Diversified Utilities · NYSE
Current Price
$14.82
PE Ratio (TTM)
7.9x
Intrinsic Value
$18.5
+19.9% margin of safety
COMPETITIVE MOAT
↑Regulated Asset Base
AES operates in regulated utility markets, providing a stable, predictable revenue stream. This regulatory framework creates high barriers to entry for new competitors.
↑Scale and Diversification
AES's extensive portfolio of power generation assets across various geographies and fuel types offers operational efficiencies and risk diversification. This scale provides a competitive cost advantage.
↑Long-Term Contracts
Many of AES's power purchase agreements are long-term, securing predictable cash flows and insulating it from short-term market volatility. This visibility supports strategic investment.
INVESTMENT RISKS
↓Regulatory and Policy Changes
Changes in environmental regulations, energy policies, or government incentives can significantly impact AES's operating costs and future investment strategies. This creates uncertainty in long-term planning.
↓Commodity Price Volatility
Fluctuations in the prices of natural gas, coal, and other fuel sources directly affect AES's operating expenses and profitability. Hedging strategies can mitigate but not eliminate this risk.
↓Operational and Environmental Incidents
The operation of power generation facilities carries inherent risks of equipment failure, accidents, or environmental incidents. Such events can lead to significant financial losses and reputational damage.
Base case
At a current price of $14.82, the base case PE valuation puts AES fair value near $18.5 per share. That figure assumes 3.0% yearly earnings growth, a target PE multiple of 8x, and a 10% discount rate.
Intrinsic Value
$18.5
Margin of safety
+19.9%
Expected annual return
+4.5%
Base case assumptions: 3.0% annual earnings growth, 8x target PE, 10% discount rate, 5 year projection. Data as of 2026-07-29.
This base case uses default assumptions and is not financial advice. The fair value changes significantly when the target PE or earnings growth rate changes. Open the calculator to set your own assumptions and see the full sensitivity range.
Adjust the target PE, earnings growth, and discount rate to see how the fair value and margin of safety for The AES Corporation respond.
Open PE Calculator for AESThe AES Corporation operates as an international enterprise primarily focused on electricity generation and distribution. Its activities involve both the ownership and management of power plants, producing and supplying electricity to a diverse clientele that includes other utility companies, large industrial consumers, and various intermediate purchasers. Beyond generation, AES also functions as a utility provider, managing infrastructure to either produce or acquire, then transmit, distribute, and ultimately sell power directly to end-users across residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental sectors. The company is also an active participant in the wholesale electricity market. For power production, AES utilizes a broad spectrum of energy sources and advanced technologies. This includes conventional fuels like coal and natural gas, as well as a significant commitment to renewables such as hydroelectric, wind, solar, and biomass. Its renewable portfolio further incorporates energy storage solutions and landfill gas. With an operational generation capacity of approximately 31,459 megawatts, the company maintains a substantial global presence, conducting business in the United States, Puerto Rico, various nations across Central and South America (including El Salvador, Chile, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico), the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. Founded in 1981, the company was initially named Applied Energy Services, Inc., before officially rebranding to The AES Corporation in April 2000. Its corporate headquarters are located in Arlington, Virginia.
PE Ratio (TTM)
7.9x
PEG Ratio
n/m
Earnings Yield
12.63%
ROE (TTM)
28.9%
Revenue/Share (TTM)
$17.46
Dividend Yield
4.75%
Debt/Equity
7.01x
The trailing twelve-month PE ratio of AES reflects how much investors pay per dollar of The AES Corporation's earnings. This metric is most useful when compared to Diversified Utilities peers and the company's own historical range.
AES's PE of 7.9x combined with a PEG ratio of -1.73 provides a growth-adjusted perspective. AES has negative earnings, so its PE and PEG ratios are not meaningful here and cannot tell you whether the stock is over or undervalued. Keep in mind that PE-based valuation works best for profitable, mature companies — for high-growth or cyclical Diversified Utilities, a DCF analysis may be more appropriate.
To value The AES Corporation using PE: (1) Compare the current PE (7.9x) against the Diversified Utilities median to assess relative pricing, (2) check the PEG ratio (-1.73) to adjust for growth expectations, (3) review the 5-year PE range to identify where the stock sits historically, and (4) estimate fair value by multiplying a target PE by forward EPS estimates. This relative approach complements DCF's absolute valuation.
AES's PEG ratio is -1.73, calculated by dividing the PE ratio (7.9x) by the expected earnings growth rate. Because AES has negative earnings, its PEG ratio is not meaningful and should not be read as a sign of under or overvaluation. Note that PEG accuracy depends on the reliability of growth estimates.
PE ratio gives a quick relative read — how AES is priced versus Diversified Utilities peers. DCF provides an absolute value based on projected free cash flows. For AES, with a strong ROE of 28.9%, both methods are worth using — PE for a market-relative check, DCF to stress-test whether fundamentals justify the price. Each method has blind spots: PE ignores capital structure and cash flow quality, while DCF is sensitive to growth and discount rate assumptions.
P/E and DCF value AES with different methods and assumptions, so the two conclusions can differ. Compare the DCF intrinsic value.
Price as of 2026-07-29. Financial data from Financial Modeling Prep (trailing twelve months) · Valuation methodology by Charlie Wang.
This is an estimate, not investment advice.