AES Corp vs ConocoPhillips — how do they compare? AES Corp trades at $14.7 (market cap $10.51B), while ConocoPhillips trades at $125.84 (market cap $147.80B). The key difference: ConocoPhillips is far larger — about 14.1× AES Corp's market cap, and AES Corp pays the higher dividend (4.78%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AES | COP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $10.51B | $147.80B |
Sector | Utilities | Energy |
52-Week High | $17.28 | $133.80 |
52-Week Low | $12.51 | $85.66 |
Enterprise Value | $40.77B | $163.40B |
Dividend Yield | 4.78% | 2.73% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AES trades at $14.73, up 0.2% on the day, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The company reported strong profitability with a net income margin of 14.34% and ROE of 45.05% for 2025, though Q2 2026 EPS missed expectations. A pending $33.4 billion acquisition by a consortium led by Global Infrastructure Partners and EQT, approved by stockholders, dominates recent developments, alongside a consistent dividend payout.
The acquisition offers a near-term catalyst with a capped upside at the buyout price of $15 per share, presenting a low-risk arbitrage opportunity. Risks include deal completion uncertainty amid shareholder complaints and regulatory scrutiny. Analyst consensus is mixed with 43% buy ratings, reflecting cautious optimism tied to the acquisition's successful closure and the company's strategic shift toward renewable energy investments.
ConocoPhillips (COP) trades at $117.61, up 0.73% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $149.25. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations with EPS of $3.24 versus $2.90 estimated, driven by strong Permian Basin output and higher oil prices. The company reaffirmed its $7 billion free cash flow target by 2029 and completed a $1.7 billion asset sale ahead of schedule.
Outlook is positive due to robust operational performance and favorable oil market trends, but risks include commodity price volatility and CEO transition. The stock offers value with a P/E of 15.56 and a net income margin of 14.65%, supported by 74.51% analyst buy ratings.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
AES is a global power company operating across 14 countries and 4 continents. Its current generation portfolio as of year-end 2021 consists of over 31 gigawatts of generation, with the generation mix composed of renewables (43%), gas (32%), coal (23%), and oil (2%). The company has 3.5 gigawatts of generation under construction. AES has majority ownership and operates six electric utilities distributing power to 2.6 million customers.
Read more on AES →ConocoPhillips is a U.S.-based independent exploration and production firm. In 2021, it produced 1.0 million barrels per day of oil and natural gas liquids and 3.2 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas, primarily from Alaska and the Lower 48 in the United States and Norway in Europe and several countries in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Proven reserves at year-end 2021 were 6.1 billion barrels of oil equivalent.
Read more on COP →