FE vs. SBS: FirstEnergy vs. Sabesp Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do FirstEnergy (FE) 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

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

FirstEnergy (FE) 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 FirstEnergy (FE) and Sabesp (SBS)
Profile Item	FE	SBS
Name	FirstEnergy Corp.	Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP ADR
Country/Region	United States	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	26.88 billion USD	16.96 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	November 10, 1997	May 10, 2002
Security Type	Common Stock	ADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

SBS

GSPC

FirstEnergy (FE) 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

Loading price history…

Trailing total returns for FirstEnergy (FE) and Sabesp (SBS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for FirstEnergy (FE) and Sabesp (SBS)
Metric	FE	SBS
Total Return (1Y)	5.62%	-3.72%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	14.20%	28.33%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	8.32%	32.85%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

SBS

GSPC

FirstEnergy (FE) 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

Loading price history…

Distribution of monthly total returns for FirstEnergy (FE) and Sabesp (SBS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for FirstEnergy (FE) and Sabesp (SBS)
Metric	FE	SBS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	16.31%	46.80%
Beta (5Y)	0.39	0.76
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-28.59%	-37.59%
Avg. Volume (3M)	4.29M	11.85M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

FE 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 FirstEnergy (FE) and Sabesp (SBS)
Metric	FE	SBS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.08	-0.17
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.11	-0.22

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 16.27% sits in the top ROE quartile, while FirstEnergy (FE) at 10.04% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for SBS.

FE

Utilities industry group

10.04%

Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
FE: 10.04%
Median: 9.44%
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%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 17.52% keeps a top-quartile share of each sales dollar as profit, while FirstEnergy (FE) at 7.49% keeps a bottom-quartile share.

FE

Utilities industry group

7.49%

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

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both FirstEnergy (FE) at 21.24% and Sabesp (SBS) at 29.28% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

FE

Utilities industry group

21.24%

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

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for FirstEnergy (FE) and Sabesp (SBS)
Metric	FE	SBS
ROE (TTM)	10.04%	16.27%
ROA (TTM)	3.66%	8.08%
Net Margin (TTM)	7.49%	17.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)	21.24%	29.28%
Gross Margin (TTM)	69.63%	36.96%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both FirstEnergy (FE) at 12.01% and Sabesp (SBS) at 5.39% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

FirstEnergy (FE) at 3.53% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Sabesp (SBS) at -11.79% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for FirstEnergy (FE) and Sabesp (SBS)
Metric	FE	SBS
Revenue Growth (YoY)	12.01%	5.39%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	6.59%	19.98%
EPS Growth (YoY)	3.53%	-11.79%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	35.34%	40.65%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Sabesp (SBS) at 1.22 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while FirstEnergy (FE) at 0.38 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

FE

Utilities industry group

0.38

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

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Sabesp (SBS) at 0.99 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while FirstEnergy (FE) at 2.07 uses more debt funding than most peers.

FE

Utilities industry group

2.07

Max: 2.63
FE: 2.07
Q3: 1.77
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

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

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for FirstEnergy (FE) and Sabesp (SBS)
Metric	FE	SBS
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.38	1.22
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.07	0.99
Net Debt / EBITDA	5.85	2.30

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile FirstEnergy (FE) reports a yield of 3.90%, ranking against industry peers normally.

FE

Utilities industry group

3.90%

Max: 6.66%
FE: 3.90%
Q3: 3.58%
Median: 2.85%
Q1: 0.66%
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%

FirstEnergy (FE) 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 FirstEnergy (FE) at 87.92% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

FE

Utilities industry group

87.92%

Max: 113.04%
FE: 87.92%
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%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for FirstEnergy (FE) and Sabesp (SBS)
Metric	FE	SBS
Dividend Yield (TTM)	3.90%	0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	87.92%	35.95%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 11.73 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while FirstEnergy (FE) at 22.43 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for SBS, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

FE

Utilities industry group

22.43

Max: 31.22
Q3: 23.30
FE: 22.43
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

FirstEnergy (FE) 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 FirstEnergy (FE) at 1.68 prices around its industry’s middle — SBS 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

SBS

Utilities industry group

0.41

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

FirstEnergy (FE) 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 FirstEnergy (FE) at 2.07 and Sabesp (SBS) at 1.84 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

FE

Utilities industry group

2.07

Max: 3.12
Q3: 2.21
FE: 2.07
Median: 1.83
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

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for FirstEnergy (FE) and Sabesp (SBS)
Metric	FE	SBS
P/E Ratio (TTM)	22.43	11.73
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.68	0.41
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.07	1.84
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-9.48%	-62.11%