AEE vs. ATO: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at AEE and ATO, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Overview
AEE’s market capitalization stands at 26.57 billion USD, while ATO’s is 24.19 billion USD, indicating their market valuations are broadly comparable.
With betas of 0.51 for AEE and 0.70 for ATO, both stocks show similar sensitivity to overall market movements.
| Symbol | AEE | ATO |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Ameren Corporation | Atmos Energy Corporation |
| Country | US | US |
| Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| Industry | Regulated Electric | Regulated Gas |
| CEO | Martin J. Lyons Jr. | John Kevin Akers |
| Price | 96.02 USD | 152.28 USD |
| Market Cap | 26.57 billion USD | 24.19 billion USD |
| Beta | 0.51 | 0.70 |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| IPO Date | January 2, 1998 | December 28, 1983 |
| ADR | No | No |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of AEE and ATO by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Profitability
Return on Equity
AEE
10.15%
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 18.07%
- Q3
- 12.49%
- Median
- 10.00%
- Q1
- 8.48%
- Min
- 5.02%
AEE’s Return on Equity of 10.15% is on par with the norm for the Regulated Electric industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
ATO
9.05%
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 11.45%
- Q3
- 11.45%
- Median
- 9.01%
- Q1
- 7.53%
- Min
- 6.41%
ATO’s Return on Equity of 9.05% is on par with the norm for the Regulated Gas industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
Return on Invested Capital
AEE
3.42%
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 5.26%
- Q3
- 4.57%
- Median
- 3.97%
- Q1
- 3.33%
- Min
- 1.92%
AEE’s Return on Invested Capital of 3.42% is in line with the norm for the Regulated Electric industry, reflecting a standard level of efficiency in generating profits from its capital base.
ATO
4.73%
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 8.99%
- Q3
- 5.97%
- Median
- 4.43%
- Q1
- 0.25%
- Min
- 0.00%
ATO’s Return on Invested Capital of 4.73% is in line with the norm for the Regulated Gas industry, reflecting a standard level of efficiency in generating profits from its capital base.
Net Profit Margin
AEE
15.31%
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 22.24%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 13.10%
- Q1
- 11.03%
- Min
- 3.79%
AEE’s Net Profit Margin of 15.31% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Regulated Electric industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
ATO
25.35%
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 25.35%
- Q3
- 14.67%
- Median
- 8.48%
- Q1
- 4.66%
- Min
- -6.69%
A Net Profit Margin of 25.35% places ATO in the upper quartile for the Regulated Gas industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
Operating Profit Margin
AEE
19.93%
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 31.57%
- Q3
- 25.65%
- Median
- 21.93%
- Q1
- 17.87%
- Min
- 8.99%
AEE’s Operating Profit Margin of 19.93% is around the midpoint for the Regulated Electric industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
ATO
33.30%
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 45.15%
- Q3
- 28.16%
- Median
- 19.42%
- Q1
- 14.26%
- Min
- 3.90%
An Operating Profit Margin of 33.30% places ATO in the upper quartile for the Regulated Gas industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | AEE | ATO |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 10.15% | 9.05% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 2.65% | 4.21% |
| Return on Invested Capital (TTM) | 3.42% | 4.73% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 15.31% | 25.35% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 19.93% | 33.30% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 61.78% | 54.44% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio
AEE
0.86
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 1.48
- Q3
- 1.06
- Median
- 0.86
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.28
AEE’s Current Ratio of 0.86 aligns with the median group of the Regulated Electric industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
ATO
1.33
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 1.57
- Q3
- 1.15
- Median
- 1.00
- Q1
- 0.69
- Min
- 0.38
ATO’s Current Ratio of 1.33 is in the upper quartile for the Regulated Gas industry. This signifies a strong liquidity position, suggesting the company is well-equipped to cover its immediate liabilities compared to its peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
AEE
0.00
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 2.38
- Q3
- 1.97
- Median
- 1.65
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- 0.27
At 0.00, AEE’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio is unusually low for the Regulated Electric industry. This highlights a conservative capital structure, suggesting the company prioritizes financial stability over aggressive growth funded by debt.
