UGI vs SR

For growth investors, UGI Corporation (UGI) is the stronger pick with 1.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 5% for Spire Inc. (SR). UGI Corporation (UGI) offers the better valuation at 11. 3x trailing P/E (11. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate UGI Corporation (UGI) a "Buy" — based on 10 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, UGI Corporation (UGI) is the cheapest at 11.

3x versus Spire Inc. at 19. 7x. On forward P/E, UGI Corporation is actually cheaper at 11. 5x. 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 UGI Corporation's 2. 82x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Spire Inc.

(SR) delivered a total return of +32. 1%, compared to -5. 7% for UGI Corporation (UGI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SR returned +73. 8% versus UGI's +17. 2%. 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), Spire Inc.

(SR) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 06β versus UGI Corporation's 0. 27β — meaning UGI is approximately 314% more volatile than SR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Spire Inc. (SR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 154% versus 158% for UGI Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), UGI Corporation (UGI) is pulling ahead at 1.

1% versus -4. 5% for Spire Inc. (SR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: UGI Corporation grew EPS 147. 2% year-over-year, compared to 4. 3% for Spire Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SR leads at 4. 0% 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.

Spire Inc.

(SR) is the more profitable company, earning 11. 0% net margin versus 9. 3% for UGI Corporation — meaning it keeps 11. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SR leads at 21. 2% versus 15. 2% for UGI. 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 UGI Corporation's 2. 82x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, UGI Corporation (UGI) trades at 11. 5x forward P/E versus 16. 6x for Spire Inc. — 5. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UGI: 19. 9% to $42. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

UGI Corporation (UGI) offers the highest yield at 4. 2%, versus 3. 6% for Spire Inc. (SR).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Spire Inc.

(SR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 06), 3. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SR: +73. 8%, UGI: +17. 2%), 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: UGI is a small-cap deep-value stock; SR 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.