Investors seeking exposure to regulated natural gas utilities often encounter two prominent names: NJR (New Jersey Resources Corporation) and SR (Spire Inc.). Both companies deliver natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers, operating under the protection of state-regulated frameworks. While their core missions overlap, the two stocks diverge meaningfully in geographic focus, business diversification, regulatory exposure, and recent market sentiment. This comparison examines how NJR and SR stack up across multiple dimensions — from operational structure and recent performance to risk profiles — offering traders and income-focused investors a clear, data-driven lens through which to evaluate these two utility names.
NJR is the parent company of New Jersey Natural Gas, the principal distributor of natural gas in New Jersey, serving over 560,000 customers. Beyond its regulated utility business, NJR operates through several unregulated subsidiaries, including NJR Midstream, NJR Clean Energy Ventures (investing in solar and wind assets), and NJR Energy Services. This diversified structure distinguishes NJR from many of its pure-play utility peers.
In recent weeks, NJR has benefited from constructive regulatory outcomes in New Jersey, where rate-case resolutions have provided revenue visibility. The company's clean energy investments have also drawn attention amid broader policy tailwinds for renewables. Market activity over recent months reflects a relatively stable trajectory, with NJR maintaining its reputation as a defensive holding. Analysts have noted the company's consistent earnings growth profile and disciplined capital allocation as factors supporting steady investor confidence. The stock's dividend yield remains competitive within the utility sector, and NJR's track record of annual dividend increases — spanning more than two decades — continues to resonate with income-oriented investors.
SR, known as Spire Inc., operates as a regulated natural gas utility serving approximately 1.7 million customers across Missouri, Alabama, and Mississippi. The company also owns Spire Marketing, an unregulated gas marketing business, and Spire Storage, which manages natural gas storage facilities in the western United States. Spire's geographic footprint spans both historically favorable and more challenging regulatory jurisdictions.
Recent market activity surrounding SR has been influenced by regulatory developments in Missouri, where rate-case proceedings and infrastructure investment recovery have drawn investor attention. The company's Spire STL Pipeline, which serves the St. Louis region, has been a focal point of both operational necessity and regulatory debate in recent years, with the pipeline's certificate status undergoing legal and administrative review. Over recent months, SR's share price has exhibited modest volatility compared to some utility peers, reflecting the market's sensitivity to ongoing regulatory narratives. On the positive side, Spire's customer growth in the Southeast, particularly in Alabama, has provided a counterbalance to uncertainty in its core Missouri market. The company has also maintained its long-standing commitment to dividend growth, appealing to investors prioritizing income stability.
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When comparing NJR and SR, several differentiating factors emerge.
Business Model Diversification: NJR's portfolio extends meaningfully beyond regulated gas distribution into midstream, clean energy, and wholesale energy services. SR, while also maintaining unregulated segments through marketing and storage, is more heavily weighted toward regulated utility operations. Investors seeking broader energy exposure may favor NJR's structure, while those seeking a simpler, utility-centric profile may gravitate toward SR.
Regulatory Environment: NJR operates primarily under the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, which has generally provided constructive rate mechanisms and timely cost recovery. SR's regulatory landscape is more fragmented across Missouri, Alabama, and Mississippi, with Missouri presenting more complex and occasionally contentious proceedings. This regulatory contrast is a meaningful differentiator for risk-conscious investors.
Customer Base and Growth: SR serves a significantly larger customer count — roughly 1.7 million — versus NJR's approximately 560,000. However, NJR's customers are concentrated in a densely populated, economically resilient region, while SR's growth story leans on southeastern expansion alongside its established Midwest presence.
Recent Momentum and Sentiment: NJR has maintained steadier price action in recent months, supported by cleaner regulatory visibility. SR's narrative has been more mixed, with the STL Pipeline situation adding a layer of uncertainty. Both stocks continue to attract defensive and income-focused capital, but NJR has generally exhibited more consistent relative performance in recent market activity.
Based on observable factors — including trend consistency, regulatory visibility, and relative price stability — Tickeron's AI-driven analysis would likely express a modest preference for NJR over SR in the current market environment. NJR's diversified business model, constructive New Jersey regulatory backdrop, and steadier recent momentum provide a slightly more favorable signal profile. SR remains a fundamentally sound utility with a strong dividend track record, but the ongoing regulatory complexities in Missouri introduce a degree of uncertainty that AI models tend to penalize. This assessment is probabilistic in nature, reflecting the balance of currently observable data rather than any forward-looking prediction. As market conditions and regulatory outcomes evolve, the relative positioning of these two stocks may shift accordingly.
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Disclaimers and LimitationsIt is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
NJR’s FA Score shows that 3 FA rating(s) are green whileSR’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
NJR’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while SR’s TA Score has 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
NJR (@Gas Distributors) experienced а -0.07% price change this week, while SR (@Gas Distributors) price change was +2.39% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Gas Distributors industry was +0.15%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -2.84%, and the average quarterly price growth was -4.36%.
NJR is expected to report earnings on Nov 12, 2026.
SR is expected to report earnings on Nov 25, 2026.
Gas distributors are involved in moving and selling gas – from wellheads or over-distribution systems operated by other firms – to residential and non-residential customers. These companies perform tasks such as the gathering and processing of gas, intrastate and interstate transport, and delivery to the customer. Some of the biggest gas distributing companies in the U.S. include Sempra Energy, Avangrid Inc and Atmos Energy Corporation.
| NJR | SR | NJR / SR | |
| Capitalization | 5.64B | 4.9B | 115% |
| EBITDA | 760M | 886M | 86% |
| Gain YTD | 22.150 | 1.975 | 1,121% |
| P/E Ratio | 15.39 | 18.31 | 84% |
| Revenue | 2.18B | 2.6B | 84% |
| Total Cash | N/A | N/A | - |
| Total Debt | 3.77B | 7.96B | 47% |
NJR | SR | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 57 | 22 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 25 Undervalued | 18 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 31 | 40 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 62 | 71 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 58 | 55 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 23 | 40 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 75 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
SR's Valuation (18) in the Gas Distributors industry is in the same range as NJR (25). This means that SR’s stock grew similarly to NJR’s over the last 12 months.
NJR's Profit vs Risk Rating (31) in the Gas Distributors industry is in the same range as SR (40). This means that NJR’s stock grew similarly to SR’s over the last 12 months.
NJR's SMR Rating (62) in the Gas Distributors industry is in the same range as SR (71). This means that NJR’s stock grew similarly to SR’s over the last 12 months.
SR's Price Growth Rating (55) in the Gas Distributors industry is in the same range as NJR (58). This means that SR’s stock grew similarly to NJR’s over the last 12 months.
NJR's P/E Growth Rating (23) in the Gas Distributors industry is in the same range as SR (40). This means that NJR’s stock grew similarly to SR’s over the last 12 months.
| NJR | SR | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 44% | N/A |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 46% | 2 days ago 51% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 41% | 2 days ago 61% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 40% | 2 days ago 47% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 44% | 2 days ago 52% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 40% | 2 days ago 51% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 49% | 2 days ago 50% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 9 days ago 42% | 14 days ago 51% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 58% | 2 days ago 60% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 58% | 2 days ago 50% |
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, NJR has been closely correlated with OGS. These tickers have moved in lockstep 70% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if NJR jumps, then OGS could also see price increases.
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, SR has been closely correlated with OGS. These tickers have moved in lockstep 79% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if SR jumps, then OGS could also see price increases.