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AEP vs. FTS: American Electric Power vs. Fortis Stock Comparison

How do American Electric Power (AEP) and Fortis (FTS) 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 Fortis (FTS) 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 Fortis (FTS)
Profile ItemAEPFTS
NameAmerican Electric Power Company, Inc.Fortis Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesCanada
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization68.90 billion USD31.00 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962January 5, 2010
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AEP
FTS
GSPC
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Fortis (FTS), 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 Fortis (FTS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for American Electric Power (AEP) and Fortis (FTS). 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 Fortis (FTS)
MetricAEPFTS
Total Return (1Y)8.60%19.13%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)22.18%17.59%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)12.81%9.53%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AEP
FTS
GSPC
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Fortis (FTS), 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 Fortis (FTS). 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 Fortis (FTS)
MetricAEPFTS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)18.45%14.85%
Beta (5Y)0.460.40
Max Drawdown (5Y)-29.56%-30.13%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.64M879.23K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AEP and FTS 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 Fortis (FTS)
MetricAEPFTS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.231.00
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.331.53

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

American Electric Power (AEP) at 10.60% is around its peer norm for ROE, while Fortis (FTS) at 7.55% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker returns on shareholders’ equity.

AEP

Utilities industry group

10.60%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
AEP
10.60%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%

FTS

Utilities industry group

7.55%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
FTS
7.55%
Min
2.17%
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 14.21% and Fortis (FTS) at 15.01% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

AEP

Utilities industry group

14.21%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
AEP
14.21%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%

FTS

Utilities industry group

15.01%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
FTS
15.01%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 26.89% and Fortis (FTS) at 30.69% 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%

FTS

Utilities industry group

30.69%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
FTS
30.69%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and Fortis (FTS)
MetricAEPFTS
ROE (TTM)10.60%7.55%
ROA (TTM)3.04%2.93%
Net Margin (TTM)14.21%15.01%
Operating Margin (TTM)26.89%30.69%
Gross Margin (TTM)46.62%45.52%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 10.93% and Fortis (FTS) at 5.75% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 19.35% and Fortis (FTS) at 4.94% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and Fortis (FTS)
MetricAEPFTS
Revenue Growth (YoY)10.93%5.75%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.66%3.29%
EPS Growth (YoY)19.35%4.94%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)14.04%6.94%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Fortis (FTS) at 0.69 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

FTS

Utilities industry group

0.69

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
FTS
0.69
Q1
0.66
Min
0.29
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 1.62 and Fortis (FTS) at 1.35 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

AEP

Utilities industry group

1.62

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

FTS

Utilities industry group

1.35

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
FTS
1.35
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Fortis (FTS): 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 Fortis (FTS)
MetricAEPFTS
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.510.69
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.621.35
Net Debt / EBITDA5.766.22

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Fortis (FTS) at 4.18% 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, FTS 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%

FTS

Utilities industry group

4.18%

Max
6.66%
FTS
4.18%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
Min
0.00%
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Fortis (FTS): 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 Fortis (FTS) at 72.73% 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%

FTS

Utilities industry group

72.73%

Max
113.04%
FTS
72.73%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
Min
0.00%
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and Fortis (FTS)
MetricAEPFTS
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.00%4.18%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)62.09%72.73%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

American Electric Power (AEP) at 20.67 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Fortis (FTS) at 23.66 sits in the richer quartile — FTS needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

AEP

Utilities industry group

20.67

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
AEP
20.67
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34

FTS

Utilities industry group

23.66

Max
31.22
FTS
23.66
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Fortis (FTS): 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 Fortis (FTS) at 2.47 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

FTS

Utilities industry group

2.47

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
FTS
2.47
Q1
1.52
Min
0.00
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Fortis (FTS): 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 Fortis (FTS) at 1.79 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

FTS

Utilities industry group

1.79

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
FTS
1.79
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and Fortis (FTS)
MetricAEPFTS
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.6723.66
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.922.47
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.101.79
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-11.28%-9.42%