ATO
0.65
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 1.67
- Q3
- 1.53
- Median
- 1.38
- Q1
- 0.83
- Min
- 0.02
Falling into the lower quartile for the Regulated Gas industry, ATO’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.65 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
Interest Coverage Ratio
AEE
2.30
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 3.07
- Q3
- 2.63
- Median
- 2.41
- Q1
- 2.30
- Min
- 1.87
AEE’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 2.30 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Regulated Electric industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
ATO
8.02
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 4.65
- Q3
- 3.07
- Median
- 2.65
- Q1
- 1.77
- Min
- 1.22
With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 8.02, ATO demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Regulated Gas industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | AEE | ATO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 0.86 | 1.33 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 0.62 | 1.25 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.00 | 0.65 |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM) | 0.00 | 0.32 |
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM) | -0.00 | 3.49 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 2.30 | 8.02 |
Growth
The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for AEE and ATO. These metrics are based on the companies’ annual financial reports.
Revenue Growth
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth
Free Cash Flow Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield
AEE
2.87%
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 6.60%
- Q3
- 4.03%
- Median
- 3.30%
- Q1
- 3.06%
- Min
- 0.00%
AEE’s Dividend Yield of 2.87% is in the lower quartile for the Regulated Electric industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.
ATO
2.24%
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 6.99%
- Q3
- 4.15%
- Median
- 4.00%
- Q1
- 2.73%
- Min
- 0.00%
ATO’s Dividend Yield of 2.24% is in the lower quartile for the Regulated Gas industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.
Dividend Payout Ratio
AEE
60.08%
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 123.06%
- Q3
- 69.07%
- Median
- 62.27%
- Q1
- 52.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
AEE’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 60.08% is within the typical range for the Regulated Electric industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
ATO
46.20%
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 87.89%
- Q3
- 74.00%
- Median
- 60.41%
- Q1
- 45.73%
- Min
- 0.00%
ATO’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 46.20% is within the typical range for the Regulated Gas industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | AEE | ATO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.87% | 2.24% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 60.08% | 46.20% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
AEE
21.43
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 26.46
- Q3
- 21.71
- Median
- 19.07
- Q1
- 17.74
- Min
- 12.74
AEE’s P/E Ratio of 21.43 is within the middle range for the Regulated Electric industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
ATO
21.32
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 23.74
- Q3
- 22.05
- Median
- 16.86
- Q1
- 15.06
- Min
- 10.79
ATO’s P/E Ratio of 21.32 is within the middle range for the Regulated Gas industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Forward P/E to Growth Ratio
AEE
2.80
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 4.21
- Q3
- 3.10
- Median
- 2.78
- Q1
- 2.34
- Min
- 1.46
AEE’s Forward PEG Ratio of 2.80 is within the middle range of its peers in the Regulated Electric industry. This suggests a reasonable balance between the stock’s price and its expected growth, aligning with sector valuation norms.
ATO
3.14
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 3.70
- Q3
- 3.36
- Median
- 3.17
- Q1
- 2.55
- Min
- 2.21
ATO’s Forward PEG Ratio of 3.14 is within the middle range of its peers in the Regulated Gas industry. This suggests a reasonable balance between the stock’s price and its expected growth, aligning with sector valuation norms.
Price-to-Sales Ratio
AEE
3.36
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 3.88
- Q3
- 3.19
- Median
- 2.68
- Q1
- 1.96
- Min
- 0.27
AEE’s P/S Ratio of 3.36 is in the upper echelon for the Regulated Electric industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
ATO
5.39
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 3.36
- Q3
- 2.16
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 1.06
- Min
- 0.32
With a P/S Ratio of 5.39, ATO trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Regulated Gas industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
Price-to-Book Ratio
AEE
2.12
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 2.95
- Q3
- 2.37
- Median
- 1.89
- Q1
- 1.43
- Min
- 0.55
AEE’s P/B Ratio of 2.12 is within the conventional range for the Regulated Electric industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
ATO
1.84
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 2.11
- Q3
- 1.88
- Median
- 1.55
- Q1
- 1.24
- Min
- 1.10
ATO’s P/B Ratio of 1.84 is within the conventional range for the Regulated Gas industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | AEE | ATO |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 21.43 | 21.32 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 2.80 | 3.14 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 3.36 | 5.39 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 2.12 | 1.84 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | -14.65 | -18.53 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 7.41 | 14.09 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 3.36 | 7.17 |