Relative Intelligence · Electric Utilities

How Consolidated Edison (ED) compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives
Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on ED alone. It places ED (Consolidated Edison, Inc.) against 20+ popular alternatives, its neighboring categories and the entire market of over 10,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, and surfaces what has done better on consistent outperformance, return for the risk taken, behavior in real market crashes and diversification. The result is a clearer view of where ED stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.
Period covered: ED's full trading record, from October 1986 through September 2026. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of October 20, 2026.
Data as of October 20, 2026. Full tables and charts read best on a larger screen.
On this page12 sections
Key findings
- Right nowED has trailed the market, rising 3.8% over the past 6 months against 9.1% for the S&P 500 and 11.2% for the Nasdaq 100. Even so, it sits 1.4% below its record high, and the S&P 500 is similarly close to its own. At a glance ↓
- Stock or market?ED held up far better than its industry: it rose 1.7% over the past 3 months while the electric utilities ETF XLU (State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF) fell 6.1%. The S&P 500 rose 3.9%. Last month cut against the tape: ED rose 7.8% while the S&P 500 fell 0.6%.
- Past 1 to 3 yearsOver the past year, ED rose 13.7% against 15.8% for the S&P 500 and 17.9% for the Nasdaq 100. The same gap shows up over 3 years (42.4% against 89.3%). The last two calendar years both went the same way: ED rose 15.1% in 2025, against 15.8% for the S&P 500 and 17.9% for the Nasdaq 100. By year ↓
- Long termED turned $10,000 into $21,400 over the past decade, against $42,100 in the S&P 500. Growth of $10,000 ↓
- In a crashAcross seven sell-offs, ED has typically lost about 65% as much as the S&P 500. In the 2022 bear market, ED held up better than its electric utility peers, including SO (Southern), DUK and D. Crash tests ↓
- DiversificationAgainst the S&P 500, ED has a correlation of 0.23 over 5 years, less closely than 82% of stocks worth at least $300 million. Next to an index fund it is a real diversifier. Over 10 years, ED's beta versus the S&P 500 was 0.22: 31% of the S&P 500's gains in rising months and 18% of its losses in falling ones. Market capture ↓
- Better options
- Popular alternatives
- NI (NiSource) earned more than ED over the past 5 years with similar volatility: 15.1% a year at 20.3% volatility, against 12.0% a year at 18.8%.
- Whole market
- Few investments have done better on both counts: only 57 of the 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than ED with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway), BRK-A (Berkshire Hathaway) and KO (Coca-Cola).
How much would $10,000 in ED have grown?
This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in ED over the past 29 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of ED over the same span and ED's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period. A second view covers the past 5 years, the period the better options further down the page are judged on. It shows not only where each investment ended up but also how smooth or uneven the path was.
- $10,000 invested in ED at the end of September 1997 would have grown to $109,083 by September 2026, less than the $132,907 it would have become in SPY, an S&P 500 fund.
- Five of the eight other investments on the chart ended ahead of ED, and ETR finished highest, at $234,668.
Choose a period
From the end of September 1997 to the end of September 2026. The scale is logarithmic, so equal steps up the chart are equal percentage gains. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 501 of the 1,042 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of ED; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.
- ETR$234,668+2,247% total · +11.5% a year
- SO$225,240+2,152% total · +11.3% a year
- WEC$210,407+2,004% total · +11.1% a year
- ATO$182,115+1,721% total · +10.5% a year
- NI$152,353+1,424% total · +9.8% a year
- SPY (S&P 500)$132,907+1,229% total · +9.3% a year
- ED$109,083+991% total · +8.6% a year
- AEE$96,296+863% total · +8.1% a year
- PNW$94,652+847% total · +8.1% a year
- AEP$92,393+824% total · +8.0% a year
From the end of September 2021 to the end of September 2026. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 1,244 of the 3,628 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of ED; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.
