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AES vs. LNT: AES vs. Alliant Energy Stock Comparison

How do AES (AES) and Alliant Energy (LNT) 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

AES (AES) and Alliant Energy (LNT) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but AES is classified in Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers while LNT is classified in Electric Utilities.

Company profile comparison for AES (AES) and Alliant Energy (LNT)
Profile ItemAESLNT
NameThe AES CorporationAlliant Energy Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryIndependent Power and Renewable Electricity ProducersElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryIndependent Power Producers & Energy TradersElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization10.61 billion USD18.85 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateJune 26, 1991February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AES
LNT
GSPC
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AES (AES) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT), 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 AES (AES) and Alliant Energy (LNT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for AES (AES) and Alliant Energy (LNT). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AES (AES) and Alliant Energy (LNT)
MetricAESLNT
Total Return (1Y)10.79%12.31%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)3.44%18.55%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.12%9.28%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AES
LNT
GSPC
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AES (AES) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT), 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 AES (AES) and Alliant Energy (LNT). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for AES (AES) and Alliant Energy (LNT)
MetricAESLNT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)25.19%17.65%
Beta (5Y)0.930.50
Max Drawdown (5Y)-63.43%-25.59%
Avg. Volume (3M)8.50M2.73M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AES and LNT 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 AES (AES) and Alliant Energy (LNT)
MetricAESLNT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.260.46
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.330.66

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Alliant Energy (LNT) at 12.36% sits in the top ROE quartile, while AES (AES) at 8.68% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for LNT.

AES

Utilities industry group

8.68%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
AES
8.68%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%

LNT

Utilities industry group

12.36%

Max
17.99%
LNT
12.36%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%
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AES (AES) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Alliant Energy (LNT) at 20.74% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of AES (AES) at 13.16%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

AES

Utilities industry group

13.16%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
AES
13.16%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%

LNT

Utilities industry group

20.74%

Max
28.78%
LNT
20.74%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%
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AES (AES) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both AES (AES) at 23.89% and Alliant Energy (LNT) at 30.27% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

AES

Utilities industry group

23.89%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
AES
23.89%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%

LNT

Utilities industry group

30.27%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
LNT
30.27%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%
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AES (AES) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AES (AES) and Alliant Energy (LNT)
MetricAESLNT
ROE (TTM)8.68%12.36%
ROA (TTM)3.13%2.47%
Net Margin (TTM)13.16%20.74%
Operating Margin (TTM)23.89%30.27%
Gross Margin (TTM)21.34%45.05%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Alliant Energy (LNT) at 9.57% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while AES (AES) at -0.37% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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AES (AES) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Alliant Energy (LNT) at 16.73% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while AES (AES) at -46.61% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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AES (AES) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for AES (AES) and Alliant Energy (LNT)
MetricAESLNT
Revenue Growth (YoY)-0.37%9.57%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.03%1.23%
EPS Growth (YoY)-46.61%16.73%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--4.77%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

AES (AES) at 0.86 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Alliant Energy (LNT) at 0.51 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for LNT.

AES

Utilities industry group

0.86

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
AES
0.86
Q1
0.66
Min
0.29

LNT

Utilities industry group

0.51

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
LNT
0.51
Min
0.29
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AES (AES) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Alliant Energy (LNT) at 1.61 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while AES (AES) at 2.43 uses more debt funding than most peers.

AES

Utilities industry group

2.43

Max
2.63
AES
2.43
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00

LNT

Utilities industry group

1.61

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
LNT
1.61
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00
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AES (AES) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for AES (AES) and Alliant Energy (LNT)
MetricAESLNT
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.860.51
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.431.61
Net Debt / EBITDA7.286.67

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

AES (AES) at 4.73% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Alliant Energy (LNT) at 2.88% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, AES the richer one.

AES

Utilities industry group

4.73%

Max
6.66%
AES
4.73%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
Min
0.00%

LNT

Utilities industry group

2.88%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
LNT
2.88%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
Min
0.00%
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AES (AES) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Alliant Energy (LNT) at 58.84% keeps its payout within the industry’s typical band; AES (AES) at 28.27% pays out less than peers usually do, retaining more of its earnings — a policy difference more than a quality gap.

AES

Utilities industry group

28.27%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
AES
28.27%
Min
0.00%

LNT

Utilities industry group

58.84%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
LNT
58.84%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
Min
0.00%
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AES (AES) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AES (AES) and Alliant Energy (LNT)
MetricAESLNT
Dividend Yield (TTM)4.73%2.88%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)28.27%58.84%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

AES (AES) at 5.97 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Alliant Energy (LNT) at 20.24 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for AES, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

AES

Utilities industry group

5.97

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
AES
5.97
Min
3.34

LNT

Utilities industry group

20.24

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
LNT
20.24
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34
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AES (AES) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

AES (AES) at 0.78 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Alliant Energy (LNT) at 4.18 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

AES

Utilities industry group

0.78

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
AES
0.78
Min
0.00

LNT

Utilities industry group

4.18

Max
6.35
LNT
4.18
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
Min
0.00
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AES (AES) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

AES (AES) at 1.86 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Alliant Energy (LNT) at 2.41 carries an above-peer premium to book — LNT is pricier on assets.

AES

Utilities industry group

1.86

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
AES
1.86
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34

LNT

Utilities industry group

2.41

Max
3.12
LNT
2.41
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34
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AES (AES) vs. Alliant Energy (LNT): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AES (AES) and Alliant Energy (LNT)
MetricAESLNT
P/E Ratio (TTM)5.9720.24
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.784.18
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.862.41
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-30.54%-8.11%