ATO vs. KEP: Atmos Energy vs. Korea Electric Power Stock Comparison
How do Atmos Energy (ATO) and Korea Electric Power (KEP) 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 Korea Electric Power (KEP) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but ATO is classified in Gas Utilities while KEP is classified in Electric Utilities.
Atmos Energy (ATO) trades as ordinary local shares, while Korea Electric Power (KEP) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | ATO | KEP |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Atmos Energy Corporation | Korea Electric Power Corporation Sponsored ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | South Korea |
| GICS Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry Group | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry | Gas Utilities | Electric Utilities |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Gas Utilities | Electric Utilities |
| Market Capitalization | 29.27 billion USD | 14.38 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | December 28, 1983 | October 27, 1994 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ATO | KEP |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 0.43% | -25.98% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 18.83% | 20.85% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 16.10% | 2.90% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ATO | KEP |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 16.06% | 46.68% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.55 | 0.97 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -19.08% | -55.55% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.03M | 949.70K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ATO | KEP |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.24 | -0.65 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.34 | -0.93 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 16.60% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Atmos Energy (ATO) at 9.79% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for KEP.
ATO
Utilities industry group
9.79%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- ATO
- 9.79%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
KEP
Utilities industry group
16.60%
- Max
- 17.99%
- KEP
- 16.60%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
Net Margin (TTM)
Atmos Energy (ATO) at 28.50% keeps a top-quartile share of each sales dollar as profit, while Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 8.04% keeps a bottom-quartile 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%
KEP
Utilities industry group
8.04%
- Max
- 28.78%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- KEP
- 8.04%
- Min
- -0.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Atmos Energy (ATO) at 37.22% carries a top-quartile operating margin, while Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 4.73% operates in the bottom quartile.
ATO
Utilities industry group
37.22%
- Max
- 53.83%
- ATO
- 37.22%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
KEP
Utilities industry group
4.73%
- Max
- 53.83%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- KEP
- 4.73%
- Min
- -4.90%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ATO | KEP |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 9.79% | 16.60% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.89% | 3.04% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 28.50% | 8.04% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 37.22% | 4.73% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 62.21% | 15.97% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 12.91% and Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 4.31% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 144.73% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Atmos Energy (ATO) at 9.22%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ATO | KEP |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 12.91% | 4.31% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.83% | 11.03% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 9.22% | 144.73% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.03% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Atmos Energy (ATO) at 0.81 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 0.44 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for KEP.
ATO
Utilities industry group
0.81
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- ATO
- 0.81
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.29
KEP
Utilities industry group
0.44
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- KEP
- 0.44
- Min
- 0.29
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Atmos Energy (ATO) at 0.68 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 2.63 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.
ATO
Utilities industry group
0.68
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- ATO
- 0.68
- Min
- 0.00
KEP
Utilities industry group
2.63
- KEP
- 2.63
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ATO | KEP |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.81 | 0.44 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.68 | 2.63 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.74 | 5.13 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Atmos Energy (ATO) at 2.21% pays an industry-typical yield; Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 13,891.89% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.
ATO
Utilities industry group
2.21%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- ATO
- 2.21%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
KEP
Utilities industry group
13,891.89%
- KEP
- 13,891.89%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Atmos Energy (ATO) at 46.13% keeps its payout within the industry’s typical band; Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 12.22% pays out less than peers usually do, retaining more of its earnings — a policy difference more than a quality gap.
ATO
Utilities industry group
46.13%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- ATO
- 46.13%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
KEP
Utilities industry group
12.22%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- KEP
- 12.22%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ATO | KEP |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.21% | 13,891.89% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 46.13% | 12.22% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 2.66 trades below its industry P/E ratio range, while Atmos Energy (ATO) at 20.65 is closer to a normal peer multiple — a clearer earnings-valuation discount for KEP, subject to growth and earnings quality.
ATO
Utilities industry group
20.65
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- ATO
- 20.65
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
KEP
Utilities industry group
2.66
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
- KEP
- 2.66
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 0.00 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Atmos Energy (ATO) at 5.95 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.
ATO
Utilities industry group
5.95
- Max
- 6.35
- ATO
- 5.95
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
KEP
Utilities industry group
0.00
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- KEP
- 0.00
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 0.38 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while Atmos Energy (ATO) at 1.92 is valued near its industry’s middle — KEP is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.
ATO
Utilities industry group
1.92
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- ATO
- 1.92
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
KEP
Utilities industry group
0.38
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- KEP
- 0.38
- Min
- 0.34
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ATO | KEP |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 20.65 | 2.66 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.95 | 0.00 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.92 | 0.38 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -7.59% | 4,799.31% |