EMA vs. SBS: Emera vs. Sabesp Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Emera (EMA) and Sabesp (SBS) 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

Emera (EMA) and Sabesp (SBS) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but EMA is classified in Electric Utilities while SBS is classified in Water Utilities.

Emera (EMA) trades as ordinary local shares, while Sabesp (SBS) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Emera (EMA) and Sabesp (SBS)
Profile Item	EMA	SBS
Name	Emera Inc.	Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP ADR
Country/Region	Canada	Brazil
GICS Sector	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry Group	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry	Electric Utilities	Water Utilities
GICS Sub-Industry	Electric Utilities	Water Utilities
Market Capitalization	15.62 billion USD	16.96 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 5, 2010	May 10, 2002
Security Type	Common Stock	ADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

EMA

SBS

GSPC

Emera (EMA) vs. Sabesp (SBS), 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 Emera (EMA) and Sabesp (SBS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Emera (EMA) and Sabesp (SBS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Emera (EMA) and Sabesp (SBS)
Metric	EMA	SBS
Total Return (1Y)	9.07%	-3.72%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	18.64%	28.33%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	6.45%	32.85%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

EMA

SBS

GSPC

Emera (EMA) vs. Sabesp (SBS), 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 Emera (EMA) and Sabesp (SBS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Sabesp (SBS) is heavily traded at around 11.85M shares per day, whereas Emera (EMA) sees a more moderate 713.97K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.

Risk profile metrics for Emera (EMA) and Sabesp (SBS)
Metric	EMA	SBS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	16.26%	46.80%
Beta (5Y)	0.40	0.76
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-32.61%	-37.59%
Avg. Volume (3M)	713.97K	11.85M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

EMA and SBS 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 Emera (EMA) and Sabesp (SBS)
Metric	EMA	SBS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.29	-0.17
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.43	-0.22

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 16.27% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Emera (EMA) at 7.56% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for SBS.

EMA

Utilities industry group

7.56%

Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
Median: 9.44%
EMA: 7.56%
Q1: 7.56%
Min: 2.17%

SBS

Utilities industry group

16.27%

Max: 17.99%
SBS: 16.27%
Q3: 12.01%
Median: 9.44%
Q1: 7.56%
Min: 2.17%

Emera (EMA) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 17.52% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Emera (EMA) at 11.64%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

EMA

Utilities industry group

11.64%

Max: 28.78%
Q3: 17.30%
Median: 12.73%
EMA: 11.64%
Q1: 9.18%
Min: -0.20%

SBS

Utilities industry group

17.52%

Max: 28.78%
SBS: 17.52%
Q3: 17.30%
Median: 12.73%
Q1: 9.18%
Min: -0.20%

Emera (EMA) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Emera (EMA) at 17.85% and Sabesp (SBS) at 29.28% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

EMA

Utilities industry group

17.85%

Max: 53.83%
Q3: 31.12%
Median: 23.62%
EMA: 17.85%
Q1: 15.45%
Min: -4.90%

SBS

Utilities industry group

29.28%

Max: 53.83%
Q3: 31.12%
SBS: 29.28%
Median: 23.62%
Q1: 15.45%
Min: -4.90%

Emera (EMA) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Emera (EMA) and Sabesp (SBS)
Metric	EMA	SBS
ROE (TTM)	7.56%	16.27%
ROA (TTM)	2.91%	8.08%
Net Margin (TTM)	11.64%	17.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)	17.85%	29.28%
Gross Margin (TTM)	43.76%	36.96%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Emera (EMA) at 21.89% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Sabesp (SBS) at 5.39% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for EMA.

Emera (EMA) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Emera (EMA) at 97.66% delivers above-range EPS growth, while Sabesp (SBS) at -11.79% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in earnings momentum.

Emera (EMA) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Emera (EMA) and Sabesp (SBS)
Metric	EMA	SBS
Revenue Growth (YoY)	21.89%	5.39%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	4.97%	19.98%
EPS Growth (YoY)	97.66%	-11.79%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-1.62%	40.65%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Emera (EMA) at 0.73 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Sabesp (SBS) at 1.22 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

EMA

Utilities industry group

0.73

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.88
EMA: 0.73
Q1: 0.66
Min: 0.29

SBS

Utilities industry group

1.22

Max: 1.90
SBS: 1.22
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.66
Min: 0.29

Emera (EMA) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Emera (EMA) at 1.54 and Sabesp (SBS) at 0.99 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

EMA

Utilities industry group

1.54

Max: 2.63
Q3: 1.77
EMA: 1.54
Median: 1.35
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.00

SBS

Utilities industry group

0.99

Max: 2.63
Q3: 1.77
Median: 1.35
SBS: 0.99
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.00

Emera (EMA) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Emera (EMA) and Sabesp (SBS)
Metric	EMA	SBS
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.73	1.22
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.54	0.99
Net Debt / EBITDA	6.38	2.30

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Emera (EMA) nor Sabesp (SBS) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

EMA

Utilities industry group

0.00%

Max: 6.66%
Q3: 3.58%
Median: 2.85%
Q1: 0.66%
EMA: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

SBS

Utilities industry group

0.00%

Max: 6.66%
Q3: 3.58%
Median: 2.85%
Q1: 0.66%
SBS: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Emera (EMA) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 35.95% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Emera (EMA) at 92.48% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

EMA

Utilities industry group

92.48%

Max: 113.04%
EMA: 92.48%
Q3: 68.72%
Median: 56.38%
Q1: 32.38%
Min: 0.00%

SBS

Utilities industry group

35.95%

Max: 113.04%
Q3: 68.72%
Median: 56.38%
SBS: 35.95%
Q1: 32.38%
Min: 0.00%

Emera (EMA) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Emera (EMA) and Sabesp (SBS)
Metric	EMA	SBS
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	92.48%	35.95%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 11.73 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Emera (EMA) at 23.58 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.

EMA

Utilities industry group

23.58

Max: 31.22
EMA: 23.58
Q3: 23.30
Median: 19.64
Q1: 15.17
Min: 3.34

SBS

Utilities industry group

11.73

Max: 31.22
Q3: 23.30
Median: 19.64
Q1: 15.17
SBS: 11.73
Min: 3.34

Emera (EMA) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 0.41 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Emera (EMA) at 1.75 prices around its industry’s middle — SBS costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

EMA

Utilities industry group

1.75

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.63
Median: 2.63
EMA: 1.75
Q1: 1.52
Min: 0.00

SBS

Utilities industry group

0.41

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.63
Median: 2.63
Q1: 1.52
SBS: 0.41
Min: 0.00

Emera (EMA) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Emera (EMA) at 1.80 and Sabesp (SBS) at 1.84 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

EMA

Utilities industry group

1.80

Max: 3.12
Q3: 2.21
Median: 1.83
EMA: 1.80
Q1: 1.46
Min: 0.34

SBS

Utilities industry group

1.84

Max: 3.12
Q3: 2.21
SBS: 1.84
Median: 1.83
Q1: 1.46
Min: 0.34

Emera (EMA) vs. Sabesp (SBS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Emera (EMA) and Sabesp (SBS)
Metric	EMA	SBS
P/E Ratio (TTM)	23.58	11.73
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.75	0.41
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.80	1.84
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-9.18%	-62.11%