RGCO vs NJR vs SR vs NWN

For growth investors, New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR) is the stronger pick with 13.

9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 5% for Spire Inc. (SR). New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR) offers the better valuation at 16. 7x trailing P/E (16. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate RGC Resources, Inc. (RGCO) a "Buy" — based on 4 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, New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR) is the cheapest at 16.

7x versus Spire Inc. at 19. 6x. On forward P/E, New Jersey Resources Corporation is actually cheaper at 16. 4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Spire Inc. wins at 0. 67x versus Northwest Natural Holding Company's 4. 58x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR) delivered a total return of +46.

6%, compared to +8. 5% for Northwest Natural Holding Company (NWN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RGCO returned +105. 4% versus NWN's +22. 7%. 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), New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

17β versus RGC Resources, Inc. 's 0. 62β — meaning RGCO is approximately -472% more volatile than NJR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, RGC Resources, Inc. (RGCO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 131% versus 187% for Northwest Natural Holding Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR) is pulling ahead at 13.

9% versus -4. 5% for Spire Inc. (SR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Northwest Natural Holding Company grew EPS 36. 5% year-over-year, compared to 4. 3% for Spire Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NWN leads at 7. 5% 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.

New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR) is the more profitable company, earning 16.

5% net margin versus 8. 8% for Northwest Natural Holding Company — meaning it keeps 16. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NWN leads at 31. 4% versus 19. 4% for RGCO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SR leads at 78. 1%, 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, Spire Inc. (SR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 67x versus Northwest Natural Holding Company's 4. 58x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR) trades at 16. 4x forward P/E versus 17. 7x for RGC Resources, Inc. — 1. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SR: 14. 3% to $97. 75.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Northwest Natural Holding Company (NWN) offers the highest yield at 3. 8%, versus 3. 2% for New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR).

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

17), 3. 2% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NJR: +90. 5%, RGCO: +105. 4%), 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: RGCO is a small-cap income-oriented stock; NJR is a small-cap deep-value stock; SR is a small-cap income-oriented stock; NWN is a small-cap income-oriented 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.