CENTRICA PLC/S (OTCMKTS:CPYYY) and Datang Intl Power Generation (OTCMKTS:DIPGY) are both mid-cap utilities companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, profitability, valuation, analyst recommendations, dividends, earnings and risk.
Risk & Volatility
CENTRICA PLC/S has a beta of 0.35, meaning that its stock price is 65% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Datang Intl Power Generation has a beta of 0.45, meaning that its stock price is 55% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Insider and Institutional Ownership
0.2% of CENTRICA PLC/S shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.
Profitability
This table compares CENTRICA PLC/S and Datang Intl Power Generation’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| CENTRICA PLC/S | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Datang Intl Power Generation | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Dividends
CENTRICA PLC/S pays an annual dividend of $0.14 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.1%. Datang Intl Power Generation pays an annual dividend of $0.24 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.7%. CENTRICA PLC/S pays out 23.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Datang Intl Power Generation pays out 109.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for CENTRICA PLC/S and Datang Intl Power Generation, as provided by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| CENTRICA PLC/S | 1 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 2.18 |
| Datang Intl Power Generation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
Earnings & Valuation
This table compares CENTRICA PLC/S and Datang Intl Power Generation’s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| CENTRICA PLC/S | $39.62 billion | 0.16 | $244.27 million | $0.59 | 7.61 |
| Datang Intl Power Generation | $14.11 billion | 0.23 | $186.19 million | $0.22 | 16.18 |
CENTRICA PLC/S has higher revenue and earnings than Datang Intl Power Generation. CENTRICA PLC/S is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Datang Intl Power Generation, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Summary
CENTRICA PLC/S beats Datang Intl Power Generation on 6 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.
CENTRICA PLC/S Company Profile
Centrica plc operates as an integrated energy company in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Germany, Norway, rest of Europe, the United States, Canada, and internationally. The company operates through Centrica Consumer, Centrica Business, and Exploration & Production segments. It supplies gas and electricity to residential customers, as well as offers energy-related services; and generates power from combined cycle gas turbines and nuclear assets. The company also provides installation, repair, and maintenance services for domestic central heating, plumbing and drains, and gas and kitchen appliances; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment; and water heaters, as well as offers breakdown services. In addition, it is involved in the procurement, trading, and optimization of energy; and supplies energy efficiency solutions and technologies to residential customers. Further, the company produces and processes gas and oil; develops new fields to maintain reserves; constructs, owns, and exploits infrastructure; and engages in the social enterprise investment fund activities. Additionally, it provides vehicle leasing, commercial, and insurance services, as well as energy management products and services; and operates a gas storage, and franchise network. The company also provides sea freight water transport services. It primarily supplies energy and services to approximately 25 million customers under the British Gas, Direct Energy, and Bord Gáis Energy brands. The company was formerly known as Yieldtop plc and changed its name to Centrica plc in December 1996. Centrica plc was incorporated in 1995 and is headquartered in Windsor, the United Kingdom.
Datang Intl Power Generation Company Profile
Datang International Power Generation Co., Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in power generation, and power plant development in the People’s Republic of China. It operates through Power Generation, Coal, and Other segments. The company generates electricity through various sources, such as coal-fired, thermal, hydro, wind, nuclear, solar, and natural gas. As of December 31, 2017, it managed an installed capacity of approximately 48,031.175 MW. The company also engages in heat supply; the import of power related fuel; coal mining and trading; silicon and aluminium smelting; the production and sale of alumina; cargo shipping; the sale of coal ash and integrated application of solid wastes; the repair and testing of power equipment; and the provision of power related technical services. The company was formerly known as Beijing Datang Power Generation Co., Ltd. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China. Datang International Power Generation Co., Ltd. is a subsidiary of China Datang Corporation Limited.
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