ATO vs. PPL: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at ATO and PPL, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Overview
ATO’s market capitalization stands at 24.19 billion USD, while PPL’s is 24.99 billion USD, indicating their market valuations are broadly comparable.
With betas of 0.70 for ATO and 0.67 for PPL, both stocks show similar sensitivity to overall market movements.
| Symbol | ATO | PPL |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Atmos Energy Corporation | PPL Corporation |
| Country | US | US |
| Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| Industry | Regulated Gas | Regulated Electric |
| CEO | John Kevin Akers | Vincent Sorgi CPA |
| Price | 152.28 USD | 33.81 USD |
| Market Cap | 24.19 billion USD | 24.99 billion USD |
| Beta | 0.70 | 0.67 |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| IPO Date | December 28, 1983 | March 17, 1980 |
| ADR | No | No |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of ATO and PPL by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Profitability
Return on Equity
ATO
9.05%
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 11.45%
- Q3
- 11.45%
- Median
- 9.01%
- Q1
- 7.53%
- Min
- 6.41%
ATO’s Return on Equity of 9.05% is on par with the norm for the Regulated Gas industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
PPL
6.36%
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 18.07%
- Q3
- 12.49%
- Median
- 10.00%
- Q1
- 8.48%
- Min
- 5.02%
PPL’s Return on Equity of 6.36% is in the lower quartile for the Regulated Electric industry. This indicates a less efficient generation of profit from its equity base when compared to its competitors.
Return on Invested Capital
ATO
4.73%
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 8.99%
- Q3
- 5.97%
- Median
- 4.43%
- Q1
- 0.25%
- Min
- 0.00%
ATO’s Return on Invested Capital of 4.73% is in line with the norm for the Regulated Gas industry, reflecting a standard level of efficiency in generating profits from its capital base.
PPL
3.83%
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 5.26%
- Q3
- 4.57%
- Median
- 3.97%
- Q1
- 3.33%
- Min
- 1.92%
PPL’s Return on Invested Capital of 3.83% is in line with the norm for the Regulated Electric industry, reflecting a standard level of efficiency in generating profits from its capital base.
Net Profit Margin
ATO
25.35%
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 25.35%
- Q3
- 14.67%
- Median
- 8.48%
- Q1
- 4.66%
- Min
- -6.69%
A Net Profit Margin of 25.35% places ATO in the upper quartile for the Regulated Gas industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
PPL
11.49%
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 22.24%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 13.10%
- Q1
- 11.03%
- Min
- 3.79%
PPL’s Net Profit Margin of 11.49% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Regulated Electric industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
Operating Profit Margin
ATO
33.30%
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 45.15%
- Q3
- 28.16%
- Median
- 19.42%
- Q1
- 14.26%
- Min
- 3.90%
An Operating Profit Margin of 33.30% places ATO in the upper quartile for the Regulated Gas industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
PPL
21.73%
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 31.57%
- Q3
- 25.65%
- Median
- 21.93%
- Q1
- 17.87%
- Min
- 8.99%
PPL’s Operating Profit Margin of 21.73% is around the midpoint for the Regulated Electric industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | ATO | PPL |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 9.05% | 6.36% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 4.21% | 2.38% |
| Return on Invested Capital (TTM) | 4.73% | 3.83% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 25.35% | 11.49% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 33.30% | 21.73% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 54.44% | 37.49% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio
ATO
1.33
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 1.57
- Q3
- 1.15
- Median
- 1.00
- Q1
- 0.69
- Min
- 0.38
ATO’s Current Ratio of 1.33 is in the upper quartile for the Regulated Gas industry. This signifies a strong liquidity position, suggesting the company is well-equipped to cover its immediate liabilities compared to its peers.
PPL
0.81
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 1.48
- Q3
- 1.06
- Median
- 0.86
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.28
PPL’s Current Ratio of 0.81 aligns with the median group of the Regulated Electric industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
ATO
0.65
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 1.67
- Q3
- 1.53
- Median
- 1.38
- Q1
- 0.83
- Min
- 0.02
Falling into the lower quartile for the Regulated Gas industry, ATO’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.65 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
PPL
1.21
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 2.38
- Q3
- 1.97
- Median
- 1.65
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- 0.27
Falling into the lower quartile for the Regulated Electric industry, PPL’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.21 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
Interest Coverage Ratio
ATO
8.02
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 4.65
- Q3
- 3.07
- Median
- 2.65
- Q1
- 1.77
- Min
- 1.22
With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 8.02, ATO demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Regulated Gas industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.
