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ATO vs. FTS: Atmos Energy vs. Fortis Stock Comparison

How do Atmos Energy (ATO) and Fortis (FTS) 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

Atmos Energy (ATO) and Fortis (FTS) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but ATO is classified in Gas Utilities while FTS is classified in Electric Utilities.

Company profile comparison for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Fortis (FTS)
Profile ItemATOFTS
NameAtmos Energy CorporationFortis Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesCanada
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryGas UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryGas UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization29.27 billion USD31.00 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateDecember 28, 1983January 5, 2010
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ATO
FTS
GSPC
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Fortis (FTS), 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 Atmos Energy (ATO) and Fortis (FTS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Fortis (FTS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Fortis (FTS)
MetricATOFTS
Total Return (1Y)0.43%19.13%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.83%17.59%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.10%9.53%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ATO
FTS
GSPC
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Fortis (FTS), 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 Atmos Energy (ATO) and Fortis (FTS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Fortis (FTS)
MetricATOFTS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)16.06%14.85%
Beta (5Y)0.550.40
Max Drawdown (5Y)-19.08%-30.13%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.03M879.23K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ATO and FTS 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 Atmos Energy (ATO) and Fortis (FTS)
MetricATOFTS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.241.00
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.341.53

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Atmos Energy (ATO) at 9.79% is around its peer norm for ROE, while Fortis (FTS) at 7.55% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker returns on shareholders’ equity.

ATO

Utilities industry group

9.79%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
ATO
9.79%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%

FTS

Utilities industry group

7.55%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
FTS
7.55%
Min
2.17%
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Atmos Energy (ATO) at 28.50% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Fortis (FTS) at 15.01%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

ATO

Utilities industry group

28.50%

Max
28.78%
ATO
28.50%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%

FTS

Utilities industry group

15.01%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
FTS
15.01%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Atmos Energy (ATO) at 37.22% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Fortis (FTS) at 30.69%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

ATO

Utilities industry group

37.22%

Max
53.83%
ATO
37.22%
Q3
31.12%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%

FTS

Utilities industry group

30.69%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
FTS
30.69%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Fortis (FTS)
MetricATOFTS
ROE (TTM)9.79%7.55%
ROA (TTM)3.89%2.93%
Net Margin (TTM)28.50%15.01%
Operating Margin (TTM)37.22%30.69%
Gross Margin (TTM)62.21%45.52%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 12.91% and Fortis (FTS) at 5.75% 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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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 9.22% and Fortis (FTS) at 4.94% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Fortis (FTS)
MetricATOFTS
Revenue Growth (YoY)12.91%5.75%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.83%3.29%
EPS Growth (YoY)9.22%4.94%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)10.03%6.94%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 0.81 and Fortis (FTS) at 0.69 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

ATO

Utilities industry group

0.81

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
ATO
0.81
Q1
0.66
Min
0.29

FTS

Utilities industry group

0.69

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
FTS
0.69
Q1
0.66
Min
0.29
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Atmos Energy (ATO) at 0.68 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Fortis (FTS) at 1.35 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

ATO

Utilities industry group

0.68

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
ATO
0.68
Min
0.00

FTS

Utilities industry group

1.35

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
FTS
1.35
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Fortis (FTS)
MetricATOFTS
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.810.69
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.681.35
Net Debt / EBITDA3.746.22

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Fortis (FTS) at 4.18% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Atmos Energy (ATO) at 2.21% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, FTS the richer one.

ATO

Utilities industry group

2.21%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
ATO
2.21%
Q1
0.66%
Min
0.00%

FTS

Utilities industry group

4.18%

Max
6.66%
FTS
4.18%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
Min
0.00%
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Atmos Energy (ATO) at 46.13% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Fortis (FTS) at 72.73% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

ATO

Utilities industry group

46.13%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
ATO
46.13%
Q1
32.38%
Min
0.00%

FTS

Utilities industry group

72.73%

Max
113.04%
FTS
72.73%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
Min
0.00%
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Fortis (FTS)
MetricATOFTS
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.21%4.18%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)46.13%72.73%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Atmos Energy (ATO) at 20.65 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Fortis (FTS) at 23.66 sits in the richer quartile — FTS needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

ATO

Utilities industry group

20.65

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
ATO
20.65
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34

FTS

Utilities industry group

23.66

Max
31.22
FTS
23.66
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Fortis (FTS) at 2.47 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Atmos Energy (ATO) at 5.95 sits in the pricier quartile — ATO costs more per dollar of sales.

ATO

Utilities industry group

5.95

Max
6.35
ATO
5.95
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
Min
0.00

FTS

Utilities industry group

2.47

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
FTS
2.47
Q1
1.52
Min
0.00
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 1.92 and Fortis (FTS) at 1.79 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

ATO

Utilities industry group

1.92

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
ATO
1.92
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34

FTS

Utilities industry group

1.79

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
FTS
1.79
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Fortis (FTS)
MetricATOFTS
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.6523.66
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.952.47
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.921.79
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-7.59%-9.42%