- VST$88,175+782% total · +54.6% a year
- ETR$23,803+138% total · +18.9% a year
- DFIV$20,643+106% total · +15.6% a year
- AVLV$19,653+96.5% total · +14.5% a year
- TSPA$19,420+94.2% total · +14.2% a year
- SPY (S&P 500)$19,000+90.0% total · +13.7% a year
- NI$18,933+89.3% total · +13.6% a year
- BRK-B$18,244+82.4% total · +12.8% a year
- ED$16,736+67.4% total · +10.8% a year
- PNW$16,000+60.0% total · +9.9% a year
ED at a glance
This section summarizes the key facts about the stock, its returns over periods from one to ten years and the risk it has carried, with dividends reinvested throughout. These figures serve as the baseline for every comparison that follows.
- ED's deepest decline since it began trading in 1986 was 49.4%, from October 1998 to February 2000. It took about three years from the low to climb back to its old high.
- Over 29 full calendar years, ED's best was 1997, when it returned 50.5%, and its worst was 1999, when it lost 31.4%. It lost money in six of those years.
- ED is 1.4% below its all-time high.
The company
- Market value
- $41B
- Industry
- Regulated Electric
- Price history from
- October 1986
Returns
- Past 1 year
- +13.7%total return
- Past 3 years
- +42.4%+12.5% a year
- Past 5 years
- +76.3%+12.0% a year
- Past 10 years
- +114%+7.9% a year
- Best calendar year
- +50.5%1997
- Worst calendar year
- −31.4%1999
- Losing years
- 6 of 29full calendar years
Risk
- Volatility
- 18.8%typical yearly swing, 5 years
- Sharpe ratio
- 0.70return per unit of risk, 5 years
- Worst decline ever
- −49.4%Oct 1998 to Feb 2000
- From its all-time high
- −1.4%below the peak
ED against the whole market
Where ED ranks among every stock and fund, and what across the market has done better.
How does ED rank among all stocks?
This section ranks ED on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every stock worth at least $300 million with enough history. Where the comparisons with its popular alternatives show how ED stacks up against its peers, these rankings show where it stands in the market as a whole.
- ED's worst decline of the past 10 years ranks in the top 1% of the 2,187 stocks worth at least $300 million, where the top fell the least.
Ranked against U.S.-listed stocks worth at least $300M that have enough history for each measure, so the count changes from row to row; smaller stocks are left out. Lower volatility and smaller declines rank higher.
| Measure | ED | Rank | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +13.7% | 1,456 of 3,287 | top 44% |
| 3-year return | +42.4% | 1,659 of 3,017 | bottom 46% |
| 5-year return | +76.3% | 848 of 2,893 | top 29% |
| 10-year return | +114% | 1,276 of 2,202 | bottom 43% |
| Volatility, 5 years | 18.8% | 58 of 2,893 | top 2% |
| Sharpe ratio, 5 years | 0.70 | 462 of 2,893 | top 16% |
| Worst decline, past 10 years | −30.9% | 29 of 2,187 | top 1% |
What has beaten ED on both return and risk?
Each dot is an investment, placed by how much it earned a year over the past 5 years (higher is better) and how much its price swung, its volatility (further left is calmer). ED sits where the dashed lines cross. Anything in the green box above and to the left earned more than ED with smaller swings, a better trade-off over this period on both counts. Past results are no promise, but a name in the box is worth a closer look.
- Four stocks and 53 ETFs worth at least $500 million sit in the green region: each earned more than ED over the past 5 years with smaller price swings. That is 2% of the 3,633 screened. Few investments beat it on both counts.
- Among those with at least half ED's swings, LVHI has the best return for its risk: 17.0% a year at 11.1% volatility, 41% less than ED's 18.8%, and a Sharpe ratio (return above cash per unit of volatility) of 1.48 against 0.70 for ED.
Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested, and volatility the annualized swing in daily prices, both over 5 years. Labeled dots are the strongest picks from the table below and the names called out above, colored by how close they sit to ED; faint dots are 25 more of the 57 in the green region (the strongest, one per fund family). 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million were screened. Hover over a dot for its figures.
