AES (AES) Stock Analysis

November 11, 2026

This is a peer-relative look at AES (AES): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Utilities peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

Company profile fields for AES (AES)
Profile Item	AES
Name	The AES Corporation
Country/Region	United States
GICS Sector	Utilities
GICS Industry Group	Utilities
GICS Industry	Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers
GICS Sub-Industry	Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders
Market Capitalization	10.61 billion USD
Currency	USD
Exchange	NYSE
Listing Date	June 26, 1991
Security Type	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AES

GSPC

AES (AES) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for AES (AES) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for AES (AES) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

AES (AES) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: AES	Industry group median
Total Return (1Y)	10.79%	5.85%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	3.44%	15.48%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-5.12%	8.14%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AES

GSPC

AES (AES) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for AES (AES) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

AES (AES) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: AES	Industry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	25.19%	22.23%
Beta (5Y)	0.93	0.53
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-63.43%	-36.85%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. AES is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

AES (AES) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: AES	Industry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.26	0.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.33	0.12

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

AES (AES) posts ROE of 8.68%, roughly around the peer group’s normal range. Shareholders’ equity is producing a return that looks broadly typical for the industry.

AES

Utilities industry group

8.68%

Group distribution

Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
Median: 9.44%
AES: 8.68%
Q1: 7.56%
Min: 2.17%

Largest peers

CEG: 15.06%
NEE: 14.06%
SO: 11.90%
AEP: 10.60%
NGG: 10.31%
DUK: 10.10%
AES: 8.68%

Where AES (AES) stands on ROE within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

AES (AES) keeps 13.16% of revenue as net profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal net margin range. Its full cost stack is taking a typical share of sales for the industry.

AES

Utilities industry group

13.16%

Group distribution

Max: 28.78%
Q3: 17.30%
AES: 13.16%
Median: 12.73%
Q1: 9.18%
Min: -0.20%

Largest peers

NEE: 40.37%
NGG: 21.15%
DUK: 16.16%
SO: 16.00%
AEP: 14.21%
AES: 13.16%
CEG: 11.08%

Where AES (AES) stands on net margin within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

AES (AES) turns 23.89% of revenue into operating profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal operating margin range. Its core cost structure looks typical for the industry.

AES

Utilities industry group

23.89%

Group distribution

Max: 53.83%
Q3: 31.12%
AES: 23.89%
Median: 23.62%
Q1: 15.45%
Min: -4.90%

Largest peers

SO: 36.92%
NEE: 33.00%
DUK: 30.03%
NGG: 28.64%
AEP: 26.89%
AES: 23.89%
CEG: 8.66%

Where AES (AES) stands on operating margin within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Profitability Metrics

AES (AES) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: AES	Industry group median
ROE (TTM)	8.68%	9.44%
ROA (TTM)	3.13%	3.08%
Net Margin (TTM)	13.16%	12.73%
Operating Margin (TTM)	23.89%	23.62%
Gross Margin (TTM)	21.34%	44.03%

Growth

Revenue Growth

AES (AES) grew revenue -0.37%, in the lower peer quartile. The top line is expanding more slowly than at most peers, which can reflect softer demand, lost share, or weaker pricing.

AES (AES): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Utilities industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

AES (AES) grew earnings per share -46.61%, in the lower peer quartile. Per-share profits are advancing more slowly than at most peers, so margins, costs, or share count deserve a closer look.

AES (AES): EPS Growth across different time periods, set against Utilities industry-group medians.

Growth Metrics

AES (AES) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: AES	Industry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-0.37%	8.45%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-1.03%	3.87%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-46.61%	3.93%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	5.25%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

AES (AES) has current ratio of 0.86, in the healthier middle range for its industry. The short-term asset cushion looks balanced relative to peers rather than stretched thin.

