Comparing IDACORP (NYSE:IDA) & Commerce Energy Group (OTCMKTS:CMNR)

IDACORP (NYSE:IDA) and Commerce Energy Group (OTCMKTS:CMNR) are both utilities companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, profitability, institutional ownership, valuation, earnings, analyst recommendations and dividends.

Profitability

This table compares IDACORP and Commerce Energy Group’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
IDACORP	17.84%	9.36%	3.25%
Commerce Energy Group	N/A	N/A	N/A

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations for IDACORP and Commerce Energy Group, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
IDACORP	1	1	7	0	2.67
Commerce Energy Group	0	0	0	0	0.00

IDACORP currently has a consensus target price of $145.00, indicating a potential downside of 2.83%. Given Commerce Energy Group’s higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Commerce Energy Group is more favorable than IDACORP.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares IDACORP and Commerce Energy Group”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
IDACORP	$1.81 billion	4.52	$323.47 million	$5.90	25.29
Commerce Energy Group	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

IDACORP has higher revenue and earnings than Commerce Energy Group.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

89.1% of IDACORP shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.3% of IDACORP shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.9% of Commerce Energy Group shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

IDACORP beats Commerce Energy Group on 7 of the 9 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 Commerce Energy Group

Commerce Energy Group Inc. through its subsidiaries provides electric power and natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial and institutional customers in California, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, and Ohio. The company was founded in 1997 and is based in Costa Mesa, California.