Contrasting AusNet Services (OTCMKTS:SAUNF) and WEC Energy Group (NYSE:WEC)

WEC Energy Group (NYSE:WEC) and AusNet Services (OTCMKTS:SAUNF) are both utilities companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, dividends, earnings, profitability, risk and valuation.

Profitability

This table compares WEC Energy Group and AusNet Services’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
WEC Energy Group	16.69%	12.90%	3.58%
AusNet Services	N/A	N/A	N/A

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares WEC Energy Group and AusNet Services”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
WEC Energy Group	$9.80 billion	3.54	$1.56 billion	$5.16	20.61
AusNet Services	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

WEC Energy Group has higher revenue and earnings than AusNet Services.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings for WEC Energy Group and AusNet Services, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
WEC Energy Group	0	10	7	1	2.50
AusNet Services	0	0	0	0	0.00

WEC Energy Group currently has a consensus price target of $121.91, indicating a potential upside of 14.65%. Given WEC Energy Group’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities research analysts plainly believe WEC Energy Group is more favorable than AusNet Services.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

77.2% of WEC Energy Group shares are held by institutional investors. 0.5% of WEC Energy Group shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

WEC Energy Group beats AusNet Services on 10 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About WEC Energy Group

WEC Energy Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides regulated natural gas and electricity, and renewable and nonregulated renewable energy services in the United States. It operates through Wisconsin, Illinois, Other States, Electric Transmission, and Non-Utility Energy Infrastructure segments. The company generates and distributes electricity from coal, natural gas, oil, and nuclear, as well as renewable energy resources, including wind, solar, hydroelectric, and biomass; and distributes and transports natural gas. It also owns, maintains, monitors, and operates electric transmission systems; and generates, distributes, and sells steam. As of December 31, 2023, the company operated approximately 35,500 miles of overhead distribution lines and 36,500 miles of underground distribution cables, as well as 430 electric distribution substations and 523,700 line transformers; approximately 46,400 miles of natural gas distribution mains; 1,700 miles of natural gas transmission mains; 2.4 million natural gas lateral services; 490 natural gas distribution and transmission gate stations; and 69.3 billion cubic feet of working gas capacities in underground natural gas storage fields. The company was formerly known as Wisconsin Energy Corporation and changed its name to WEC Energy Group, Inc. in June 2015. WEC Energy Group, Inc. was founded in 1896 and is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

About AusNet Services

AusNet Services Ltd. engages in the production and distribution of electricity and gas. It operates through the following segments: Electricity Distribution, Gas Distribution, Electricity Transmission, and Growth and Future Networks. The Electricity Distribution segment carries electricity from the high voltage transmission network to end users. The Gas Distribution segment handles the natural gas to commercial and residential end users. The Electricity Transmission segment owns and manages the vast majority of the electricity transmission network in Victoria. The Growth and Future Networks segment provides contracted infrastructure asset and energy services, as well as a range of asset and utility services to support the management of electricity, gas, and water networks. The company was founded in June 2005 and is headquartered in Southbank, Australia.