Avista (NYSE:AVA – Get Free Report) and Just Energy Group (OTCMKTS:JENGQ – Get Free Report) are both utilities companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, valuation, profitability, earnings, dividends, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership.
Risk and Volatility
Avista has a beta of 0.25, meaning that its share price is 75% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Just Energy Group has a beta of 0.36, meaning that its share price is 64% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Insider & Institutional Ownership
85.2% of Avista shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 28.9% of Just Energy Group shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.8% of Avista shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.
Analyst Recommendations
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Avista | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2.14 |
| Just Energy Group | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Avista presently has a consensus target price of $39.25, indicating a potential upside of 3.44%. Given Avista’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Avista is more favorable than Just Energy Group.
Earnings & Valuation
This table compares Avista and Just Energy Group”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Avista | $1.96 billion | 1.62 | $193.00 million | $2.77 | 13.70 |
| Just Energy Group | $2.15 billion | 0.00 | $678.53 million | $2.84 | 0.01 |
Just Energy Group has higher revenue and earnings than Avista. Just Energy Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Avista, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Profitability
This table compares Avista and Just Energy Group’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Avista | 11.83% | 7.85% | 2.57% |
| Just Energy Group | 6.16% | 98.77% | 9.12% |
Summary
Avista beats Just Energy Group on 8 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Avista
Avista Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an electric and natural gas utility company. It operates in two segments, Avista Utilities and AEL&P. The Avista Utilities segment provides electric distribution and transmission, and natural gas distribution services in parts of eastern Washington and northern Idaho; and natural gas distribution services in parts of northeastern and southwestern Oregon, as well as generates electricity in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana. This segment also engages in the supply of electricity to customers in Montana; and wholesale purchase and sale of electricity and natural gas. The AEL&P segment offers electric services in Juneau, Alaska. The company generates electricity through hydroelectric, thermal, wind, and solar generation facilities. As of December 31, 2023, it supplied retail electric services to approximately 416,000 customers; and retail natural gas services to approximately 381,000 customers. The company also operates five hydroelectric generation facilities with capacity of 102.7 MW; and four diesel generating facilities with a capacity of 107.5 MW. It also engages in venture fund investments, real estate investments, and other investments. Avista Corporation was incorporated in 1889 and is headquartered in Spokane, Washington.
About Just Energy Group
Just Energy Group Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides electricity and natural gas commodities in the United States and Canada. It operates through two segments, The Mass Market and The Commercial. The company offers fixed, variable, index and flat rate commodity products, as well as Just Green products; smart thermostats; and subscription-based home water filtration systems, including under-counter and whole-home water filtration solution, as well as sustainable carbon emissions solutions. It offers energy solutions under the Just Energy, Tara Energy, Amigo Energy, and terrapass brands. The company serves residential and commercial customers through brokers, door-to-door commercial independent contractors, and inside commercial sales representatives. Just Energy Group Inc. was founded in 1997 and is based in Toronto, Canada.
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