Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES) versus Commerce Energy Group (OTCMKTS:CMNR) Critical Survey

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

Insider & Institutional Ownership

80.0% of Eversource Energy shares are held by institutional investors. 0.4% of Eversource Energy shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.9% of Commerce Energy Group shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Volatility and Risk

Eversource Energy has a beta of 0.61, indicating that its stock price is 39% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Commerce Energy Group has a beta of -3.17, indicating that its stock price is 417% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations for Eversource Energy and Commerce Energy Group, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Eversource Energy	0	7	6	0	2.46
Commerce Energy Group	0	0	0	0	0.00

Eversource Energy currently has a consensus price target of $70.46, suggesting a potential upside of 12.40%. Given Eversource Energy’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Eversource Energy is more favorable than Commerce Energy Group.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Eversource Energy and Commerce Energy Group”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Eversource Energy	$11.91 billion	1.93	-$442.24 million	($1.57)	-39.93
Commerce Energy Group	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Commerce Energy Group has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Eversource Energy.

Profitability

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

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Eversource Energy	-4.73%	10.90%	2.78%
Commerce Energy Group	N/A	N/A	N/A

Summary

Eversource Energy beats Commerce Energy Group on 8 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Eversource Energy

Eversource Energy, a public utility holding company, engages in the energy delivery business. The company operates through Electric Distribution, Electric Transmission, Natural Gas Distribution, and Water Distribution segments. It is involved in the transmission and distribution of electricity; solar power facilities; and distribution of natural gas. The company operates regulated water utilities that provide water services to approximately 241,000 customers. It serves residential, commercial, industrial, municipal and fire protection, and other customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. The company was formerly known as Northeast Utilities and changed its name to Eversource Energy in April 2015. Eversource Energy was incorporated in 1927 and is headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts.

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.