American States Water Company (AWR)vsNRG Energy Inc. (NRG)
AWR
American States Water Company
$78.37
+1.75%
UTILITIES · Cap: $3.05B
NRG
NRG Energy Inc.
$133.36
+3.93%
UTILITIES · Cap: $26.47B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
NRG Energy Inc. generates 4668% more annual revenue ($32.38B vs $679.25M). AWR leads profitability with a 19.7% profit margin vs 0.7%. NRG appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.43. AWR earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 62/100 (C+).
AWR
Buy62
out of 100
Grade: C+
NRG
Buy51
out of 100
Grade: C-
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-11.2%
Fair Value
$63.79
Current Price
$78.37
$14.58 premium
Intrinsic value data unavailable for NRG.
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Strong operational efficiency at 30.9%
Reasonable price relative to book value
Growing faster than its price suggests
19.5% revenue growth
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
Distress zone — elevated risk
Distress zone — elevated risk
ROE of 4.9% — below average capital efficiency
0.7% margin — thin
Operating margin of 3.6%
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : AWR
The strongest argument for AWR centers on Operating Margin, Price/Book. Profitability is solid with margins at 19.7% and operating margin at 30.9%. Revenue growth of 14.3% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bull Case : NRG
The strongest argument for NRG centers on PEG Ratio, Revenue Growth. Revenue growth of 19.5% demonstrates continued momentum. PEG of 0.43 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bear Case : AWR
The primary concerns for AWR are PEG Ratio, Altman Z-Score.
Bear Case : NRG
The primary concerns for NRG are Altman Z-Score, Return on Equity, Profit Margin. A P/E of 136.4x leaves little room for execution misses. Debt-to-equity of 4.79 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
AWR profiles as a mature stock while NRG is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
NRG carries more volatility with a beta of 1.22 — expect wider price swings.
NRG is growing revenue faster at 19.5% — sustainability is the question.
AWR generates stronger free cash flow (23M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
AWR scores higher overall (62/100 vs 51/100), backed by strong 19.7% margins and 14.3% revenue growth. Both earn "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.
American States Water Company
UTILITIES · UTILITIES - REGULATED WATER · USA
American States Water Company provides water and electricity services to residential, commercial, industrial and other customers in the United States. The company is headquartered in San Dimas, California.
Visit Website →NRG Energy Inc.
UTILITIES · UTILITIES - INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCERS · USA
NRG Energy, Inc. is a large American energy company, headquartered in Houston, Texas. It was formerly the wholesale arm of Northern States Power Company (NSP), which became Xcel Energy, but became independent in 2000. NRG Energy is involved in energy generation and retail electricity.
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