AES Corp vs HSBC Holdings plc — how do they compare? AES Corp trades at $14.7 (market cap $10.51B), while HSBC Holdings plc trades at $103.29 (market cap $353.82B). The key difference: HSBC Holdings plc is far larger — about 33.7× AES Corp's market cap, and AES Corp pays the higher dividend (4.78%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AES | HSBC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $10.51B | $353.82B |
Sector | Utilities | Technology |
52-Week High | $17.28 | $107.86 |
52-Week Low | $12.51 | $63.84 |
Enterprise Value | $40.77B | — |
Dividend Yield | 4.78% | 3.63% |
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.
HSBC trades at $103.73, up 1.14% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and support at $102. The stock shows strong fundamentals with a P/E of 14.76, net income margin of 34.54%, and ROE of 12.44%. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations, driven by 7% revenue growth and a $1 billion buyback announcement, reflecting robust banking and wealth management performance.
Outlook is positive due to earnings momentum and shareholder returns, but risks include China regulatory changes and a recent Citi downgrade. Analyst consensus is mixed with 38.1% buy ratings, suggesting cautious optimism amid a 40% year-to-date run, requiring monitoring of Asia exposure and interest rate trends.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →HSBC is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organizations. It serves customers worldwide through four global businesses: Retail, Commercial, Global Banking, and Private Banking.
Read more on HSBC →