ATO vs. NGG: Atmos Energy vs. National Grid Stock Comparison
How do Atmos Energy (ATO) and National Grid (NGG) 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 National Grid (NGG) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but ATO is classified in Gas Utilities while NGG is classified in Multi-Utilities.
Atmos Energy (ATO) trades as ordinary local shares, while National Grid (NGG) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | ATO | NGG |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Atmos Energy Corporation | National Grid plc Sponsored ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | United Kingdom |
| GICS Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry Group | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry | Gas Utilities | Multi-Utilities |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Gas Utilities | Multi-Utilities |
| Market Capitalization | 29.27 billion USD | 83.60 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | December 28, 1983 | August 10, 2005 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ATO | NGG |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 0.43% | 13.00% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 18.83% | 19.82% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 16.10% | 12.34% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ATO | NGG |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 16.06% | 22.32% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.55 | 0.73 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -19.08% | -39.20% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.03M | 911.70K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ATO | NGG |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.24 | 0.39 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.34 | 0.54 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 9.79% and National Grid (NGG) at 10.31% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
ATO
Utilities industry group
9.79%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- ATO
- 9.79%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
NGG
Utilities industry group
10.31%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- NGG
- 10.31%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 28.50% and National Grid (NGG) at 21.15% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
ATO
Utilities industry group
28.50%
- Max
- 28.78%
- ATO
- 28.50%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
NGG
Utilities industry group
21.15%
- Max
- 28.78%
- NGG
- 21.15%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Atmos Energy (ATO) at 37.22% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of National Grid (NGG) at 28.64%, 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%
NGG
Utilities industry group
28.64%
- Max
- 53.83%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- NGG
- 28.64%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ATO | NGG |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 9.79% | 10.31% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.89% | 3.33% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 28.50% | 21.15% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 37.22% | 28.64% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 62.21% | 100.00% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Atmos Energy (ATO) at 12.91% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while National Grid (NGG) at -3.76% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Atmos Energy (ATO) reports EPS growth of 9.22%, ranked against its industry; National Grid (NGG) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ATO | NGG |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 12.91% | -3.76% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.83% | -6.53% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 9.22% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.03% | -30.59% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Atmos Energy (ATO) at 0.81 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while National Grid (NGG) at 0.62 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for NGG.
ATO
Utilities industry group
0.81
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- ATO
- 0.81
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.29
NGG
Utilities industry group
0.62
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- NGG
- 0.62
- Min
- 0.29
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Atmos Energy (ATO) at 0.68 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while National Grid (NGG) at 1.32 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
NGG
Utilities industry group
1.32
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- Median
- 1.35
- NGG
- 1.32
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ATO | NGG |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.81 | 0.62 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.68 | 1.32 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.74 | 6.32 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Atmos Energy (ATO) at 2.21% pays a yield in its industry’s typical range, while National Grid (NGG) at 0.57% falls in the bottom quartile of its peers.
ATO
Utilities industry group
2.21%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- ATO
- 2.21%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
NGG
Utilities industry group
0.57%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- NGG
- 0.57%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Atmos Energy (ATO) at 46.13% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while National Grid (NGG) at 71.97% 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%
NGG
Utilities industry group
71.97%
- Max
- 113.04%
- NGG
- 71.97%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ATO | NGG |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.21% | 0.57% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 46.13% | 71.97% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 20.65 and National Grid (NGG) at 15.54 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
ATO
Utilities industry group
20.65
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- ATO
- 20.65
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
NGG
Utilities industry group
15.54
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- Median
- 19.64
- NGG
- 15.54
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 5.95 and National Grid (NGG) at 4.46 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.
ATO
Utilities industry group
5.95
- Max
- 6.35
- ATO
- 5.95
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
NGG
Utilities industry group
4.46
- Max
- 6.35
- NGG
- 4.46
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Atmos Energy (ATO) at 1.92 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while National Grid (NGG) at 9.36 prices above its benchmark range — NGG looks rich relative to book.
ATO
Utilities industry group
1.92
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- ATO
- 1.92
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
NGG
Utilities industry group
9.36
- NGG
- 9.36
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ATO | NGG |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 20.65 | 15.54 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.95 | 4.46 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.92 | 9.36 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -7.59% | -5.94% |