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ATO or CPK or NI
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Chesapeake Utilities (CPK) vs. NiSource (NI) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- NiSource (NI) leads year-to-date (YTD) performance at 16.65%, outpacing ATO (13.10%) and CPK (2.28%), driven by data center power agreements.
- All three stocks offer dividend yields between 2.12% and 2.50%, attracting income-focused investors amid market volatility.
- ATO trades near its 52-week high of $192.51, reflecting sustained momentum in recent weeks.
- Price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios cluster around 21-25, indicating similar valuations in the natural gas utility sector.
- Upcoming quarterly earnings around May 6 for all three could introduce short-term price swings based on results.
- Lower beta values (0.57-0.78) highlight their defensive nature relative to broader market movements.
Introduction
Atmos Energy (ATO), Chesapeake Utilities (CPK), and NiSource (NI) are prominent players in the regulated natural gas utility sector, serving millions of customers across multiple states. This comparison is relevant for dividend-seeking investors and traders eyeing defensive stocks amid interest rate fluctuations and energy transition dynamics. With stable cash flows from essential services, these companies offer relative performance insights into sector resilience, growth catalysts, and market positioning. Recent market activity underscores their appeal as low-volatility options in portfolios balancing growth and income.
ATO Overview and Recent Performance
Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) operates in regulated natural gas distribution and pipeline/storage across eight states, serving 3.4 million customers with 76,000 miles of mains. In recent market activity, the stock has shown positive momentum, trading at approximately $188.54 near its 52-week high of $192.51, with a market cap of $31.2 billion. Year-to-date gains stand at 13.10%, supported by strong quarterly results and analyst upgrades. Sentiment has been bolstered by expectations of earnings growth, with a trailing P/E of 24.58 and dividend yield of 2.12%. Lower debt-to-equity (67.44%) and beta (0.65) contribute to its stability, though upcoming Q2 earnings may influence near-term direction.
CPK Overview and Recent Performance
Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (CPK) functions as an energy delivery firm with regulated natural gas distribution, transmission, electric distribution, and unregulated propane operations across Delaware, Maryland, Florida, and beyond. The stock recently hovered around $126.94, with a market cap of $3.0 billion and trailing P/E of 21.26. YTD performance is modest at 2.28%, reflecting steady but less dynamic returns amid broader sector gains. Dividend yield remains competitive at 2.16%, appealing to income investors. Higher debt-to-equity (101.95%) and beta (0.78) suggest moderate leverage, with recent weeks showing resilience despite limited headline catalysts ahead of quarterly earnings.
NI Overview and Recent Performance
NiSource Inc. (NI) provides regulated natural gas and electric services through 37,300 miles of pipelines, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and elsewhere, with diverse generation assets including coal, gas, hydro, wind, and solar. Trading near $48.08, it boasts a $23.0 billion market cap, trailing P/E of 24.66, and leading dividend yield of 2.50%. YTD return of 16.65% tops peers, fueled by recent power supply deals with tech giants like Alphabet and Amazon for data centers. Despite higher debt-to-equity (139.28%) and low beta (0.57), return on equity (ROE, a profitability measure) of 9.07% underscores operational strength in recent periods.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
All three operate core natural gas distribution businesses, providing defensive exposure to essential utilities with regulated revenues. ATO emphasizes scale in distribution and storage, while CPK diversifies into propane and electric; NI adds significant electric generation. Growth drivers include infrastructure investments and customer expansions, but NI's data center pacts offer unique catalysts versus peers' steady demand. Recent momentum favors NI and ATO over CPK. Risk factors involve interest rate sensitivity due to debt-funded capex, with NI highest leveraged. Valuations are comparable (forward P/E ~20-24), but ATO's lower beta signals least volatility. Market sentiment tilts toward NI for growth potential amid energy demands.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron's AI models currently favor NI due to superior YTD trend consistency, fresh data center catalysts, and stronger relative positioning in utilities. While ATO exhibits solid momentum and CPK offers value stability, NI's combination of growth prospects and dividend appeal suggests higher probability of outperformance in the near term, subject to earnings outcomes.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
Long-Term Analysis
It 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).