- Popular alternatives
- The whole market
- Others in the green region
Is there a better investment than ED?
Investments that beat ED over the past 5 years on return, volatility, drawdowns, consistency, crash losses or fees, from its popular alternatives out to the whole market.
- Among ED's popular alternatives, NI earned more than ED over the past 5 years with similar volatility: 15.1% a year at 20.3% volatility, against 12.0% a year at 18.8%.
- Few investments have done better on both counts: only 57 of the 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than ED with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them BRK-B, BRK-A and KO.
How this works
The table below lists investments that beat ED over the past 5 years on at least one of these measures: a higher annual return with lower volatility, a higher annual return at similar volatility, a similar return with lower volatility, a higher Sharpe ratio with a smaller worst decline, a higher total return in most periods from 3 months to 10 years, or smaller losses in recent market crashes. It checks ED's popular alternatives first, then the rest of its own and neighboring categories, then every stock and fund worth at least $500 million, and shows the strongest few in each group. The full list of those with a higher return and lower volatility than ED follows the table.
Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested. Annual return, volatility and the Sharpe ratio cover 5 years; the worst decline covers the past 10 years. Green marks a better figure than ED's. "On the frontier" means no other option shown or tested earned more with less volatility. Funds that hold the same thing are shown once. Beyond the popular alternatives, nothing with more than 1.5× ED's volatility counts as better.
These figures cover the past 5 years. Green marks a better figure than ED's.
| Investment | Why it is better | Past 5 years | Downside | Long run | Fit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual return?higher is better | Volatility?lower is calmer | Sharpe?return per unit of risk | Worst decline?past 10 years | 10Y returntotal | Corr. with ED?lower diversifies more | Expenseper year | |||
| +12.0% | 18.8% | 0.70 | −30.9% | +114% | 1.00 | — | |||
| +12.7% | 17.1% | 0.79 | −33.7% | +321% | 0.23 | 0.09% | |||
| Popular alternativesbest 1 shownThe investments people most often weigh against ED. 1 of 24 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
NINiSource Inc · Gas Utilities | Higher return, similar volatility | +15.1% | 20.3% | 0.80 | −30.9% | +158% | 0.74 | — | |
| The whole marketbest 8 shownEvery other stock and fund worth at least $500 million. 435 of 3,556 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
DFIVDimensional - International Value ETF · International Equity | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +14.8% | 16.4% | 0.93 | −25.4% | — | 0.47 | 0.27% | |
AVLVAvantis U.S. Large Cap Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +14.0% | 16.9% | 0.86 | −19.5% | — | 0.34 | 0.15% | |
TSPAT. Rowe Price U.S. Equity Research ETF · Broad Market | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +13.1% | 17.1% | 0.81 | −24.7% | — | 0.20 | 0.34% | |
| Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | +13.4% | 17.1% | 0.82 | −29.6% | +274% | 0.52 | — | ||
LVHIFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF · International Equity | On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | +17.0% | 11.1% | 1.48 | −32.4% | +194% | 0.50 | 0.40% | |
| Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | +14.7% | 16.8% | 0.91 | −37.0% | +204% | 0.57 | — | ||
| On the frontierHigher return, similar volatilityHigher return in most periods | +17.3% | 18.2% | 0.97 | −40.0% | +352% | 0.22 | — | ||
FTQIFirst Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF · Dividend & Income | Similar return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +11.5% | 14.8% | 0.82 | −19.4% | +121% | 0.15 | 0.75% | |
What these numbers mean for ED
- Annual return
- ED returned 12.0% a year over the past 5 years with dividends reinvested, against 12.7% a year for the S&P 500. At that pace, $10,000 became about $17,600. Annual return is the steady yearly rate that would produce the same total result, so investments held over the same span compare fairly. Guide: What is performance and return? →
- Volatility
- ED's volatility over the past 5 years was 18.8%, 1.1 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, ED's return lands within 18.8% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump. Guide: Understanding and measuring risk (volatility) →
- Sharpe ratio
- ED's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.70, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so ED earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings. Guide: Balancing reward with risk (Sharpe ratio) →
- Worst decline
- ED's worst fall from a peak to a low over the past 10 years was 30.9%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. Losses and gains are not symmetric: climbing back from a 30.9% fall takes a 44.7% gain. Guide: Market crash risk and tail risk →
- Correlation
- Over the past 5 years, ED's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.23 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They are only loosely linked, which makes it a real diversifier next to an index fund. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against ED instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a ED holding. Guide: Correlation and diversification →
Show all 57 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that earned more than ED with less volatility
Out of 3,633 tested over 5 years. The strongest 31 are listed, best first, with funds that hold the same thing listed once.
