Northwest Natural Gas Co (NWN)vsTransAlta Corp (TAC)
NWN
Northwest Natural Gas Co
$46.66
-0.02%
UTILITIES · Cap: $2.01B
TAC
TransAlta Corp
$12.22
+1.12%
UTILITIES · Cap: $3.89B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
TransAlta Corp generates 75% more annual revenue ($2.27B vs $1.29B). NWN leads profitability with a 9.7% profit margin vs -1.0%. NWN appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.31. NWN earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 54/100 (C-).
NWN
Buy54
out of 100
Grade: C-
TAC
Hold43
out of 100
Grade: D
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
+16.9%
Fair Value
$58.77
Current Price
$46.66
$12.11 discount
Intrinsic value data unavailable for TAC.
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Reasonable price relative to book value
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Strong operational efficiency at 33.3%
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
3.1% revenue growth
ROE of 7.8% — below average capital efficiency
Elevated debt levels
Weak financial health signals
Expensive relative to growth rate
ROE of -12.1% — below average capital efficiency
Earnings declined 71.6%
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : NWN
The strongest argument for NWN centers on Price/Book, P/E Ratio.
Bull Case : TAC
The strongest argument for TAC centers on Operating Margin. Revenue growth of 12.5% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : NWN
The primary concerns for NWN are PEG Ratio, Revenue Growth, Return on Equity. Debt-to-equity of 1.73 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Bear Case : TAC
The primary concerns for TAC are Piotroski F-Score, PEG Ratio, Return on Equity. Debt-to-equity of 2.38 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
NWN profiles as a value stock while TAC is a turnaround play — different risk/reward profiles.
TAC carries more volatility with a beta of 0.46 — expect wider price swings.
TAC is growing revenue faster at 12.5% — sustainability is the question.
TAC generates stronger free cash flow (17M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
NWN scores higher overall (54/100 vs 43/100). Both earn "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.
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.
Visit Website →TransAlta Corp
UTILITIES · UTILITIES - INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCERS · USA
TransAlta Corporation owns, operates and develops a diverse fleet of electric power generation assets in Canada, the United States and Australia. The company is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.
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