Superior Plus (OTCMKTS:SUUIF – Get Free Report) and Northwest Natural Gas (NYSE:NWN – Get Free Report) are both utilities companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, valuation, earnings, profitability and risk.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Superior Plus and Northwest Natural Gas, as provided by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Superior Plus | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2.14 |
| Northwest Natural Gas | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2.71 |
Northwest Natural Gas has a consensus price target of $55.25, indicating a potential upside of 10.73%. Given Northwest Natural Gas’ stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Northwest Natural Gas is more favorable than Superior Plus.
Institutional & Insider Ownership
Profitability
This table compares Superior Plus and Northwest Natural Gas’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Superior Plus | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Northwest Natural Gas | 9.75% | 8.33% | 2.03% |
Valuation and Earnings
This table compares Superior Plus and Northwest Natural Gas”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Superior Plus | N/A | N/A | N/A | $0.19 | 29.81 |
| Northwest Natural Gas | $1.29 billion | 1.62 | $113.32 million | $3.00 | 16.63 |
Northwest Natural Gas has higher revenue and earnings than Superior Plus. Northwest Natural Gas is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Superior Plus, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Dividends
Superior Plus pays an annual dividend of $0.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 10.5%. Northwest Natural Gas pays an annual dividend of $1.97 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.9%. Superior Plus pays out 312.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Northwest Natural Gas pays out 65.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Northwest Natural Gas has raised its dividend for 70 consecutive years.
Summary
Northwest Natural Gas beats Superior Plus on 13 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Superior Plus
Superior Plus Corp. distributes and markets propane, compressed natural gas and renewable energy in both the United States and Canada. The company operates through The United States Retail Propane Distribution (U.S. Propane), Canadian Retail Propane Distribution (Canadian Propane), and North American Wholesale Propane Distribution (Wholesale Propane), and Certarus segments. The U.S. Propane Distribution segment distributes propane gas and liquid fuels primarily in the Eastern United States, the Midwest, and California to retail customers, including residential and commercial customers. The Canadian Propane segment distributes propane gas and liquid fuels across Canada to retail customers, including residential and commercial customers. The Wholesale Propane segment supplies propane gas for the Canadian Propane and the U.S. Propane segments, as well as propane and other natural gas liquids to third-party wholesale customers in Canada and the United States. The Certarus segment provides low-carbon energy solution for transporting, compressed natural gas, renewable natural gas, and hydrogen. Superior Plus Corp. was incorporated in 1989 and is based in Toronto, Canada.
About Northwest Natural Gas
Northwest Natural Holding Company, through its subsidiary, Northwest Natural Gas Company, provides regulated natural gas distribution services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the United States. The company operates a mist gas storage facility contracted to other utilities, third-party marketers, and electric generators; offers natural gas asset management services; and operates an appliance retail center. It also engages in gas storage, water and wastewater, non-regulated renewable natural gas, and other investment businesses. In addition, the company provides natural gas service in Oregon and southwest Washington; and water and wastewater connections. Northwest Natural Holding Company was founded in 1859 and is headquartered in Portland, Oregon.
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