UTL vs AVA

For growth investors, Unitil Corporation (UTL) is the stronger pick with 8.

3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 3% for Avista Corporation (AVA). Unitil Corporation (UTL) offers the better valuation at 16. 6x trailing P/E (15. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Unitil Corporation (UTL) a "Hold" — based on 9 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, Unitil Corporation (UTL) is the cheapest at 16.

6x versus Avista Corporation at 17. 1x. On forward P/E, Unitil Corporation is actually cheaper at 15. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Unitil Corporation wins at 2. 25x versus Avista Corporation's 3. 44x.

Over the past 5 years, Avista Corporation (AVA) delivered a total return of +5.

6%, compared to +2. 6% for Unitil Corporation (UTL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UTL returned +63. 5% versus AVA's +39. 6%. 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), Avista Corporation (AVA) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

00β versus Unitil Corporation's 0. 10β — meaning UTL is approximately -3487% more volatile than AVA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Avista Corporation (AVA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 125% versus 154% for Unitil Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Unitil Corporation (UTL) is pulling ahead at 8.

3% versus 1. 3% for Avista Corporation (AVA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Avista Corporation grew EPS 4. 4% year-over-year, compared to 1. 4% for Unitil Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, AVA leads at 4. 7% 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.

Avista Corporation (AVA) is the more profitable company, earning 9.

8% net margin versus 9. 4% for Unitil Corporation — meaning it keeps 9. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UTL leads at 18. 9% versus 18. 0% for AVA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UTL leads at 41. 3%, 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, Unitil Corporation (UTL) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 25x versus Avista Corporation's 3. 44x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Unitil Corporation (UTL) trades at 15. 0x forward P/E versus 15. 8x for Avista Corporation — 0. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UTL: 15. 7% to $57. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Avista Corporation (AVA) offers the highest yield at 4. 8%, versus 3. 5% for Unitil Corporation (UTL).

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

00), 4. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AVA: +39. 6%, UTL: +63. 5%), 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.

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.