KEP vs. SBS: Korea Electric Power vs. Sabesp Stock Comparison
How do Korea Electric Power (KEP) 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
Korea Electric Power (KEP) and Sabesp (SBS) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but KEP is classified in Electric Utilities while SBS is classified in Water Utilities.
Both Korea Electric Power (KEP) and Sabesp (SBS) trade as ADRs — their core financials are comparable, but keep FX, depositary-program fees, and dividend withholding in view for each.
| Profile Item | KEP | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Korea Electric Power Corporation Sponsored ADR | Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP ADR |
| Country/Region | South Korea | 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 | 14.38 billion USD | 16.96 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 27, 1994 | May 10, 2002 |
| Security Type | ADR | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | KEP | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -25.98% | -3.72% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 20.85% | 28.33% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 2.90% | 32.85% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Sabesp (SBS) is heavily traded at around 11.85M shares per day, whereas Korea Electric Power (KEP) sees a more moderate 949.70K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.
| Metric | KEP | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 46.68% | 46.80% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.97 | 0.76 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -55.55% | -37.59% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 949.70K | 11.85M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | KEP | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.65 | -0.17 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.93 | -0.22 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 16.60% and Sabesp (SBS) at 16.27% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
KEP
Utilities industry group
16.60%
- Max
- 17.99%
- KEP
- 16.60%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
Sabesp (SBS) at 17.52% keeps a top-quartile share of each sales dollar as profit, while Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 8.04% keeps a bottom-quartile share.
KEP
Utilities industry group
8.04%
- Max
- 28.78%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- KEP
- 8.04%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Sabesp (SBS) at 29.28% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 4.73% operates in the bottom quartile.
KEP
Utilities industry group
4.73%
- Max
- 53.83%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- KEP
- 4.73%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | KEP | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 16.60% | 16.27% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.04% | 8.08% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 8.04% | 17.52% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 4.73% | 29.28% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 15.97% | 36.96% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 4.31% 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.
EPS Growth
Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 144.73% delivers above-range EPS growth, while Sabesp (SBS) at -11.79% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | KEP | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 4.31% | 5.39% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 11.03% | 19.98% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 144.73% | -11.79% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 40.65% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Sabesp (SBS) at 1.22 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 0.44 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.
KEP
Utilities industry group
0.44
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- KEP
- 0.44
- 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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Sabesp (SBS) at 0.99 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 2.63 uses more debt funding than most peers.
KEP
Utilities industry group
2.63
- KEP
- 2.63
- Max
- 2.63
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | KEP | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.44 | 1.22 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 2.63 | 0.99 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 5.13 | 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 Korea Electric Power (KEP) reports a yield of 13,891.89%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
SBS
Utilities industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- SBS
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Sabesp (SBS) at 35.95% keeps its payout within the industry’s typical band; Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 12.22% pays out less than peers usually do, retaining more of its earnings — a policy difference more than a quality gap.
KEP
Utilities industry group
12.22%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- KEP
- 12.22%
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | KEP | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 13,891.89% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 12.22% | 35.95% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both screen inexpensive on earnings, but Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 2.66 is the deeper discount: its P/E ratio is below the industry range, while Sabesp (SBS) at 11.73 sits in the cheaper quartile.
KEP
Utilities industry group
2.66
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
- KEP
- 2.66
SBS
Utilities industry group
11.73
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- SBS
- 11.73
- Min
- 3.34
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 0.00 and Sabesp (SBS) at 0.41 fetch a relatively low price per dollar of sales, landing in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.
KEP
Utilities industry group
0.00
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- KEP
- 0.00
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 0.38 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while Sabesp (SBS) at 1.84 is valued near its industry’s middle — KEP is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.
KEP
Utilities industry group
0.38
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- KEP
- 0.38
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | KEP | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 2.66 | 11.73 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.00 | 0.41 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 0.38 | 1.84 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4,799.31% | -62.11% |