WallStSmart

Southwest Gas Holdings Inc (SWX)vsTalen Energy Corporation (TLN)

VS

Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

Talen Energy Corporation generates 115% more annual revenue ($3.74B vs $1.74B). SWX leads profitability with a 31.4% profit margin vs -5.0%. SWX earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 65/100 (B-).

SWX

Strong Buy

65

out of 100

Grade: B-

Growth: 4.0Profit: 7.0Value: 5.0Quality: 4.5
Piotroski: 5/9Altman Z: 0.89

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

SWX4 strengths · Avg: 8.5/10
Profit MarginProfitability
31.4%10/10

Keeps 31 of every $100 in revenue as profit

Price/BookValuation
1.5x8/10

Reasonable price relative to book value

Operating MarginProfitability
24.2%8/10

Strong operational efficiency at 24.2%

EPS GrowthGrowth
20.9%8/10

Earnings expanding 20.9% 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

SWX4 concerns · Avg: 2.5/10
PEG RatioValuation
1.864/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

Revenue GrowthGrowth
-9.6%2/10

Revenue declined 9.6%

Free Cash FlowQuality
$-174.31M2/10

Negative free cash flow — burning cash

Altman Z-ScoreHealth
0.892/10

Distress zone — elevated risk

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 : SWX

The strongest argument for SWX centers on Profit Margin, Price/Book, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 31.4% and operating margin at 24.2%.

Bull Case : TLN

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

Bear Case : SWX

The primary concerns for SWX are PEG Ratio, Revenue Growth, Free Cash Flow.

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

SWX profiles as a declining 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.

SWX generates stronger free cash flow (-174M), providing more financial flexibility.

Bottom Line

SWX scores higher overall (65/100 vs 42/100), backed by strong 31.4% 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.

Southwest Gas Holdings Inc

UTILITIES · UTILITIES - REGULATED GAS · USA

Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. purchases, distributes and transports natural gas in Arizona, Nevada and California. The company is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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.

Want to dig deeper into these stocks?