SR vs NFG vs NJR vs SWX vs NWN

For growth investors, National Fuel Gas Company (NFG) is the stronger pick with 17.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -62. 0% for Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (SWX). National Fuel Gas Company (NFG) offers the better valuation at 14. 1x trailing P/E (10. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Spire Inc. (SR) a "Buy" — based on 15 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, National Fuel Gas Company (NFG) is the cheapest at 14.

1x versus Spire Inc. at 19. 6x. On forward P/E, National Fuel Gas Company is actually cheaper at 10. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Spire Inc. wins at 0. 66x versus Northwest Natural Holding Company's 4. 55x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, National Fuel Gas Company (NFG) delivered a total return of +71.

4%, compared to +8. 5% for Northwest Natural Holding Company (NWN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NJR returned +90. 4% versus NWN's +22. 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), New Jersey Resources Corporation (NJR) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

13β versus Spire Inc. 's 0. 06β — meaning SR is approximately -149% more volatile than NJR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (SWX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 89% versus 187% for Northwest Natural Holding Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), National Fuel Gas Company (NFG) is pulling ahead at 17.

1% versus -62. 0% for Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (SWX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: National Fuel Gas Company grew EPS 576. 2% 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.

National Fuel Gas Company (NFG) is the more profitable company, earning 22.

8% net margin versus 8. 8% for Northwest Natural Holding Company — meaning it keeps 22. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NFG leads at 35. 7% versus 21. 2% for SR. 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. 66x versus Northwest Natural Holding Company's 4. 55x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, National Fuel Gas Company (NFG) trades at 10. 3x forward P/E versus 21. 3x for Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. — 11. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NFG: 25. 9% to $101. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Northwest Natural Holding Company (NWN) offers the highest yield at 3. 8%, versus 2. 6% for National Fuel Gas Company (NFG).

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.

13), 3. 2% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NJR: +90. 4%, SR: +71. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (SR (Utilities) and NFG (Energy) and NJR (Utilities) and SWX (Utilities) and NWN (Utilities)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: SR is a small-cap income-oriented stock; NFG is a small-cap high-growth stock; NJR is a small-cap deep-value stock; SWX is a small-cap deep-value 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.