WEC Energy Group (NYSE:WEC) versus AusNet Services (OTCMKTS:SAUNF) Head to Head Contrast

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

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

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets 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 target price of $121.91, indicating a potential upside of 14.65%. Given WEC Energy Group’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe WEC Energy Group is more favorable than AusNet Services.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

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

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares WEC Energy Group and AusNet Services”s top-line 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.

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.