IDA vs OTTR

For growth investors, IDACORP, Inc.

(IDA) is the stronger pick with -0. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 0% for Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR). Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR) offers the better valuation at 13. 4x trailing P/E (15. 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.

On trailing P/E, Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR) is the cheapest at 13.

4x versus IDACORP, Inc. at 24. 3x. On forward P/E, Otter Tail Corporation is actually cheaper at 15. 9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Otter Tail Corporation wins at 0. 69x versus IDACORP, Inc. 's 4. 79x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR) delivered a total return of +98.

1%, compared to +54. 4% for IDACORP, Inc. (IDA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: OTTR returned +241. 8% versus IDA's +132. 6%. 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), IDACORP, Inc.

(IDA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 15β versus Otter Tail Corporation's 0. 42β — meaning OTTR is approximately 191% more volatile than IDA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 59% versus 102% for IDACORP, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), IDACORP, Inc.

(IDA) is pulling ahead at -0. 7% versus -2. 0% for Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: IDACORP, Inc. grew EPS 7. 3% year-over-year, compared to -8. 6% for Otter Tail Corporation. 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.

Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR) is the more profitable company, earning 21.

2% net margin versus 17. 8% for IDACORP, Inc. — meaning it keeps 21. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: OTTR leads at 26. 5% versus 21. 9% for IDA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — OTTR leads at 27. 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, Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 69x versus IDACORP, Inc. 's 4. 79x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR) trades at 15. 9x forward P/E versus 22. 5x for IDACORP, Inc. — 6. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IDA: 3. 1% to $147. 71.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

IDACORP, Inc. (IDA) offers the highest yield at 2. 4%, versus 2. 4% for Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR).

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, +132. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (IDA: +132. 6%, OTTR: +241. 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: IDA is a small-cap quality compounder stock; OTTR is a small-cap deep-value 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.