PEG vs FE vs EXC vs ED vs SO

For growth investors, Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PEG) is the stronger pick with 18.

3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 3% for Exelon Corporation (EXC). Exelon Corporation (EXC) offers the better valuation at 16. 2x trailing P/E (15. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PEG) a "Buy" — based on 32 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, Exelon Corporation (EXC) is the cheapest at 16.

2x versus FirstEnergy Corp. at 25. 7x. On forward P/E, Exelon Corporation is actually cheaper at 15. 4x. 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 Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated's 7. 71x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Exelon Corporation (EXC) delivered a total return of +61.

8%, compared to +41. 6% for Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PEG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SO returned +136. 5% versus FE's +79. 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. 40β versus Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated's 0. 27β — meaning PEG is approximately -169% more volatile than ED relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 119% versus 194% for FirstEnergy Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PEG) is pulling ahead at 18.

3% versus 5. 3% for Exelon Corporation (EXC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated grew EPS 18. 9% year-over-year, compared to -1. 8% for The Southern Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, EXC leads at 8. 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.

Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PEG) is the more profitable company, earning 17.

3% net margin versus 6. 8% for FirstEnergy Corp. — meaning it keeps 17. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SO leads at 24. 6% versus 17. 3% for ED. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PEG leads at 69. 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 Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated's 7. 71x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Exelon Corporation (EXC) trades at 15. 4x forward P/E versus 20. 1x for The Southern Company — 4. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PEG: 16. 8% to $90. 88.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) offers the highest yield at 3. 9%, versus 2. 9% for The Southern Company (SO).

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. 40), 3. 1% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ED: +84. 4%, PEG: +111. 7%), 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: PEG is a mid-cap high-growth stock; FE is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; EXC is a mid-cap deep-value stock; ED is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; SO is a mid-cap quality compounder 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.