Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO)vsNRG Energy Inc. (NRG)
ATO
Atmos Energy Corporation
$170.24
+1.36%
UTILITIES · Cap: $28.37B
NRG
NRG Energy Inc.
$133.36
+1.43%
UTILITIES · Cap: $26.47B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
NRG Energy Inc. generates 563% more annual revenue ($32.38B vs $4.88B). ATO leads profitability with a 27.6% profit margin vs 0.7%. NRG appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.43. ATO earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 64/100 (C+).
ATO
Buy64
out of 100
Grade: C+
NRG
Buy51
out of 100
Grade: C-
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Strong operational efficiency at 39.3%
Keeps 28 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Reasonable price relative to book value
Growing faster than its price suggests
19.5% revenue growth
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
0.6% revenue growth
Weak financial health signals
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
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 : ATO
The strongest argument for ATO centers on Operating Margin, Profit Margin, Price/Book. Profitability is solid with margins at 27.6% and operating margin at 39.3%.
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 : ATO
The primary concerns for ATO are PEG Ratio, Revenue Growth, Piotroski F-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
ATO profiles as a value 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.
ATO generates stronger free cash flow (-280M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
ATO scores higher overall (64/100 vs 51/100), backed by strong 27.6% margins. 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.
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.
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.
Compare with Other UTILITIES - REGULATED GAS Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?