ATO’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileCPK’s FA Score has 0 green FA rating(s), and NI’s FA Score reflects 1 green FA rating(s).
- ATO’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- CPK’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- NI’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
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.
ATO’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while CPK’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s), and NI’s TA Score reflects 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- ATO’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 6 bearish.
- CPK’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
- NI’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 6 bearish.
Price Growth
ATO (@Gas Distributors) experienced а +0.58% price change this week, while CPK (@Gas Distributors) price change was +3.23% , and NI (@Gas Distributors) price fluctuated +2.42% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Gas Distributors industry was +0.36%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -2.90%, and the average quarterly price growth was +2.65%.
Reported Earning Dates
ATO is expected to report earnings on Aug 12, 2026.
CPK is expected to report earnings on Aug 05, 2026.
NI is expected to report earnings on Aug 05, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Gas Distributors (+0.36% weekly)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.
| ATO | CPK | NI | |
| Capitalization | 28.3B | 2.99B | 22.4B |
| EBITDA | 2.59B | 384M | 3.14B |
| Gain YTD | 2.114 | 0.334 | 13.132 |
| P/E Ratio | 20.85 | 19.99 | 23.20 |
| Revenue | 4.88B | 984M | 6.82B |
| Total Cash | 126M | 4.7M | 71.9M |
| Total Debt | 9.63B | 1.67B | 16.8B |
ATO | CPK | NI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 62 | 24 | 86 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 58 Fair valued | 65 Fair valued | 75 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 8 | 80 | 6 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 74 | 74 | 71 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 58 | 58 | 49 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 53 | 61 | 42 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
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.
ATO's Valuation (58) in the Gas Distributors industry is in the same range as CPK (65) and is in the same range as NI (75). This means that ATO's stock grew similarly to CPK’s and similarly to NI’s over the last 12 months.
NI's Profit vs Risk Rating (6) in the Gas Distributors industry is in the same range as ATO (8) and is significantly better than the same rating for CPK (80). This means that NI's stock grew similarly to ATO’s and significantly faster than CPK’s over the last 12 months.
NI's SMR Rating (71) in the Gas Distributors industry is in the same range as ATO (74) and is in the same range as CPK (74). This means that NI's stock grew similarly to ATO’s and similarly to CPK’s over the last 12 months.
NI's Price Growth Rating (49) in the Gas Distributors industry is in the same range as ATO (58) and is in the same range as CPK (58). This means that NI's stock grew similarly to ATO’s and similarly to CPK’s over the last 12 months.
NI's P/E Growth Rating (42) in the Gas Distributors industry is in the same range as ATO (53) and is in the same range as CPK (61). This means that NI's stock grew similarly to ATO’s and similarly to CPK’s over the last 12 months.
| ATO | CPK | NI | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 53% | 1 day ago 63% | 1 day ago 71% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 46% | 1 day ago 63% | 1 day ago 64% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 38% | 1 day ago 42% | 1 day ago 31% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 7 days ago 38% | 1 day ago 63% | 1 day ago 33% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 49% | 1 day ago 52% | 1 day ago 54% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 35% | 1 day ago 47% | 1 day ago 30% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 17 days ago 49% | 1 day ago 47% | 1 day ago 53% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 40% | 15 days ago 51% | 11 days ago 31% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 55% | 1 day ago 69% | 1 day ago 57% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 28% | 1 day ago 51% | 1 day ago 23% |
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ATO and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, ATO has been closely correlated with OGS. These tickers have moved in lockstep 78% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if ATO jumps, then OGS could also see price increases.
NI and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, NI has been closely correlated with ATO. These tickers have moved in lockstep 66% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if NI jumps, then ATO could also see price increases.