AEP vs. ATO: American Electric Power vs. Atmos Energy Stock Comparison
How do American Electric Power (AEP) and Atmos Energy (ATO) 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
American Electric Power (AEP) and Atmos Energy (ATO) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but AEP is classified in Electric Utilities while ATO is classified in Gas Utilities.
| Profile Item | AEP | ATO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Electric Power Company, Inc. | Atmos Energy Corporation |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry Group | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry | Electric Utilities | Gas Utilities |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Electric Utilities | Gas Utilities |
| Market Capitalization | 68.90 billion USD | 29.27 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | January 2, 1962 | December 28, 1983 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AEP | ATO |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 8.60% | 0.43% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 22.18% | 18.83% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 12.81% | 16.10% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AEP | ATO |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 18.45% | 16.06% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.46 | 0.55 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -29.56% | -19.08% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.64M | 1.03M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AEP | ATO |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.23 | -0.24 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.33 | -0.34 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 10.60% and Atmos Energy (ATO) at 9.79% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
AEP
Utilities industry group
10.60%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- AEP
- 10.60%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
ATO
Utilities industry group
9.79%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- ATO
- 9.79%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
Net Margin (TTM)
Atmos Energy (ATO) at 28.50% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of American Electric Power (AEP) at 14.21%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
AEP
Utilities industry group
14.21%
- Max
- 28.78%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- AEP
- 14.21%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
ATO
Utilities industry group
28.50%
- Max
- 28.78%
- ATO
- 28.50%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Atmos Energy (ATO) at 37.22% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of American Electric Power (AEP) at 26.89%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
AEP
Utilities industry group
26.89%
- Max
- 53.83%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- AEP
- 26.89%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
ATO
Utilities industry group
37.22%
- Max
- 53.83%
- ATO
- 37.22%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AEP | ATO |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 10.60% | 9.79% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.04% | 3.89% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 14.21% | 28.50% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 26.89% | 37.22% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 46.62% | 62.21% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 10.93% and Atmos Energy (ATO) at 12.91% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 19.35% and Atmos Energy (ATO) at 9.22% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AEP | ATO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 10.93% | 12.91% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.66% | 3.83% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 19.35% | 9.22% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 14.04% | 10.03% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Atmos Energy (ATO) at 0.81 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while American Electric Power (AEP) at 0.51 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for AEP.
AEP
Utilities industry group
0.51
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- AEP
- 0.51
- Min
- 0.29
ATO
Utilities industry group
0.81
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- ATO
- 0.81
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.29
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Atmos Energy (ATO) at 0.68 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while American Electric Power (AEP) at 1.62 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
AEP
Utilities industry group
1.62
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- AEP
- 1.62
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
ATO
Utilities industry group
0.68
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- ATO
- 0.68
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | AEP | ATO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.51 | 0.81 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.62 | 0.68 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 5.76 | 3.74 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 3.00% and Atmos Energy (ATO) at 2.21% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
AEP
Utilities industry group
3.00%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- AEP
- 3.00%
- Median
- 2.85%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
ATO
Utilities industry group
2.21%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- ATO
- 2.21%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 62.09% and Atmos Energy (ATO) at 46.13% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
AEP
Utilities industry group
62.09%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- AEP
- 62.09%
- Median
- 56.38%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
ATO
Utilities industry group
46.13%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- ATO
- 46.13%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AEP | ATO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.00% | 2.21% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 62.09% | 46.13% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 20.67 and Atmos Energy (ATO) at 20.65 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
AEP
Utilities industry group
20.67
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- AEP
- 20.67
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
ATO
Utilities industry group
20.65
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- ATO
- 20.65
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
P/S Ratio (TTM)
American Electric Power (AEP) at 2.92 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Atmos Energy (ATO) at 5.95 sits in the pricier quartile — ATO costs more per dollar of sales.
AEP
Utilities industry group
2.92
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- AEP
- 2.92
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
ATO
Utilities industry group
5.95
- Max
- 6.35
- ATO
- 5.95
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both American Electric Power (AEP) at 2.10 and Atmos Energy (ATO) at 1.92 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
AEP
Utilities industry group
2.10
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- AEP
- 2.10
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
ATO
Utilities industry group
1.92
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- ATO
- 1.92
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AEP | ATO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 20.67 | 20.65 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.92 | 5.95 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.10 | 1.92 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -11.28% | -7.59% |