AES vs. PNW: AES vs. Pinnacle West Capital Stock Comparison
How do AES (AES) and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but AES is classified in Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers while PNW is classified in Electric Utilities.
| Profile Item | AES | PNW |
|---|---|---|
| Name | The AES Corporation | Pinnacle West Capital Corporation |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry Group | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry | Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers | Electric Utilities |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders | Electric Utilities |
| Market Capitalization | 10.61 billion USD | 12.63 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 26, 1991 | February 21, 1973 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AES | PNW |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 10.79% | 24.23% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 3.44% | 18.78% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -5.12% | 15.87% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AES | PNW |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 25.19% | 17.21% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.93 | 0.48 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -63.43% | -24.02% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 8.50M | 1.28M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AES | PNW |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.26 | 1.16 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.33 | 1.77 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both AES (AES) at 8.68% and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 9.09% 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%
PNW
Utilities industry group
9.09%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- Median
- 9.44%
- PNW
- 9.09%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both AES (AES) at 13.16% and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 11.59% 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%
PNW
Utilities industry group
11.59%
- Max
- 28.78%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- PNW
- 11.59%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 31.70% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of AES (AES) at 23.89%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
AES
Utilities industry group
23.89%
- Max
- 53.83%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- AES
- 23.89%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
PNW
Utilities industry group
31.70%
- Max
- 53.83%
- PNW
- 31.70%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AES | PNW |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 8.68% | 9.09% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.13% | 2.36% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 13.16% | 11.59% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 23.89% | 31.70% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 21.34% | 43.84% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 4.20% 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.
EPS Growth
Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at -3.63% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while AES (AES) at -46.61% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AES | PNW |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -0.37% | 4.20% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -1.03% | 7.28% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -46.61% | -3.63% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 5.83% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both AES (AES) at 0.86 and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 0.71 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
AES
Utilities industry group
0.86
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- AES
- 0.86
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.29
PNW
Utilities industry group
0.71
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- PNW
- 0.71
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.29
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both AES (AES) at 2.43 and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 2.26 lean more heavily on debt funding than most peers, landing in the higher-leverage quartile of their industries.
AES
Utilities industry group
2.43
- Max
- 2.63
- AES
- 2.43
- Q3
- 1.77
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
PNW
Utilities industry group
2.26
- Max
- 2.63
- PNW
- 2.26
- Q3
- 1.77
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | AES | PNW |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.86 | 0.71 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 2.43 | 2.26 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 7.28 | 7.67 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
AES (AES) at 4.73% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 3.51% 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%
PNW
Utilities industry group
3.51%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- PNW
- 3.51%
- Median
- 2.85%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 68.42% 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%
PNW
Utilities industry group
68.42%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- PNW
- 68.42%
- Median
- 56.38%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AES | PNW |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 4.73% | 3.51% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 28.27% | 68.42% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
AES (AES) at 5.97 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 19.59 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
PNW
Utilities industry group
19.59
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- Median
- 19.64
- PNW
- 19.59
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
P/S Ratio (TTM)
AES (AES) at 0.78 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 2.21 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
PNW
Utilities industry group
2.21
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 2.63
- PNW
- 2.21
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both AES (AES) at 1.86 and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 1.69 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
PNW
Utilities industry group
1.69
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.83
- PNW
- 1.69
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AES | PNW |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 5.97 | 19.59 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.78 | 2.21 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.86 | 1.69 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -30.54% | -7.90% |