AEP vs. SBS: American Electric Power vs. Sabesp Stock Comparison
How do American Electric Power (AEP) and Sabesp (SBS) 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 Sabesp (SBS) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but AEP is classified in Electric Utilities while SBS is classified in Water Utilities.
American Electric Power (AEP) trades as ordinary local shares, while Sabesp (SBS) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | AEP | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Electric Power Company, Inc. | Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | Brazil |
| GICS Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry Group | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry | Electric Utilities | Water Utilities |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Electric Utilities | Water Utilities |
| Market Capitalization | 68.90 billion USD | 16.96 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | January 2, 1962 | May 10, 2002 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AEP | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 8.60% | -3.72% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 22.18% | 28.33% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 12.81% | 32.85% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AEP | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 18.45% | 46.80% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.46 | 0.76 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -29.56% | -37.59% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.64M | 11.85M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AEP | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.23 | -0.17 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.33 | -0.22 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Sabesp (SBS) at 16.27% sits in the top ROE quartile, while American Electric Power (AEP) at 10.60% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for SBS.
AEP
Utilities industry group
10.60%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- AEP
- 10.60%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
SBS
Utilities industry group
16.27%
- Max
- 17.99%
- SBS
- 16.27%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
Net Margin (TTM)
Sabesp (SBS) at 17.52% 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%
SBS
Utilities industry group
17.52%
- Max
- 28.78%
- SBS
- 17.52%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 26.89% and Sabesp (SBS) at 29.28% 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%
SBS
Utilities industry group
29.28%
- Max
- 53.83%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- SBS
- 29.28%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AEP | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 10.60% | 16.27% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.04% | 8.08% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 14.21% | 17.52% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 26.89% | 29.28% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 46.62% | 36.96% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 10.93% and Sabesp (SBS) at 5.39% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
American Electric Power (AEP) at 19.35% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Sabesp (SBS) at -11.79% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AEP | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 10.93% | 5.39% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.66% | 19.98% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 19.35% | -11.79% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 14.04% | 40.65% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Sabesp (SBS) at 1.22 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while American Electric Power (AEP) at 0.51 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.
AEP
Utilities industry group
0.51
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- AEP
- 0.51
- Min
- 0.29
SBS
Utilities industry group
1.22
- Max
- 1.90
- SBS
- 1.22
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.29
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 1.62 and Sabesp (SBS) at 0.99 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
SBS
Utilities industry group
0.99
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- Median
- 1.35
- SBS
- 0.99
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | AEP | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.51 | 1.22 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.62 | 0.99 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 5.76 | 2.30 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Sabesp (SBS) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile American Electric Power (AEP) reports a yield of 3.00%, ranking against industry peers normally.
AEP
Utilities industry group
3.00%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- AEP
- 3.00%
- Median
- 2.85%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
SBS
Utilities industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- SBS
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 62.09% and Sabesp (SBS) at 35.95% 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%
SBS
Utilities industry group
35.95%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- SBS
- 35.95%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AEP | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 62.09% | 35.95% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Sabesp (SBS) at 11.73 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while American Electric Power (AEP) at 20.67 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for SBS, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
AEP
Utilities industry group
20.67
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- AEP
- 20.67
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
SBS
Utilities industry group
11.73
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- SBS
- 11.73
- Min
- 3.34
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Sabesp (SBS) at 0.41 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while American Electric Power (AEP) at 2.92 prices around its industry’s middle — SBS 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
SBS
Utilities industry group
0.41
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- SBS
- 0.41
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both American Electric Power (AEP) at 2.10 and Sabesp (SBS) at 1.84 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
SBS
Utilities industry group
1.84
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- SBS
- 1.84
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AEP | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 20.67 | 11.73 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.92 | 0.41 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.10 | 1.84 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -11.28% | -62.11% |