IDACORP (NYSE:IDA – Get Free Report) and Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ:BLDP – Get Free Report) are both utilities companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, dividends, risk, institutional ownership, profitability, analyst recommendations and valuation.
Analyst Ratings
This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for IDACORP and Ballard Power Systems, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| IDACORP | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2.71 |
| Ballard Power Systems | 4 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1.73 |
IDACORP presently has a consensus target price of $123.57, suggesting a potential downside of 1.16%. Ballard Power Systems has a consensus target price of $1.51, suggesting a potential downside of 25.07%. Given IDACORP’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe IDACORP is more favorable than Ballard Power Systems.
Volatility & Risk
Insider and Institutional Ownership
89.1% of IDACORP shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 28.0% of Ballard Power Systems shares are held by institutional investors. 0.5% of IDACORP shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.2% of Ballard Power Systems shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.
Profitability
This table compares IDACORP and Ballard Power Systems’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| IDACORP | 16.96% | 9.18% | 3.24% |
| Ballard Power Systems | -409.35% | -21.52% | -18.62% |
Valuation & Earnings
This table compares IDACORP and Ballard Power Systems”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| IDACORP | $1.83 billion | 3.70 | $289.17 million | $5.68 | 22.01 |
| Ballard Power Systems | $69.73 million | 8.69 | -$324.24 million | ($0.99) | -2.04 |
IDACORP has higher revenue and earnings than Ballard Power Systems. Ballard Power Systems is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than IDACORP, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Summary
IDACORP beats Ballard Power Systems on 12 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.
About IDACORP
IDACORP, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, purchase, and sale of electric energy in the United States. The company operates 17 hydropower generating plants located in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon; three natural gas-fired plants in southern Idaho; and interests in two coal-fired steam electric generating plants located in Wyoming and Nevada. As of December 31, 2023, it had approximately 4,762 pole-miles of high-voltage transmission lines; 23 step-up transmission substations located at power plants; 21 transmission substations; 11 switching stations; 30 mixed-use transmission and distribution substations; 186 energized distribution substations; and 29,714 pole-miles of distribution lines, and 131 MW of battery storage, as well as provides electric utility services to approximately 633,000 retail customers in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon. The company serves commercial and industrial customers, which involved in food processing, electronics and general manufacturing, agriculture, health care, government, and education. It also invests in housing and other real estate tax credit investments. IDACORP, Inc. was founded in 1915 and is headquartered in Boise, Idaho.
About Ballard Power Systems
Ballard Power Systems Inc. engages in the design, development, manufacture, sale, and service of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell products. The company offers its products for power product comprising for bus, truck, rail, marine, stationary, and emerging market, such as material handling, off-road, and other applications. It also engages in the delivery of services, including technology solutions, after sales services, and training; and provision of engineering services, product and systems integration services, and related technology transfer for a variety of PEM fuel cell applications. It operates in the United States, Germany, Canada, China, Poland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Denmark, Belgium, India, Taiwan, Spain, Norway, Australia, Japan, and internationally. The company has a strategic alliance with Linamar Corporation for the co-development and sale of fuel cell powertrains and components for class 1 and 2 vehicles in North America and Europe. Ballard Power Systems Inc. was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Burnaby, Canada.
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