LNT vs NWE vs OTTR vs POR

For growth investors, Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT) is the stronger pick with 9.

6% 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 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.

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

4x versus Northwestern Energy Group Inc at 24. 6x. On forward P/E, Portland General Electric Company is actually cheaper at 14. 3x — 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: Otter Tail Corporation wins at 0. 69x versus Alliant Energy Corporation's 4. 27x — 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 +15. 8% for Portland General Electric Company (POR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: OTTR returned +241. 8% versus POR's +57. 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), Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

01β versus Otter Tail Corporation's 0. 42β — meaning OTTR is approximately 5467% more volatile than LNT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 59% versus 168% for Alliant Energy Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT) is pulling ahead at 9.

6% versus -2. 0% for Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Alliant Energy Corporation grew EPS 16. 7% year-over-year, compared to -19. 5% for Northwestern Energy Group Inc. Over a 3-year CAGR, POR leads at 8. 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.

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

2% net margin versus 9. 1% for Portland General Electric Company — 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 16. 4% for POR. 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.

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 Alliant Energy Corporation's 4. 27x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Portland General Electric Company (POR) trades at 14. 3x forward P/E versus 21. 0x for Alliant Energy Corporation — 6. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for POR: 7. 6% to $52. 33.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Portland General Electric Company (POR) offers the highest yield at 4. 2%, versus 2. 4% for Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR).

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.

01), 2. 8% yield, +141. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LNT: +141. 2%, 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: LNT is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; NWE is a small-cap income-oriented stock; OTTR is a small-cap deep-value stock; POR 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.