Pampa Energia (NYSE:PAM – Get Free Report) and MGE Energy (NASDAQ:MGEE – Get Free Report) are both mid-cap utilities companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, profitability, valuation, analyst recommendations, dividends, earnings and institutional ownership.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Pampa Energia and MGE Energy, as provided by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Pampa Energia | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2.40 |
| MGE Energy | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2.00 |
Pampa Energia presently has a consensus target price of $103.83, suggesting a potential upside of 21.06%. MGE Energy has a consensus target price of $75.50, suggesting a potential downside of 0.30%. Given Pampa Energia’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Pampa Energia is more favorable than MGE Energy.
Risk & Volatility
Profitability
This table compares Pampa Energia and MGE Energy’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Pampa Energia | 20.31% | 12.23% | 6.75% |
| MGE Energy | 18.61% | 10.94% | 4.68% |
Earnings and Valuation
This table compares Pampa Energia and MGE Energy”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Pampa Energia | $2.16 billion | 2.16 | $377.00 million | $8.02 | 10.69 |
| MGE Energy | $743.65 million | 3.74 | $135.89 million | $3.90 | 19.42 |
Pampa Energia has higher revenue and earnings than MGE Energy. Pampa Energia is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than MGE Energy, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Insider and Institutional Ownership
12.8% of Pampa Energia shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 52.6% of MGE Energy shares are owned by institutional investors. 55.5% of Pampa Energia shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.4% of MGE Energy shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.
Summary
Pampa Energia beats MGE Energy on 11 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Pampa Energia
Pampa Energía S.A. operates as an integrated power company in Argentina. The company operates through Electricity Generation, Oil and Gas, Petrochemicals, and Holding and Other Business segments. It generates electricity through thermal plants, hydroelectric plants, and wind farms with a 5,332 megawatt (MW) installed capacity. The company also explores for and produces oil and gas in the provinces of Neuquén and Río Negro. In addition, it produces petrochemicals, such as styrene, synthetic rubber, and polystyrene. Further, the company operates and maintains a 22,391 km high-voltage electricity transmission network in Argentina. Additionally, it holds a concession for the transportation of natural gas with 9,248 km of gas pipelines in the center, west, and south of Argentina; and processes and sells natural gas liquids in Bahía Blanca in the Province of Buenos Aires, as well as offers related advisory services. The company was formerly known as Pampa Holding S.A. and changed its name to Pampa Energía S.A. in September 2008. Pampa Energía S.A. was incorporated in 1945 and is based in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
About MGE Energy
MGE Energy, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a public utility holding company primarily in the United States. It operates through Regulated Electric Utility Operations; Regulated Gas Utility Operations; Nonregulated Energy Operations; Transmission Investments; and All Other segments. The company generates, purchases, and distributes electricity and natural gas in Wisconsin and Iowa; owns and leases electric generating capacity; and plans, constructs, operates, maintains, and expands transmission facilities to provide transmission power services. It generates electricity from coal-fired, gas-fired, and renewable energy sources. As of December 31, 2023, the company owned and operated 835 miles of overhead electric distribution lines; 1,330 miles of underground electric distribution cables; 49 substations with an installed capacity of 1.2 million kVA; and gas facilities, including 3,066 miles of distribution mains, as well as supplied electric service to approximately 163,000 customers. MGE Energy, Inc. founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin.
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