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AEE vs. CMS: Ameren vs. CMS Energy Stock Comparison

How do Ameren (AEE) and CMS Energy (CMS) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Ameren (AEE) and CMS Energy (CMS) are both classified in the Multi-Utilities sub-industry within the broader Multi-Utilities industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Ameren (AEE) and CMS Energy (CMS)
Profile ItemAEECMS
NameAmeren CorporationCMS Energy Corporation Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryMulti-UtilitiesMulti-Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryMulti-UtilitiesMulti-Utilities
Market Capitalization31.24 billion USD21.70 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1998February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AEE
CMS
GSPC
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Ameren (AEE) vs. CMS Energy (CMS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Ameren (AEE) and CMS Energy (CMS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Ameren (AEE) and CMS Energy (CMS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Ameren (AEE) and CMS Energy (CMS)
MetricAEECMS
Total Return (1Y)11.92%-1.93%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)17.94%11.79%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)9.71%6.25%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AEE
CMS
GSPC
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Ameren (AEE) vs. CMS Energy (CMS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Ameren (AEE) and CMS Energy (CMS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Ameren (AEE) and CMS Energy (CMS)
MetricAEECMS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)17.76%17.58%
Beta (5Y)0.400.31
Max Drawdown (5Y)-27.46%-28.04%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.74M3.84M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AEE and CMS are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Ameren (AEE) and CMS Energy (CMS)
MetricAEECMS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.43-0.35
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.62-0.49

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Ameren (AEE) at 11.78% is around its peer norm for ROE, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 5.31% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker returns on shareholders’ equity.

AEE

Utilities industry group

11.78%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
AEE
11.78%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%

CMS

Utilities industry group

5.31%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
CMS
5.31%
Min
2.17%
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Ameren (AEE) vs. CMS Energy (CMS): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Ameren (AEE) at 18.59% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of CMS Energy (CMS) at 9.72%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

AEE

Utilities industry group

18.59%

Max
28.78%
AEE
18.59%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%

CMS

Utilities industry group

9.72%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
CMS
9.72%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%
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Ameren (AEE) vs. CMS Energy (CMS): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Ameren (AEE) at 31.23% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of CMS Energy (CMS) at 28.45%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

AEE

Utilities industry group

31.23%

Max
53.83%
AEE
31.23%
Q3
31.12%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%

CMS

Utilities industry group

28.45%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
CMS
28.45%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%
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Ameren (AEE) vs. CMS Energy (CMS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ameren (AEE) and CMS Energy (CMS)
MetricAEECMS
ROE (TTM)11.78%5.31%
ROA (TTM)3.12%3.07%
Net Margin (TTM)18.59%9.72%
Operating Margin (TTM)31.23%28.45%
Gross Margin (TTM)52.47%40.76%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Ameren (AEE) at 15.43% and CMS Energy (CMS) at 13.63% sit in the top peer quartile for revenue growth, so each is growing its top line faster than typical industry peers.

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Ameren (AEE) vs. CMS Energy (CMS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Ameren (AEE) at 21.04% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 4.19% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for AEE.

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Ameren (AEE) vs. CMS Energy (CMS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ameren (AEE) and CMS Energy (CMS)
MetricAEECMS
Revenue Growth (YoY)15.43%13.63%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.41%-0.22%
EPS Growth (YoY)21.04%4.19%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)8.92%6.84%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Ameren (AEE) at 0.74 and CMS Energy (CMS) at 0.95 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

AEE

Utilities industry group

0.74

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
AEE
0.74
Q1
0.66
Min
0.29

CMS

Utilities industry group

0.95

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
CMS
0.95
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
Min
0.29
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Ameren (AEE) vs. CMS Energy (CMS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Ameren (AEE) at 1.57 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 1.96 uses more debt funding than most peers.

AEE

Utilities industry group

1.57

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
AEE
1.57
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00

CMS

Utilities industry group

1.96

Max
2.63
CMS
1.96
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00
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Ameren (AEE) vs. CMS Energy (CMS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Ameren (AEE) and CMS Energy (CMS)
MetricAEECMS
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.740.95
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.571.96
Net Debt / EBITDA5.556.33

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

CMS Energy (CMS) at 3.21% pays a yield in its industry’s typical range, while Ameren (AEE) at 0.63% falls in the bottom quartile of its peers.

AEE

Utilities industry group

0.63%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
AEE
0.63%
Min
0.00%

CMS

Utilities industry group

3.21%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
CMS
3.21%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
Min
0.00%
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Ameren (AEE) vs. CMS Energy (CMS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Ameren (AEE) at 51.48% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 80.45% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

AEE

Utilities industry group

51.48%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
AEE
51.48%
Q1
32.38%
Min
0.00%

CMS

Utilities industry group

80.45%

Max
113.04%
CMS
80.45%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
Min
0.00%
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Ameren (AEE) vs. CMS Energy (CMS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ameren (AEE) and CMS Energy (CMS)
MetricAEECMS
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.63%3.21%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)51.48%80.45%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Ameren (AEE) at 19.63 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 24.71 sits in the richer quartile — CMS needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

AEE

Utilities industry group

19.63

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
AEE
19.63
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34

CMS

Utilities industry group

24.71

Max
31.22
CMS
24.71
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34
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Ameren (AEE) vs. CMS Energy (CMS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

CMS Energy (CMS) at 2.42 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Ameren (AEE) at 3.63 sits in the pricier quartile — AEE costs more per dollar of sales.

AEE

Utilities industry group

3.63

Max
6.35
AEE
3.63
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
Min
0.00

CMS

Utilities industry group

2.42

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
CMS
2.42
Q1
1.52
Min
0.00
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Ameren (AEE) vs. CMS Energy (CMS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Ameren (AEE) at 2.20 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 2.28 carries an above-peer premium to book — CMS is pricier on assets.

AEE

Utilities industry group

2.20

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
AEE
2.20
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34

CMS

Utilities industry group

2.28

Max
3.12
CMS
2.28
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34
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Ameren (AEE) vs. CMS Energy (CMS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ameren (AEE) and CMS Energy (CMS)
MetricAEECMS
P/E Ratio (TTM)19.6324.71
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.632.42
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.202.28
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-8.06%-9.54%