ATO
Price
$169.27
Change
+$1.65 (+0.98%)
Updated
Jun 10 closing price
Capitalization
28.25B
62 days until earnings call
Intraday BUY SELL Signals
CPK
Price
$124.52
Change
+$1.48 (+1.20%)
Updated
Jun 10 closing price
Capitalization
2.99B
55 days until earnings call
Intraday BUY SELL Signals
NI
Price
$46.63
Change
+$0.30 (+0.65%)
Updated
Jun 10 closing price
Capitalization
22.36B
55 days until earnings call
Intraday BUY SELL Signals
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ATO or CPK or NI

Header iconATO vs CPK vs NI Comparison
Open Charts ATO vs CPK vs NIBanner chart's image
ATO vs CPK vs NI Comparison Chart in %
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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

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COMPARISON
Comparison
Jun 11, 2026
Stock price -- (ATO: $169.27CPK: $124.52NI: $46.63)
Brand notoriety: ATO, CPK and NI are all not notable
The three companies represent the Gas Distributors industry
Current volume relative to the 65-day Moving Average: ATO: 123%, CPK: 77%, NI: 71%
Market capitalization -- ATO: $28.25B, CPK: $2.99B, NI: $22.36B
$ATO is valued at $28.25B, while CPK has a market capitalization of $2.99B, and NI's market capitalization is $22.36B. The market cap for tickers in this @Gas Distributors ranges from $29.88B to $0. The average market capitalization across the @Gas Distributors industry is $6.51B.

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.
According to our system of comparison, NI is a better buy in the long-term than ATO, which in turn is a better option than CPK.

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.
According to our system of comparison, NI is a better buy in the short-term than CPK, which in turn is a better option than ATO.

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.

SUMMARIES
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FUNDAMENTALS
Fundamentals
ATO($28.3B) has a higher market cap than NI($22.4B) and CPK($2.99B). NI has higher P/E ratio than ATO and CPK: NI (23.20) vs ATO (20.85) and CPK (19.99). NI YTD gains are higher at: 13.132 vs. ATO (2.114) and CPK (0.334). NI has higher annual earnings (EBITDA): 3.14B vs. ATO (2.59B) and CPK (384M). ATO has more cash in the bank: 126M vs. NI (71.9M) and CPK (4.7M). CPK has less debt than ATO and NI: CPK (1.67B) vs ATO (9.63B) and NI (16.8B). NI has higher revenues than ATO and CPK: NI (6.82B) vs ATO (4.88B) and CPK (984M).
ATOCPKNI
Capitalization28.3B2.99B22.4B
EBITDA2.59B384M3.14B
Gain YTD2.1140.33413.132
P/E Ratio20.8519.9923.20
Revenue4.88B984M6.82B
Total Cash126M4.7M71.9M
Total Debt9.63B1.67B16.8B
FUNDAMENTALS RATINGS
ATO vs CPK vs NI: Fundamental Ratings
ATO
CPK
NI
OUTLOOK RATING
1..100
622486
VALUATION
overvalued / fair valued / undervalued
1..100
58
Fair valued
65
Fair valued
75
Overvalued
PROFIT vs RISK RATING
1..100
8806
SMR RATING
1..100
747471
PRICE GROWTH RATING
1..100
585849
P/E GROWTH RATING
1..100
536142
SEASONALITY SCORE
1..100
505050

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.

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
Technical Analysis
ATOCPKNI
RSI
ODDS (%)
Bullish Trend 1 day ago
53%
Bullish Trend 1 day ago
63%
Bullish Trend 1 day ago
71%
Stochastic
ODDS (%)
Bullish Trend 1 day ago
46%
Bullish Trend 1 day ago
63%
Bullish Trend 1 day ago
64%
Momentum
ODDS (%)
Bearish Trend 4 days ago
38%
Bearish Trend 1 day ago
42%
Bearish Trend 1 day ago
31%
MACD
ODDS (%)
Bearish Trend 7 days ago
38%
Bullish Trend 1 day ago
63%
Bearish Trend 1 day ago
33%
TrendWeek
ODDS (%)
Bullish Trend 1 day ago
49%
Bullish Trend 1 day ago
52%
Bullish Trend 1 day ago
54%
TrendMonth
ODDS (%)
Bearish Trend 1 day ago
35%
Bearish Trend 1 day ago
47%
Bearish Trend 1 day ago
30%
Advances
ODDS (%)
Bullish Trend 17 days ago
49%
Bullish Trend 1 day ago
47%
Bullish Trend 1 day ago
53%
Declines
ODDS (%)
Bearish Trend 3 days ago
40%
Bearish Trend 15 days ago
51%
Bearish Trend 11 days ago
31%
BollingerBands
ODDS (%)
Bullish Trend 1 day ago
55%
Bullish Trend 1 day ago
69%
Bullish Trend 1 day ago
57%
Aroon
ODDS (%)
Bearish Trend 1 day ago
28%
Bearish Trend 1 day ago
51%
Bearish Trend 1 day ago
23%
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ATO
Daily Signal:
Gain/Loss:
CPK
Daily Signal:
Gain/Loss:
NI
Daily Signal:
Gain/Loss:
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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.

1D
1W
1M
1Q
6M
1Y
5Y
Ticker /
NAME
Correlation
To ATO
1D Price
Change %
ATO100%
+0.98%
OGS - ATO
78%
Closely correlated
+1.24%
BKH - ATO
73%
Closely correlated
+6.14%
CPK - ATO
67%
Closely correlated
+1.20%
NI - ATO
66%
Closely correlated
+0.65%
SR - ATO
64%
Loosely correlated
+0.01%
More

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.

1D
1W
1M
1Q
6M
1Y
5Y
Ticker /
NAME
Correlation
To NI
1D Price
Change %
NI100%
+0.65%
ATO - NI
66%
Closely correlated
+0.98%
OGS - NI
61%
Loosely correlated
+1.24%
NJR - NI
60%
Loosely correlated
+1.59%
SR - NI
57%
Loosely correlated
+0.01%
CPK - NI
52%
Loosely correlated
+1.20%
More