FE vs. KEP: FirstEnergy vs. Korea Electric Power Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do FirstEnergy (FE) 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

FirstEnergy (FE) and Korea Electric Power (KEP) are both classified in the Electric Utilities sub-industry within the broader Electric Utilities industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

FirstEnergy (FE) 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.

Company profile comparison for FirstEnergy (FE) and Korea Electric Power (KEP)
Profile Item	FE	KEP
Name	FirstEnergy Corp.	Korea Electric Power Corporation Sponsored ADR
Country/Region	United States	South Korea
GICS Sector	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry Group	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry	Electric Utilities	Electric Utilities
GICS Sub-Industry	Electric Utilities	Electric Utilities
Market Capitalization	26.88 billion USD	14.38 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	November 10, 1997	October 27, 1994
Security Type	Common Stock	ADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

KEP

GSPC

FirstEnergy (FE) vs. Korea Electric Power (KEP), 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 FirstEnergy (FE) and Korea Electric Power (KEP). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for FirstEnergy (FE) and Korea Electric Power (KEP). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for FirstEnergy (FE) and Korea Electric Power (KEP)
Metric	FE	KEP
Total Return (1Y)	5.62%	-25.98%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	14.20%	20.85%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	8.32%	2.90%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

KEP

GSPC

FirstEnergy (FE) vs. Korea Electric Power (KEP), 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 FirstEnergy (FE) and Korea Electric Power (KEP). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for FirstEnergy (FE) and Korea Electric Power (KEP)
Metric	FE	KEP
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	16.31%	46.68%
Beta (5Y)	0.39	0.97
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-28.59%	-55.55%
Avg. Volume (3M)	4.29M	949.70K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

FE and KEP 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 FirstEnergy (FE) and Korea Electric Power (KEP)
Metric	FE	KEP
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.08	-0.65
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.11	-0.93

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 16.60% sits in the top ROE quartile, while FirstEnergy (FE) at 10.04% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for KEP.

FE

Utilities industry group

10.04%

Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
FE: 10.04%
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%

FirstEnergy (FE) vs. Korea Electric Power (KEP): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both FirstEnergy (FE) at 7.49% and Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 8.04% let more of each sales dollar slip away before the bottom line than peers do, sitting in the lower net margin quartile of their industries.

FE

Utilities industry group

7.49%

Max: 28.78%
Q3: 17.30%
Median: 12.73%
Q1: 9.18%
FE: 7.49%
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%

FirstEnergy (FE) vs. Korea Electric Power (KEP): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

FirstEnergy (FE) at 21.24% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 4.73% operates in the bottom quartile.

FE

Utilities industry group

21.24%

Max: 53.83%
Q3: 31.12%
Median: 23.62%
FE: 21.24%
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%

FirstEnergy (FE) vs. Korea Electric Power (KEP): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for FirstEnergy (FE) and Korea Electric Power (KEP)
Metric	FE	KEP
ROE (TTM)	10.04%	16.60%
ROA (TTM)	3.66%	3.04%
Net Margin (TTM)	7.49%	8.04%
Operating Margin (TTM)	21.24%	4.73%
Gross Margin (TTM)	69.63%	15.97%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both FirstEnergy (FE) at 12.01% 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.

FirstEnergy (FE) vs. Korea Electric Power (KEP): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 144.73% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than FirstEnergy (FE) at 3.53%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

FirstEnergy (FE) vs. Korea Electric Power (KEP): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for FirstEnergy (FE) and Korea Electric Power (KEP)
Metric	FE	KEP
Revenue Growth (YoY)	12.01%	4.31%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	6.59%	11.03%
EPS Growth (YoY)	3.53%	144.73%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	35.34%	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both FirstEnergy (FE) at 0.38 and Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 0.44 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

FE

Utilities industry group

0.38

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.66
FE: 0.38
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

FirstEnergy (FE) vs. Korea Electric Power (KEP): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both FirstEnergy (FE) at 2.07 and Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 2.63 lean more heavily on debt funding than most peers, landing in the higher-leverage quartile of their industries.

FE

Utilities industry group

2.07

Max: 2.63
FE: 2.07
Q3: 1.77
Median: 1.35
Q1: 0.84
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

FirstEnergy (FE) vs. Korea Electric Power (KEP): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for FirstEnergy (FE) and Korea Electric Power (KEP)
Metric	FE	KEP
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.38	0.44
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.07	2.63
Net Debt / EBITDA	5.85	5.13

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

FirstEnergy (FE) at 3.90% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 13,891.89% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.

FE

Utilities industry group

3.90%

Max: 6.66%
FE: 3.90%
Q3: 3.58%
Median: 2.85%
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%

FirstEnergy (FE) vs. Korea Electric Power (KEP): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 12.22% retains more earnings than its industry usually does; FirstEnergy (FE) at 87.92% distributes an above-typical share — opposite departures from the band, with the risk sitting on FE’s side.

FE

Utilities industry group

87.92%

Max: 113.04%
FE: 87.92%
Q3: 68.72%
Median: 56.38%
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%

FirstEnergy (FE) vs. Korea Electric Power (KEP): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for FirstEnergy (FE) and Korea Electric Power (KEP)
Metric	FE	KEP
Dividend Yield (TTM)	3.90%	13,891.89%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	87.92%	12.22%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 2.66 trades below its industry P/E ratio range, while FirstEnergy (FE) at 22.43 is closer to a normal peer multiple — a clearer earnings-valuation discount for KEP, subject to growth and earnings quality.

FE

Utilities industry group

22.43

Max: 31.22
Q3: 23.30
FE: 22.43
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

FirstEnergy (FE) vs. Korea Electric Power (KEP): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 0.00 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while FirstEnergy (FE) at 1.68 prices around its industry’s middle — KEP costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

FE

Utilities industry group

1.68

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.63
Median: 2.63
FE: 1.68
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

FirstEnergy (FE) vs. Korea Electric Power (KEP): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 0.38 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while FirstEnergy (FE) at 2.07 is valued near its industry’s middle — KEP is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.

FE

Utilities industry group

2.07

Max: 3.12
Q3: 2.21
FE: 2.07
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

FirstEnergy (FE) vs. Korea Electric Power (KEP): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for FirstEnergy (FE) and Korea Electric Power (KEP)
Metric	FE	KEP
P/E Ratio (TTM)	22.43	2.66
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.68	0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.07	0.38
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-9.48%	4,799.31%