AEP vs. FE: American Electric Power vs. FirstEnergy Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do American Electric Power (AEP) and FirstEnergy (FE) 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 FirstEnergy (FE) are both classified in the Electric Utilities sub-industry within the broader Electric Utilities industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for American Electric Power (AEP) and FirstEnergy (FE)
Profile Item	AEP	FE
Name	American Electric Power Company, Inc.	FirstEnergy Corp.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry Group	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry	Electric Utilities	Electric Utilities
GICS Sub-Industry	Electric Utilities	Electric Utilities
Market Capitalization	68.90 billion USD	26.88 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	November 10, 1997
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AEP

GSPC

American Electric Power (AEP) vs. FirstEnergy (FE), 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 American Electric Power (AEP) and FirstEnergy (FE). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for American Electric Power (AEP) and FirstEnergy (FE). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and FirstEnergy (FE)
Metric	AEP	FE
Total Return (1Y)	8.60%	5.62%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	22.18%	14.20%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	12.81%	8.32%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AEP

GSPC

American Electric Power (AEP) vs. FirstEnergy (FE), 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 American Electric Power (AEP) and FirstEnergy (FE). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and FirstEnergy (FE)
Metric	AEP	FE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	18.45%	16.31%
Beta (5Y)	0.46	0.39
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-29.56%	-28.59%
Avg. Volume (3M)	3.64M	4.29M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AEP and FE 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 American Electric Power (AEP) and FirstEnergy (FE)
Metric	AEP	FE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.23	0.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.33	0.11

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 10.60% and FirstEnergy (FE) at 10.04% 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%

FE

Utilities industry group

10.04%

Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
FE: 10.04%
Median: 9.44%
Q1: 7.56%
Min: 2.17%

American Electric Power (AEP) vs. FirstEnergy (FE): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

American Electric Power (AEP) at 14.21% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while FirstEnergy (FE) at 7.49% retains only a bottom-quartile 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%

FE

Utilities industry group

7.49%

Max: 28.78%
Q3: 17.30%
Median: 12.73%
Q1: 9.18%
FE: 7.49%
Min: -0.20%

American Electric Power (AEP) vs. FirstEnergy (FE): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 26.89% and FirstEnergy (FE) at 21.24% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

AEP

Utilities industry group

26.89%

Max: 53.83%
Q3: 31.12%
AEP: 26.89%
Median: 23.62%
Q1: 15.45%
Min: -4.90%

FE

Utilities industry group

21.24%

Max: 53.83%
Q3: 31.12%
Median: 23.62%
FE: 21.24%
Q1: 15.45%
Min: -4.90%

American Electric Power (AEP) vs. FirstEnergy (FE): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and FirstEnergy (FE)
Metric	AEP	FE
ROE (TTM)	10.60%	10.04%
ROA (TTM)	3.04%	3.66%
Net Margin (TTM)	14.21%	7.49%
Operating Margin (TTM)	26.89%	21.24%
Gross Margin (TTM)	46.62%	69.63%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 10.93% and FirstEnergy (FE) at 12.01% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

American Electric Power (AEP) vs. FirstEnergy (FE): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 19.35% and FirstEnergy (FE) at 3.53% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

American Electric Power (AEP) vs. FirstEnergy (FE): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and FirstEnergy (FE)
Metric	AEP	FE
Revenue Growth (YoY)	10.93%	12.01%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	3.66%	6.59%
EPS Growth (YoY)	19.35%	3.53%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	14.04%	35.34%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 0.51 and FirstEnergy (FE) at 0.38 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

AEP

Utilities industry group

0.51

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.66
AEP: 0.51
Min: 0.29

FE

Utilities industry group

0.38

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.66
FE: 0.38
Min: 0.29

American Electric Power (AEP) vs. FirstEnergy (FE): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

American Electric Power (AEP) at 1.62 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while FirstEnergy (FE) at 2.07 uses more debt funding than most peers.

AEP

Utilities industry group

1.62

Max: 2.63
Q3: 1.77
AEP: 1.62
Median: 1.35
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.00

FE

Utilities industry group

2.07

Max: 2.63
FE: 2.07
Q3: 1.77
Median: 1.35
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.00

American Electric Power (AEP) vs. FirstEnergy (FE): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and FirstEnergy (FE)
Metric	AEP	FE
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.51	0.38
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.62	2.07
Net Debt / EBITDA	5.76	5.85

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

FirstEnergy (FE) at 3.90% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while American Electric Power (AEP) at 3.00% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, FE the richer one.

AEP

Utilities industry group

3.00%

Max: 6.66%
Q3: 3.58%
AEP: 3.00%
Median: 2.85%
Q1: 0.66%
Min: 0.00%

FE

Utilities industry group

3.90%

Max: 6.66%
FE: 3.90%
Q3: 3.58%
Median: 2.85%
Q1: 0.66%
Min: 0.00%

American Electric Power (AEP) vs. FirstEnergy (FE): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

American Electric Power (AEP) at 62.09% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while FirstEnergy (FE) at 87.92% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

AEP

Utilities industry group

62.09%

Max: 113.04%
Q3: 68.72%
AEP: 62.09%
Median: 56.38%
Q1: 32.38%
Min: 0.00%

FE

Utilities industry group

87.92%

Max: 113.04%
FE: 87.92%
Q3: 68.72%
Median: 56.38%
Q1: 32.38%
Min: 0.00%

American Electric Power (AEP) vs. FirstEnergy (FE): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and FirstEnergy (FE)
Metric	AEP	FE
Dividend Yield (TTM)	3.00%	3.90%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	62.09%	87.92%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 20.67 and FirstEnergy (FE) at 22.43 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

FE

Utilities industry group

22.43

Max: 31.22
Q3: 23.30
FE: 22.43
Median: 19.64
Q1: 15.17
Min: 3.34

American Electric Power (AEP) vs. FirstEnergy (FE): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both American Electric Power (AEP) at 2.92 and FirstEnergy (FE) at 1.68 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

AEP

Utilities industry group

2.92

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.63
AEP: 2.92
Median: 2.63
Q1: 1.52
Min: 0.00

FE

Utilities industry group

1.68

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.63
Median: 2.63
FE: 1.68
Q1: 1.52
Min: 0.00

American Electric Power (AEP) vs. FirstEnergy (FE): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both American Electric Power (AEP) at 2.10 and FirstEnergy (FE) at 2.07 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

FE

Utilities industry group

2.07

Max: 3.12
Q3: 2.21
FE: 2.07
Median: 1.83
Q1: 1.46
Min: 0.34

American Electric Power (AEP) vs. FirstEnergy (FE): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and FirstEnergy (FE)
Metric	AEP	FE
P/E Ratio (TTM)	20.67	22.43
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.92	1.68
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.10	2.07
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-11.28%	-9.48%