Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT) vs Entergy Corporation (ETR) 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 | ETR | 9.0% revenue growth vs LNT's -1.1% |
| Value | LNT | Lower P/E (21.2x vs 24.4x), PEG 7.26 vs 9.61 |
| Quality / Margins | LNT | 19.1% net margin vs ETR's 13.7% |
| Stability / Safety | LNT | Beta 0.21 vs ETR's 0.43, lower leverage |
| Dividends | LNT | 2.6% yield, 21-year raise streak, vs ETR's 2.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | ETR | +25.5% vs LNT's +15.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | LNT | 3.3% ROA vs ETR's 2.5%, ROIC 4.0% vs 5.0% |
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
Alliant Energy is a regulated utility holding company that provides electricity and natural gas services to retail and wholesale customers in the Midwest. It generates revenue primarily from regulated utility operations — electric service (~70% of revenue) and natural gas service (~30%) — with rates approved by state commissions. Its key advantage is its regulated monopoly status in its service territories, providing stable cash flows through cost recovery mechanisms and a predictable return on invested capital.
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.
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
LNT leads in 5 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). ETR leads in 1 (Total Returns).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
ETR is the larger business by revenue, generating $12.9B annually — 3.0x LNT's $4.3B. LNT is the more profitable business, keeping 19.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ETR's 13.7%. On growth, LNT holds the edge at +11.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | LNTAlliant Energy Co… | ETREntergy Corporati… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.3B | $12.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.9B | $5.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $818M | $1.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $339M | -$2.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +41.1% | +29.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +24.6% | +23.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +19.1% | +13.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +7.9% | -21.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +11.9% | +7.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -5.2% | -21.5% |
Valuation Metrics
At 26.9x trailing earnings, LNT trades at a 2% valuation discount to ETR's 27.4x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), LNT offers better value at 9.23x vs ETR's 10.81x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | LNTAlliant Energy Co… | ETREntergy Corporati… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $18.6B | $48.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $28.9B | $79.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 26.89x | 27.39x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 21.16x | 24.37x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 9.23x | 10.81x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 17.44x | 14.19x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.67x | 3.74x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.65x | 2.80x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
LNT delivers a 11.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $10 for ETR. LNT carries lower financial leverage with a 1.49x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ETR's 1.80x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ETR scores 6/9 vs LNT's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | LNTAlliant Energy Co… | ETREntergy Corporati… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +11.2% | +10.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.3% | +2.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.0% | +5.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +4.6% | +5.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.49x | 1.80x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $10.3B | $30.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $81M | $46M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $10.4B | $30.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.97x | 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 $17,318 for LNT. Over the past 12 months, ETR leads with a +25.5% total return vs LNT's +15.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ETR at 30.4% vs LNT's 15.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | LNTAlliant Energy Co… | ETREntergy Corporati… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +11.1% | +14.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +15.3% | +25.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +52.5% | +121.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +73.2% | +169.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +160.1% | +252.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +15.1% | +30.4% |
Risk & Volatility
LNT is the less volatile stock with a 0.21 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ETR's 0.43 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | LNTAlliant Energy Co… | ETREntergy Corporati… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.21x | 0.43x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $72.38 | $107.20 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $57.09 | $75.57 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.9% | +99.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 66.8 | 69.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.0M | 2.1M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LNT as "Buy" and ETR as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 3.1% upside for LNT (target: $75) vs -2.3% for ETR (target: $105). For income investors, LNT offers the higher dividend yield at 2.65% vs ETR's 2.23%.
| Metric | LNTAlliant Energy Co… | ETREntergy Corporati… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $74.57 | $104.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 23 | 31 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.6% | +2.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 21 | 11 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.92 | $2.39 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliant Energy Corp… (LNT) | 100 | 124.92 | +24.9% |
| Entergy Corporation (ETR) | 100 | 163.34 | +63.3% |
Entergy Corporation (ETR) returned +169% over 5 years vs Alliant Energy Corp… (LNT)'s +73%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliant Energy Corp… (LNT) | $3.3B | $4.0B | +19.9% |
| Entergy Corporation (ETR) | $10.8B | $12.9B | +19.4% |
Entergy Corporation's revenue grew from $10.8B (2016) to $12.9B (2025) — a 2.0% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliant Energy Corp… (LNT) | 11.5% | 17.3% | +50.8% |
| Entergy Corporation (ETR) | -5.2% | 13.7% | +363.2% |
Entergy Corporation's net margin went from -5% (2016) to 14% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliant Energy Corp… (LNT) | 21.4 | 22 | +2.8% |
| Entergy Corporation (ETR) | 35.7 | 23.6 | -33.9% |
Alliant Energy Corporation has traded in a 19x–24x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~27x. Entergy Corporation has traded in a 9x–36x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~27x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliant Energy Corp… (LNT) | 1.64 | 2.69 | +64.0% |
| Entergy Corporation (ETR) | -1.63 | 3.91 | +339.9% |
Entergy Corporation's EPS grew from $-1.63 (2016) to $3.91 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Alliant Energy Corporation generated $-1B FCF in 2024 (-84% vs 2021). Entergy Corporation generated $-3B FCF in 2025 (+32% vs 2021).
LNT vs ETR: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LNT or ETR a better buy right now?
Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT) offers the better valuation at 26.9x trailing P/E (21.2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT) a "Buy" — based on 23 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 — LNT or ETR?
On trailing P/E, Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT) is the cheapest at 26.9x versus Entergy Corporation at 27.4x. On forward P/E, Alliant Energy Corporation is actually cheaper at 21.2x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Alliant Energy Corporation wins at 7.26x versus Entergy Corporation's 9.61x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — LNT or ETR?
Over the past 5 years, Entergy Corporation (ETR) delivered a total return of +169.3%, compared to +73.2% for Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT). 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 LNT's +160.1%. 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 — LNT or ETR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.21β versus Entergy Corporation's 0.43β — meaning ETR is approximately 105% more volatile than LNT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 149% versus 180% for Entergy Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — LNT or ETR?
Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT) 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: ETR leads at 23.6% versus 22.3% for LNT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LNT leads at 44.7%, 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 LNT or ETR 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, Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 7.26x versus Entergy Corporation's 9.61x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT) trades at 21.2x forward P/E versus 24.4x for Entergy Corporation — 3.2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LNT: 3.1% to $74.57.
07Which pays a better dividend — LNT or ETR?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT) offers the highest yield at 2.6%, versus 2.2% for Entergy Corporation (ETR).
08Is LNT or ETR better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.21), 2.6% yield, +160.1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LNT: +160.1%, ETR: +252.2%), 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 LNT and ETR?
Both stocks operate in the Utilities sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. 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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