Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO)vsNorthwest Natural Gas Co (NWN)
ATO
Atmos Energy Corporation
$169.90
-0.01%
UTILITIES · Cap: $28.71B
NWN
Northwest Natural Gas Co
$50.43
-0.85%
UTILITIES · Cap: $2.14B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Atmos Energy Corporation generates 281% more annual revenue ($4.92B vs $1.29B). ATO leads profitability with a 28.5% profit margin vs 9.7%. ATO appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.03. ATO earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 66/100 (B-).
ATO
Strong Buy66
out of 100
Grade: B-
NWN
Buy54
out of 100
Grade: C-
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Intrinsic value data unavailable for ATO.
Margin of Safety
+17.3%
Fair Value
$59.10
Current Price
$50.43
$8.67 discount
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Strong operational efficiency at 37.2%
Keeps 29 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Reasonable price relative to book value
Earnings expanding 23.3% YoY
Reasonable price relative to book value
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
4.8% revenue growth
Weak financial health signals
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
3.1% revenue growth
ROE of 7.8% — below average capital efficiency
Elevated debt levels
Weak financial health signals
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : ATO
The strongest argument for ATO centers on Operating Margin, Profit Margin, Price/Book. Profitability is solid with margins at 28.5% and operating margin at 37.2%.
Bull Case : NWN
The strongest argument for NWN centers on Price/Book, P/E Ratio.
Bear Case : ATO
The primary concerns for ATO are PEG Ratio, Revenue Growth, Piotroski F-Score.
Bear Case : NWN
The primary concerns for NWN are Revenue Growth, Return on Equity, Debt/Equity. Debt-to-equity of 1.73 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
ATO carries more volatility with a beta of 0.60 — expect wider price swings.
ATO is growing revenue faster at 4.8% — sustainability is the question.
NWN generates stronger free cash flow (-12M), providing more financial flexibility.
Monitor UTILITIES - REGULATED GAS industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.
Bottom Line
ATO scores higher overall (66/100 vs 54/100), backed by strong 28.5% margins. NWN offers better value entry with a 17.3% margin of safety. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
Atmos Energy Corporation
UTILITIES · UTILITIES - REGULATED GAS · USA
Atmos Energy Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is one of the United States' largest natural-gas-only distributors.
Northwest Natural Gas Co
UTILITIES · UTILITIES - REGULATED GAS · USA
Northwest Natural Holding Company, through its subsidiary, Northwest Natural Gas Company, provides regulated natural gas distribution services to residential, commercial, industrial and transportation customers in Oregon and Southwest Washington. The company is headquartered in Portland, Oregon.
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