Algonquin Power & Utilities (NYSE:AQN – Get Free Report) and Electricité de France (OTCMKTS:ECIFY – Get Free Report) are both utilities companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, valuation, dividends, profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations and risk.
Analyst Ratings
This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Algonquin Power & Utilities and Electricité de France, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Algonquin Power & Utilities | 0 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 2.55 |
| Electricité de France | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Algonquin Power & Utilities presently has a consensus target price of $6.81, indicating a potential upside of 19.82%. Given Algonquin Power & Utilities’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Algonquin Power & Utilities is more favorable than Electricité de France.
Valuation and Earnings
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Algonquin Power & Utilities | $2.43 billion | 1.80 | $180.80 million | $0.19 | 29.89 |
| Electricité de France | $151.19 billion | 0.35 | -$18.90 billion | N/A | N/A |
Algonquin Power & Utilities has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Electricité de France.
Profitability
This table compares Algonquin Power & Utilities and Electricité de France’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Algonquin Power & Utilities | 5.77% | 5.16% | 1.79% |
| Electricité de France | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Insider & Institutional Ownership
62.3% of Algonquin Power & Utilities shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.1% of Algonquin Power & Utilities shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.
Volatility and Risk
Algonquin Power & Utilities has a beta of 0.7, indicating that its stock price is 30% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Electricité de France has a beta of 1.26, indicating that its stock price is 26% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Summary
Algonquin Power & Utilities beats Electricité de France on 10 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Algonquin Power & Utilities
Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. is an investment holding company, which engages in energy generation and water distribution facilities. It operates through the Regulated Services Group and Renewable Energy Group segments. The Regulated Services Group segment owns and operates a portfolio of electric, natural gas, water distribution, and wastewater collection utility systems and transmission. The Renewable Energy Group segment focuses on operating a diversified portfolio of renewable and thermal electric generation assets. The company was founded on August 1, 1988 and is headquartered in Oakville, Canada.
About Electricité de France
Electricité de France S.A., an integrated energy company, engages in the power generation, transmission, distribution, supply, and trading activities in France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and internationally. The company generates electricity through nuclear, fossil fuel, hydro, solar, wind, biomass, biogas, thermal, and cogeneration plants. It also manages low and medium-voltage public electricity distribution networks; operates, maintains, and develops high-voltage and very-high-voltage electricity transmission networks; and services and produces equipment and fuel for nuclear reactors. In addition, the company is involved in commodity trading activities; and the provision of energy services, including district heating services, thermal energy services, etc. It serves approximately 38.5 million customers, including small businesses, local authorities, and industrial and residential customers. The company was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Paris, France.
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