PPL
2.51
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 3.07
- Q3
- 2.63
- Median
- 2.41
- Q1
- 2.30
- Min
- 1.87
PPL’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 2.51 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Regulated Electric industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | ATO | PPL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 1.33 | 0.81 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 1.25 | 0.68 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.65 | 1.21 |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM) | 0.32 | 0.41 |
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM) | 3.49 | 5.06 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 8.02 | 2.51 |
Growth
The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for ATO and PPL. These metrics are based on the companies’ annual financial reports.
Revenue Growth
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth
Free Cash Flow Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield
ATO
2.24%
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 6.99%
- Q3
- 4.15%
- Median
- 4.00%
- Q1
- 2.73%
- Min
- 0.00%
ATO’s Dividend Yield of 2.24% is in the lower quartile for the Regulated Gas industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.
PPL
3.14%
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 6.60%
- Q3
- 4.03%
- Median
- 3.30%
- Q1
- 3.06%
- Min
- 0.00%
PPL’s Dividend Yield of 3.14% is consistent with its peers in the Regulated Electric industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio
ATO
46.20%
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 87.89%
- Q3
- 74.00%
- Median
- 60.41%
- Q1
- 45.73%
- Min
- 0.00%
ATO’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 46.20% is within the typical range for the Regulated Gas industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
PPL
76.38%
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 123.06%
- Q3
- 69.07%
- Median
- 62.27%
- Q1
- 52.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
PPL’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 76.38% is in the upper quartile for the Regulated Electric industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | ATO | PPL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.24% | 3.14% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 46.20% | 76.38% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
ATO
21.32
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 23.74
- Q3
- 22.05
- Median
- 16.86
- Q1
- 15.06
- Min
- 10.79
ATO’s P/E Ratio of 21.32 is within the middle range for the Regulated Gas industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
PPL
25.10
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 26.46
- Q3
- 21.71
- Median
- 19.07
- Q1
- 17.74
- Min
- 12.74
A P/E Ratio of 25.10 places PPL in the upper quartile for the Regulated Electric industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.
Forward P/E to Growth Ratio
ATO
3.14
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 3.70
- Q3
- 3.36
- Median
- 3.17
- Q1
- 2.55
- Min
- 2.21
ATO’s Forward PEG Ratio of 3.14 is within the middle range of its peers in the Regulated Gas industry. This suggests a reasonable balance between the stock’s price and its expected growth, aligning with sector valuation norms.
PPL
3.26
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 4.21
- Q3
- 3.10
- Median
- 2.78
- Q1
- 2.34
- Min
- 1.46
A Forward PEG Ratio of 3.26 places PPL in the upper quartile for the Regulated Electric industry. This suggests the stock is potentially expensive compared to its peers relative to its growth forecast, which may warrant caution.
Price-to-Sales Ratio
ATO
5.39
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 3.36
- Q3
- 2.16
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 1.06
- Min
- 0.32
With a P/S Ratio of 5.39, ATO trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Regulated Gas industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
PPL
2.89
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 3.88
- Q3
- 3.19
- Median
- 2.68
- Q1
- 1.96
- Min
- 0.27
PPL’s P/S Ratio of 2.89 aligns with the market consensus for the Regulated Electric industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
Price-to-Book Ratio
ATO
1.84
Regulated Gas Industry
- Max
- 2.11
- Q3
- 1.88
- Median
- 1.55
- Q1
- 1.24
- Min
- 1.10
ATO’s P/B Ratio of 1.84 is within the conventional range for the Regulated Gas industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
PPL
1.75
Regulated Electric Industry
- Max
- 2.95
- Q3
- 2.37
- Median
- 1.89
- Q1
- 1.43
- Min
- 0.55
PPL’s P/B Ratio of 1.75 is within the conventional range for the Regulated Electric industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | ATO | PPL |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 21.32 | 25.10 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 3.14 | 3.26 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 5.39 | 2.89 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 1.84 | 1.75 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | -18.53 | -57.99 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 14.09 | 12.51 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 7.17 | 4.85 |