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AEP vs. KEP: American Electric Power vs. Korea Electric Power Stock Comparison

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

American Electric Power (AEP) trades as ordinary local shares, while Korea Electric Power (KEP) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for American Electric Power (AEP) and Korea Electric Power (KEP)
Profile ItemAEPKEP
NameAmerican Electric Power Company, Inc.Korea Electric Power Corporation Sponsored ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesSouth Korea
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization68.90 billion USD14.38 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962October 27, 1994
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

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

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for American Electric Power (AEP) and Korea Electric Power (KEP). 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 Korea Electric Power (KEP)
MetricAEPKEP
Total Return (1Y)8.60%-25.98%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)22.18%20.85%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)12.81%2.90%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AEP
KEP
GSPC
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Korea Electric Power (KEP), 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 Korea Electric Power (KEP). 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 Korea Electric Power (KEP)
MetricAEPKEP
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)18.45%46.68%
Beta (5Y)0.460.97
Max Drawdown (5Y)-29.56%-55.55%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.64M949.70K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AEP and KEP 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 Korea Electric Power (KEP)
MetricAEPKEP
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.23-0.65
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.33-0.93

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 16.60% sits in the top ROE quartile, while American Electric Power (AEP) at 10.60% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for KEP.

AEP

Utilities industry group

10.60%

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

KEP

Utilities industry group

16.60%

Max
17.99%
KEP
16.60%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Korea Electric Power (KEP): 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 Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 8.04% 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%

KEP

Utilities industry group

8.04%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
KEP
8.04%
Min
-0.20%
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Korea Electric Power (KEP): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

American Electric Power (AEP) at 26.89% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 4.73% operates in the bottom quartile.

AEP

Utilities industry group

26.89%

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

KEP

Utilities industry group

4.73%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
KEP
4.73%
Min
-4.90%
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Korea Electric Power (KEP): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and Korea Electric Power (KEP)
MetricAEPKEP
ROE (TTM)10.60%16.60%
ROA (TTM)3.04%3.04%
Net Margin (TTM)14.21%8.04%
Operating Margin (TTM)26.89%4.73%
Gross Margin (TTM)46.62%15.97%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 10.93% and Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 4.31% 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. Korea Electric Power (KEP): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 144.73% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than American Electric Power (AEP) at 19.35%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and Korea Electric Power (KEP)
MetricAEPKEP
Revenue Growth (YoY)10.93%4.31%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.66%11.03%
EPS Growth (YoY)19.35%144.73%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)14.04%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 0.51 and Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 0.44 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

KEP

Utilities industry group

0.44

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
KEP
0.44
Min
0.29
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Korea Electric Power (KEP): 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 Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 2.63 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

KEP

Utilities industry group

2.63

KEP
2.63
Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Korea Electric Power (KEP): 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 Korea Electric Power (KEP)
MetricAEPKEP
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.510.44
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.622.63
Net Debt / EBITDA5.765.13

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

American Electric Power (AEP) at 3.00% pays an industry-typical yield; Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 13,891.89% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

AEP

Utilities industry group

3.00%

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

KEP

Utilities industry group

13,891.89%

KEP
13,891.89%
Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
Min
0.00%
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Korea Electric Power (KEP): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

American Electric Power (AEP) at 62.09% keeps its payout within the industry’s typical band; Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 12.22% pays out less than peers usually do, retaining more of its earnings — a policy difference more than a quality gap.

AEP

Utilities industry group

62.09%

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

KEP

Utilities industry group

12.22%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
KEP
12.22%
Min
0.00%
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Korea Electric Power (KEP): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and Korea Electric Power (KEP)
MetricAEPKEP
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.00%13,891.89%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)62.09%12.22%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 2.66 trades below its industry P/E ratio range, while American Electric Power (AEP) at 20.67 is closer to a normal peer multiple — a clearer earnings-valuation discount for KEP, subject to growth and earnings quality.

AEP

Utilities industry group

20.67

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

KEP

Utilities industry group

2.66

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34
KEP
2.66
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Korea Electric Power (KEP): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 0.00 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while American Electric Power (AEP) at 2.92 prices around its industry’s middle — KEP costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

AEP

Utilities industry group

2.92

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

KEP

Utilities industry group

0.00

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
KEP
0.00
Min
0.00
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Korea Electric Power (KEP): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 0.38 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while American Electric Power (AEP) at 2.10 is valued near its industry’s middle — KEP is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.

AEP

Utilities industry group

2.10

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
AEP
2.10
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34

KEP

Utilities industry group

0.38

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
KEP
0.38
Min
0.34
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Korea Electric Power (KEP): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and Korea Electric Power (KEP)
MetricAEPKEP
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.672.66
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.920.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.100.38
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-11.28%4,799.31%