc is actually cheaper at 18. 9x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — IDA or NWE?
Over the past 5 years, IDACORP, Inc.
(IDA) delivered a total return of +56. 1%, compared to +22. 6% for Northwestern Energy Group Inc (NWE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IDA returned +136. 7% versus NWE's +63. 9%. 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 — IDA or NWE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), IDACORP, Inc.
(IDA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 15β versus Northwestern Energy Group Inc's 0. 24β — meaning NWE is approximately 64% more volatile than IDA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, IDACORP, Inc. (IDA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 102% versus 114% for Northwestern Energy Group Inc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — IDA or NWE?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Northwestern Energy Group Inc (NWE) is pulling ahead at 6.
4% versus -0. 7% for IDACORP, Inc. (IDA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: IDACORP, Inc. grew EPS 7. 3% year-over-year, compared to -19. 5% for Northwestern Energy Group Inc. Over a 3-year CAGR, IDA leads at 3. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — IDA or NWE?
IDACORP, Inc.
(IDA) is the more profitable company, earning 17. 8% net margin versus 11. 2% for Northwestern Energy Group Inc — meaning it keeps 17. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IDA leads at 21. 9% versus 20. 2% for NWE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NWE leads at 82. 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.
07Is IDA or NWE more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Northwestern Energy Group Inc (NWE) trades at 18.
9x forward P/E versus 22. 6x for IDACORP, Inc. — 3. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IDA: 2. 5% to $147. 71.
08Which pays a better dividend — IDA or NWE?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Northwestern Energy Group Inc (NWE) offers the highest yield at 3. 7%, versus 2. 4% for IDACORP, Inc. (IDA).
09Is IDA or NWE better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, IDACORP, Inc.
(IDA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 15), 2. 4% yield, +136. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (IDA: +136. 7%, NWE: +63. 9%), 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.
10What are the main differences between IDA and NWE?
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: IDA is a small-cap quality compounder stock; NWE is a small-cap income-oriented 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(IDA: -6.7% · NWE: 6.6%)Net Margin>
%
(IDA: 18.6% · NWE: 10.2%)P/E Ratio<
x
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