Chesapeake Utilities (NYSE:CPK) and Centuri (NYSE:CTRI) Critical Contrast

Centuri (NYSE:CTRI) and Chesapeake Utilities (NYSE:CPK) are both utilities companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, earnings, profitability, dividends and valuation.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

83.1% of Chesapeake Utilities shares are held by institutional investors. 2.7% of Chesapeake Utilities shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Centuri and Chesapeake Utilities’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Centuri	N/A	N/A	N/A
Chesapeake Utilities	13.61%	9.51%	3.63%

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Centuri and Chesapeake Utilities”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Centuri	$2.64 billion	0.63	-$186.18 million	N/A	N/A
Chesapeake Utilities	$80.34 billion	0.03	$87.21 million	$4.76	25.36

Chesapeake Utilities has higher revenue and earnings than Centuri.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Centuri and Chesapeake Utilities, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Centuri	2	2	2	2	2.50
Chesapeake Utilities	0	2	1	0	2.33

Centuri currently has a consensus price target of $20.00, suggesting a potential upside of 6.33%. Chesapeake Utilities has a consensus price target of $121.00, suggesting a potential upside of 0.24%. Given Centuri’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities analysts clearly believe Centuri is more favorable than Chesapeake Utilities.

Summary

Chesapeake Utilities beats Centuri on 7 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Centuri

Centuri Holdings, Inc. operates as a utility infrastructure services company in North America. It offers gas utility services, including maintenance, repair, installation, and replacement services for natural gas local distribution utility companies with focus on the modernization of infrastructure. The company also provides electric utility services comprising design, maintenance and repair, upgrade, and expansion services for transmission and distribution infrastructure. Its customers include electric, gas, and combination utility companies, as well as serves end markets, such as renewable energy and 5G datacom. The company was founded in 1909 and is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. Centuri Holdings, Inc. is a subsidiary of Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.

About Chesapeake Utilities

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation operates as an energy delivery company. The company operates through two segments, Regulated Energy and Unregulated Energy. The Regulated Energy segment natural gas distribution operations in central and southern Delaware, Maryland's eastern shore, and Florida; regulated natural gas transmission in the Delmarva Peninsula, Ohio, and Florida; and regulated electric distribution in northeast and northwest Florida. The Unregulated Energy segment engages in the propane operations in the Mid-Atlantic region, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida; unregulated natural gas transmission/supply operation in central and eastern Ohio; generation of electricity and steam; provision of compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, and renewable natural gas transportation and pipeline solutions primarily to utilities and pipelines in the United States; and sustainable energy investments. This segment is also involved in the provision of other unregulated services, such as energy-related merchandise sale and heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and plumbing and electrical services. Chesapeake Utilities Corporation was founded in 1859 and is headquartered in Dover, Delaware.