AES

Utilities industry group

0.86

Group distribution

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.88
AES: 0.86
Q1: 0.66
Min: 0.29

Largest peers

CEG: 1.46
AES: 0.86
SO: 0.84
DUK: 0.68
NGG: 0.62
NEE: 0.53
AEP: 0.51

Where AES (AES) stands on current ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

AES (AES) has debt-to-equity ratio of 2.43, in the higher-leverage quartile for its industry. The heavier reliance on borrowing can make earnings, rates, or refinancing conditions matter more.

AES

Utilities industry group

2.43

Group distribution

Max: 2.63
AES: 2.43
Q3: 1.77
Median: 1.35
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

AES: 2.43
SO: 1.68
DUK: 1.63
AEP: 1.62
NEE: 1.53
NGG: 1.32
CEG: 0.76

Where AES (AES) stands on debt-to-equity ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Financial Strength Metrics

AES (AES) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: AES	Industry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.86	0.88
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.43	1.35
Net Debt / EBITDA	7.28	5.31

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

AES (AES) has dividend yield of 4.73%, in the upper peer-yield quartile while still inside the industry range. The dividend offers more cash income per dollar of share price than most peers, though payout coverage still matters.

AES

Utilities industry group

4.73%

Group distribution

Max: 6.66%
AES: 4.73%
Q3: 3.58%
Median: 2.85%
Q1: 0.66%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

AES: 4.73%
DUK: 3.29%
SO: 3.21%
AEP: 3.00%
NEE: 2.76%
CEG: 0.68%
NGG: 0.57%

Where AES (AES) stands on dividend yield within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

AES (AES) has payout ratio of 28.27%, below the peer payout band. More earnings are being kept inside the business, but that is a dividend-policy choice rather than a coverage advantage on its own.

AES

Utilities industry group

28.27%

Group distribution

Max: 113.04%
Q3: 68.72%
Median: 56.38%
Q1: 32.38%
AES: 28.27%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

NGG: 71.97%
SO: 68.49%
DUK: 62.76%
AEP: 62.09%
NEE: 43.89%
AES: 28.27%
CEG: 15.92%

Where AES (AES) stands on payout ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

AES (AES) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: AES	Industry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)	4.73%	2.85%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	28.27%	56.38%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

AES (AES) trades at P/E ratio of 5.97, in the cheaper earnings-multiple quartile for its industry. Investors are paying less for each dollar of TTM earnings than they usually pay for comparable businesses.

AES

Utilities industry group

5.97

Group distribution

Max: 31.22
Q3: 23.30
Median: 19.64
Q1: 15.17
AES: 5.97
Min: 3.34

Largest peers

CEG: 24.43
SO: 21.08
AEP: 20.67
DUK: 18.74
NEE: 15.67
NGG: 15.54
AES: 5.97

Where AES (AES) stands on P/E ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

AES (AES) trades at 0.78 on P/S ratio, in the lower sales-valuation quartile for its industry. That points to a cheaper revenue stream than most peers, with margin quality still doing the heavy lifting.

AES

Utilities industry group

0.78

Group distribution

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.63
Median: 2.63
Q1: 1.52
AES: 0.78
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

NEE: 6.33
NGG: 4.46
SO: 3.45
DUK: 2.99
AEP: 2.92
CEG: 2.83
AES: 0.78

Where AES (AES) stands on P/S ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

AES (AES) trades at 1.86 on P/B ratio, roughly in line with the industry’s normal price-to-book range. Its balance sheet is not being priced at a clear discount or premium versus peers.

AES

Utilities industry group

1.86

Group distribution

Max: 3.12
Q3: 2.21
AES: 1.86
Median: 1.83
Q1: 1.46
Min: 0.34

Largest peers

NGG: 9.36
NEE: 2.97
CEG: 2.78
SO: 2.56
AEP: 2.10
AES: 1.86
DUK: 1.83

Where AES (AES) stands on P/B ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

AES (AES) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: AES	Industry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)	5.97	19.64
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.78	2.63
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.86	1.83
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-30.54%	-7.11%