AES Corp vs Annaly Capital Management, Inc. — how do they compare? AES Corp trades at $14.72 (market cap $10.51B), while Annaly Capital Management, Inc. trades at $23.21 (market cap $17.27B). The key difference: Annaly Capital Management, Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and Annaly Capital Management, Inc. pays the higher dividend (13.09%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AES | NLY | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $10.51B | $17.27B |
Sector | Utilities | Financials |
52-Week High | $17.28 | $24.40 |
52-Week Low | $12.51 | $20.21 |
Enterprise Value | $40.77B | — |
Dividend Yield | 4.78% | 13.09% |
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.
Annaly Capital Management (NLY) trades at $23.04, up 1.68% today, with a bullish technical outlook and strong earnings momentum after beating Q2 2026 EPS estimates. The stock shows robust fundamentals with a P/E of 5.57, ROE of 20.66%, and a net income margin of 92.77%. Recent news highlights inclusion in Zacks' Strong Buy lists and a focus on high-yield income, supported by a $0.75 dividend payment scheduled for July 2026.
Outlook is positive with analyst consensus favoring Buy ratings (57.15%) and a $24.50 price target, implying ~6% upside. Key risks include interest rate sensitivity and mortgage market volatility, but diversified housing finance strategies and consistent dividend coverage provide stability. Investment appeal centers on value valuation and income generation.
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 →Annaly Capital Management Inc is an American mortgage real estate investment trust. The company segments its operations into Residential and Commercial real estate investments. While Annaly's Residential assets are primarily comprised of agency mortgage-backed securities and debentures, it is primarily invested in commercial mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities in its Commercial unit through its subsidiary, Annaly Commercial Real Estate Group. Agency mortgage-backed securities and debentures make up the majority of the company's overall portfolio. Most of the company's counterparties are located in the U.S. Annaly generates nearly all of its revenue from the spread between interest earned on its assets and interest payments made on its borrowings.
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