AES Corp vs NetApp Inc. — how do they compare? AES Corp trades at $14.66 (market cap $10.51B), while NetApp Inc. trades at $198.55 (market cap $39.00B). The key difference: NetApp Inc. is far larger — about 3.7× AES Corp's market cap, and AES Corp pays the higher dividend (4.78%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AES | NTAP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $10.51B | $39.00B |
Sector | Utilities | Technology |
52-Week High | $17.28 | $198.72 |
52-Week Low | $12.51 | $94.11 |
Enterprise Value | $40.77B | $38.14B |
Dividend Yield | 4.78% | 1.05% |
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.
NetApp (NTAP) trades at $189.52, down 1.02% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and strong support at $186. The company reported Q1 2026 EPS of $2.43, beating estimates, and maintains robust profitability with an 18.43% net margin. Recent acquisitions of JetStream Software and DataPelago aim to enhance AI infrastructure capabilities, driving positive sentiment amid rising cloud demand.
Outlook remains favorable with consistent earnings beats and strategic AI investments, but risks include high valuation multiples (P/E 29.85) and competitive pressures. Analysts show mixed sentiment with a $170.73 consensus target, suggesting cautious optimism. Institutional holdings reflect confidence, though debt levels have risen to 29.89% of assets, warranting monitoring.
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 →NetApp is a leading provider of enterprise data management and storage solutions. The company's three operating business units are products, software maintenance, and hardware maintenance. NetApp transitioned from a data center storage firm to a company with software data management solutions for multicloud environments. The California-headquartered company sells globally and has approximately 10,000 employees.
Read more on NTAP →