KEP vs. WTRG: Korea Electric Power vs. Essential Utilities Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Korea Electric Power (KEP) and Essential Utilities (WTRG) 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 Essential Utilities (WTRG) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but KEP is classified in Electric Utilities while WTRG is classified in Water Utilities.

Essential Utilities (WTRG) 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 Korea Electric Power (KEP) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Profile Item	KEP	WTRG
Name	Korea Electric Power Corporation Sponsored ADR	Essential Utilities Inc.
Country/Region	South Korea	United States
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	13.02 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	October 27, 1994	March 17, 1980
Security Type	ADR	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

KEP

WTRG

GSPC

Korea Electric Power (KEP) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG), 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 Korea Electric Power (KEP) and Essential Utilities (WTRG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Korea Electric Power (KEP) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Metric	KEP	WTRG
Total Return (1Y)	-25.98%	19.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	20.85%	13.95%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	2.90%	2.39%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

KEP

WTRG

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Korea Electric Power (KEP) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Metric	KEP	WTRG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	46.68%	22.14%
Beta (5Y)	0.97	0.61
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-55.55%	-36.53%
Avg. Volume (3M)	949.70K	2.38M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

KEP and WTRG 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 Korea Electric Power (KEP) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Metric	KEP	WTRG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.65	0.67
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.93	1.08

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 16.60% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 8.13% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for KEP.

KEP

Utilities industry group

16.60%

Max: 17.99%
KEP: 16.60%
Q3: 12.01%
Median: 9.44%
Q1: 7.56%
Min: 2.17%

WTRG

Utilities industry group

8.13%

Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
Median: 9.44%
WTRG: 8.13%
Q1: 7.56%
Min: 2.17%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 21.79% 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%

WTRG

Utilities industry group

21.79%

Max: 28.78%
WTRG: 21.79%
Q3: 17.30%
Median: 12.73%
Q1: 9.18%
Min: -0.20%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 38.94% carries a top-quartile operating margin, 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%

WTRG

Utilities industry group

38.94%

Max: 53.83%
WTRG: 38.94%
Q3: 31.12%
Median: 23.62%
Q1: 15.45%
Min: -4.90%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Korea Electric Power (KEP) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Metric	KEP	WTRG
ROE (TTM)	16.60%	8.13%
ROA (TTM)	3.04%	3.00%
Net Margin (TTM)	8.04%	21.79%
Operating Margin (TTM)	4.73%	38.94%
Gross Margin (TTM)	15.97%	57.07%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 18.62% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 4.31% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for WTRG.

Korea Electric Power (KEP) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): 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 Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 1.38%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

Korea Electric Power (KEP) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Korea Electric Power (KEP) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Metric	KEP	WTRG
Revenue Growth (YoY)	4.31%	18.62%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	11.03%	2.65%
EPS Growth (YoY)	144.73%	1.38%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	7.52%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 0.44 and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 0.40 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

KEP

Utilities industry group

0.44

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.66
KEP: 0.44
Min: 0.29

WTRG

Utilities industry group

0.40

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.66
WTRG: 0.40
Min: 0.29

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 1.23 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

WTRG

Utilities industry group

1.23

Max: 2.63
Q3: 1.77
Median: 1.35
WTRG: 1.23
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.00

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

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Korea Electric Power (KEP) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Metric	KEP	WTRG
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.44	0.40
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.63	1.23
Net Debt / EBITDA	5.13	6.30

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 3.01% pays an industry-typical yield; Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 13,891.89% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

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%

WTRG

Utilities industry group

3.01%

Max: 6.66%
Q3: 3.58%
WTRG: 3.01%
Median: 2.85%
Q1: 0.66%
Min: 0.00%

Korea Electric Power (KEP) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): 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; Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 69.42% distributes an above-typical share — opposite departures from the band, with the risk sitting on WTRG’s side.

KEP

Utilities industry group

12.22%

Max: 113.04%
Q3: 68.72%
Median: 56.38%
Q1: 32.38%
KEP: 12.22%
Min: 0.00%

WTRG

Utilities industry group

69.42%

Max: 113.04%
WTRG: 69.42%
Q3: 68.72%
Median: 56.38%
Q1: 32.38%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Korea Electric Power (KEP) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Metric	KEP	WTRG
Dividend Yield (TTM)	13,891.89%	3.01%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	12.22%	69.42%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 2.66 trades below its industry P/E ratio range, while Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 22.73 is closer to a normal peer multiple — a clearer earnings-valuation discount for KEP, subject to growth and earnings quality.

KEP

Utilities industry group

2.66

Max: 31.22
Q3: 23.30
Median: 19.64
Q1: 15.17
Min: 3.34
KEP: 2.66

WTRG

Utilities industry group

22.73

Max: 31.22
Q3: 23.30
WTRG: 22.73
Median: 19.64
Q1: 15.17
Min: 3.34

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 0.00 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 5.01 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

KEP

Utilities industry group

0.00

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.63
Median: 2.63
Q1: 1.52
KEP: 0.00
Min: 0.00

WTRG

Utilities industry group

5.01

Max: 6.35
WTRG: 5.01
Q3: 3.63
Median: 2.63
Q1: 1.52
Min: 0.00

Korea Electric Power (KEP) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): 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 Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 1.83 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

WTRG

Utilities industry group

1.83

Max: 3.12
Q3: 2.21
Median: 1.83
WTRG: 1.83
Q1: 1.46
Min: 0.34

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Korea Electric Power (KEP) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Metric	KEP	WTRG
P/E Ratio (TTM)	2.66	22.73
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.00	5.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	0.38	1.83
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	4,799.31%	-5.45%