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AES vs. NI: AES vs. NiSource Stock Comparison

How do AES (AES) and NiSource (NI) 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 NiSource (NI) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but AES is classified in Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers while NI is classified in Multi-Utilities.

Company profile comparison for AES (AES) and NiSource (NI)
Profile ItemAESNI
NameThe AES CorporationNiSource Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryIndependent Power and Renewable Electricity ProducersMulti-Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryIndependent Power Producers & Energy TradersMulti-Utilities
Market Capitalization10.61 billion USD21.18 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 26, 1991February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AES
NI
GSPC
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AES (AES) vs. NiSource (NI), 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 NiSource (NI). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AES (AES) and NiSource (NI)
MetricAESNI
Total Return (1Y)10.79%6.11%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)3.44%25.66%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.12%16.11%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AES
NI
GSPC
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AES (AES) vs. NiSource (NI), 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 NiSource (NI). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for AES (AES) and NiSource (NI)
MetricAESNI
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)25.19%18.23%
Beta (5Y)0.930.53
Max Drawdown (5Y)-63.43%-24.76%
Avg. Volume (3M)8.50M5.64M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AES and NI 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 NiSource (NI)
MetricAESNI
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.260.10
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.330.14

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both AES (AES) at 8.68% and NiSource (NI) at 8.71% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

AES

Utilities industry group

8.68%

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

NI

Utilities industry group

8.71%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
NI
8.71%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%
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AES (AES) vs. NiSource (NI): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both AES (AES) at 13.16% and NiSource (NI) at 13.51% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

AES

Utilities industry group

13.16%

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

NI

Utilities industry group

13.51%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
NI
13.51%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%
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AES (AES) vs. NiSource (NI): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both AES (AES) at 23.89% and NiSource (NI) at 25.20% 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%

NI

Utilities industry group

25.20%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
NI
25.20%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%
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AES (AES) vs. NiSource (NI): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AES (AES) and NiSource (NI)
MetricAESNI
ROE (TTM)8.68%8.71%
ROA (TTM)3.13%3.25%
Net Margin (TTM)13.16%13.51%
Operating Margin (TTM)23.89%25.20%
Gross Margin (TTM)21.34%50.92%

Growth

Revenue Growth

NiSource (NI) at 21.76% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while AES (AES) at -0.37% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in revenue momentum.

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AES (AES) vs. NiSource (NI): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

NiSource (NI) at 20.37% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while AES (AES) at -46.61% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in earnings momentum.

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AES (AES) vs. NiSource (NI): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for AES (AES) and NiSource (NI)
MetricAESNI
Revenue Growth (YoY)-0.37%21.76%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.03%4.32%
EPS Growth (YoY)-46.61%20.37%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--4.68%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

AES (AES) at 0.86 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while NiSource (NI) at 0.50 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for NI.

AES

Utilities industry group

0.86

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

NI

Utilities industry group

0.50

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
NI
0.50
Min
0.29
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AES (AES) vs. NiSource (NI): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

NiSource (NI) at 1.53 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

NI

Utilities industry group

1.53

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
NI
1.53
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00
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AES (AES) vs. NiSource (NI): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for AES (AES) and NiSource (NI)
MetricAESNI
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.860.50
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.431.53
Net Debt / EBITDA7.285.87

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

AES (AES) at 4.73% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while NiSource (NI) at 0.68% 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%

NI

Utilities industry group

0.68%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
NI
0.68%
Q1
0.66%
Min
0.00%
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AES (AES) vs. NiSource (NI): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

NiSource (NI) at 60.51% 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%

NI

Utilities industry group

60.51%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
NI
60.51%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
Min
0.00%
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AES (AES) vs. NiSource (NI): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AES (AES) and NiSource (NI)
MetricAESNI
Dividend Yield (TTM)4.73%0.68%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)28.27%60.51%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

AES (AES) at 5.97 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while NiSource (NI) at 22.64 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

NI

Utilities industry group

22.64

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
NI
22.64
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34
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AES (AES) vs. NiSource (NI): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

AES (AES) at 0.78 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while NiSource (NI) at 3.04 prices around its industry’s middle — AES costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

AES

Utilities industry group

0.78

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

NI

Utilities industry group

3.04

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
NI
3.04
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
Min
0.00
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AES (AES) vs. NiSource (NI): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both AES (AES) at 1.86 and NiSource (NI) at 2.21 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

AES

Utilities industry group

1.86

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

NI

Utilities industry group

2.21

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AES (AES) and NiSource (NI)
MetricAESNI
P/E Ratio (TTM)5.9722.64
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.783.04
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.862.21
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-30.54%-10.51%