WallStSmart

Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO)vsTalen Energy Corporation (TLN)

VS

Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

Atmos Energy Corporation generates 32% more annual revenue ($4.92B vs $3.74B). ATO leads profitability with a 28.5% profit margin vs -5.0%. ATO earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 66/100 (B-).

ATO

Strong Buy

66

out of 100

Grade: B-

Growth: 5.3Profit: 8.0Value: 5.0Quality: 4.0
Piotroski: 2/9Altman Z: 1.10

TLN

Hold

42

out of 100

Grade: D

Growth: 8.0Profit: 2.5Value: 5.0Quality: 2.5
Piotroski: 3/9Altman Z: 0.30

Key Strengths & Concerns

Side-by-side fundamental analysis

Key Strengths

ATO4 strengths · Avg: 8.8/10
Operating MarginProfitability
37.2%10/10

Strong operational efficiency at 37.2%

Profit MarginProfitability
28.5%9/10

Keeps 29 of every $100 in revenue as profit

Price/BookValuation
1.8x8/10

Reasonable price relative to book value

EPS GrowthGrowth
23.3%8/10

Earnings expanding 23.3% YoY

TLN2 strengths · Avg: 9.0/10
Revenue GrowthGrowth
111.2%10/10

Revenue surging 111.2% year-over-year

EPS GrowthGrowth
34.5%8/10

Earnings expanding 34.5% YoY

Areas to Watch

ATO4 concerns · Avg: 3.3/10
PEG RatioValuation
2.024/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

Revenue GrowthGrowth
4.8%4/10

4.8% revenue growth

Piotroski F-ScoreQuality
2/93/10

Weak financial health signals

Free Cash FlowQuality
$-399.43M2/10

Negative free cash flow — burning cash

TLN4 concerns · Avg: 2.8/10
Price/BookValuation
9.3x4/10

Trading at 9.3x book value

Piotroski F-ScoreQuality
3/93/10

Weak financial health signals

Return on EquityProfitability
-11.4%2/10

ROE of -11.4% — below average capital efficiency

Free Cash FlowQuality
$-546.00M2/10

Negative free cash flow — burning cash

Comparative Analysis Report

WallStSmart Research

Bull 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 : TLN

The strongest argument for TLN centers on Revenue Growth, EPS Growth. Revenue growth of 111.2% demonstrates continued momentum.

Bear Case : ATO

The primary concerns for ATO are PEG Ratio, Revenue Growth, Piotroski F-Score.

Bear Case : TLN

The primary concerns for TLN are Price/Book, Piotroski F-Score, Return on Equity. Debt-to-equity of 5.92 is elevated, increasing financial risk.

Key Dynamics to Monitor

ATO profiles as a value stock while TLN is a hypergrowth play — different risk/reward profiles.

TLN carries more volatility with a beta of 1.63 — expect wider price swings.

TLN is growing revenue faster at 111.2% — sustainability is the question.

ATO generates stronger free cash flow (-399M), providing more financial flexibility.

Bottom Line

ATO scores higher overall (66/100 vs 42/100), backed by strong 28.5% margins. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Hold" 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.

Talen Energy Corporation

UTILITIES · UTILITIES - INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCERS · USA

Talen Energy Corporation (Ticker: TLN) is a prominent player in the U.S. power generation and infrastructure sector, committed to delivering reliable energy solutions through a robust portfolio that includes both traditional and renewable resources. The company emphasizes environmental sustainability and grid resilience, adapting to the increasing demand for electricity in a rapidly evolving energy landscape. With a strategic focus on innovation and advanced technology, Talen is well-positioned to capitalize on the transition to cleaner energy alternatives, making it an attractive investment opportunity for institutional investors.

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