PNW vs IDA

For growth investors, Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (PNW) is the stronger pick with 4.

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 7% for IDACORP, Inc. (IDA). Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (PNW) offers the better valuation at 19. 7x trailing P/E (21. 1x 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, Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (PNW) is the cheapest at 19.

7x versus IDACORP, Inc. at 24. 3x. On forward P/E, Pinnacle West Capital Corporation is actually cheaper at 21. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: IDACORP, Inc. wins at 4. 79x versus Pinnacle West Capital Corporation's 28. 97x.

Over the past 5 years, IDACORP, Inc.

(IDA) delivered a total return of +54. 4%, compared to +35. 9% for Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (PNW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IDA returned +132. 6% versus PNW's +78. 9%. 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), Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (PNW) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

03β versus IDACORP, Inc. 's 0. 15β — meaning IDA is approximately -633% more volatile than PNW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, IDACORP, Inc. (IDA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 102% versus 3% for Pinnacle West Capital Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (PNW) is pulling ahead at 4.

2% 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 -3. 6% for Pinnacle West Capital Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, PNW leads at 7. 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.

IDACORP, Inc.

(IDA) is the more profitable company, earning 17. 8% net margin versus 11. 5% for Pinnacle West Capital Corporation — 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. 9% for PNW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PNW leads at 25. 4%, 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, IDACORP, Inc. (IDA) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 4. 79x versus Pinnacle West Capital Corporation's 28. 97x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (PNW) trades at 21. 1x forward P/E versus 22. 5x for IDACORP, Inc. — 1. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PNW: 3. 6% to $103. 11.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (PNW) offers the highest yield at 3. 5%, versus 2. 4% for IDACORP, Inc. (IDA).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (PNW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.

03), 3. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PNW: +78. 9%, IDA: +132. 6%), 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: PNW is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; IDA is a small-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.