| # | Investment | Found in | Annual return | Volatility | Sharpe | Worst decline | 10Y return | Corr. with ED | Expense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DFIVDimensional - International Value ETF · International Equity | Whole market | +14.8% | 16.4% | 0.93 | −25.4% | — | 0.47 | 0.27% |
| 2 | AVLVAvantis U.S. Large Cap Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Whole market | +14.0% | 16.9% | 0.86 | −19.5% | — | 0.34 | 0.15% |
| 3 | TSPAT. Rowe Price U.S. Equity Research ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +13.1% | 17.1% | 0.81 | −24.7% | — | 0.20 | 0.34% |
| 4 | Whole market | +13.4% | 17.1% | 0.82 | −29.6% | +274% | 0.52 | — | |
| 5 | LVHIFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF · International Equity | Whole market | +17.0% | 11.1% | 1.48 | −32.4% | +194% | 0.50 | 0.40% |
| 6 | Whole market | +14.7% | 16.8% | 0.91 | −37.0% | +204% | 0.57 | — | |
| 7 | Whole market | +14.7% | 17.5% | 0.87 | −34.7% | — | 0.18 | 0.26% | |
| 8 | FNDFSchwab Fundamental International Large Company Index ETF · International Equity | Whole market | +13.6% | 16.3% | 0.87 | −40.2% | +194% | 0.47 | 0.25% |
| 9 | PVALPutnam Focused Large Cap Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value | Whole market | +16.1% | 15.1% | 1.07 | −41.3% | — | 0.38 | 0.56% |
| 10 | AVDVAvantis International Small Cap Value ETF · International Equity | Whole market | +13.9% | 17.4% | 0.84 | −43.0% | — | 0.41 | 0.36% |
| 11 | RWLInvesco S&P 500 Revenue ETF · US Large-Cap Equity | Whole market | +13.7% | 14.4% | 0.97 | −36.1% | +287% | 0.39 | 0.39% |
| 12 | DBEFXtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF · International Equity | Whole market | +13.1% | 13.8% | 0.96 | −32.5% | +206% | 0.36 | 0.35% |
| 13 | IOOiShares Global 100 ETF · Global Equity | Whole market | +15.7% | 17.2% | 0.94 | −31.4% | +361% | 0.18 | 0.40% |
| 14 | FDLFirst Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund · US Dividend Equity | Whole market | +13.9% | 14.4% | 0.98 | −41.4% | +199% | 0.60 | 0.43% |
| 15 | JQUAJPMorgan U.S. Quality Factor ETF · US Quality Equity | Whole market | +13.6% | 15.7% | 0.89 | −32.9% | — | 0.30 | 0.12% |
| 16 | GCOWPacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF · International | Whole market | +14.1% | 13.6% | 1.04 | −37.6% | +168% | 0.60 | 0.60% |
| 17 | WTVWisdomTree U.S. Value Fund · Broad Market | Whole market | +13.4% | 17.0% | 0.83 | −42.2% | +303% | 0.30 | 0.12% |
| 18 | MLPAGlobal X - MLP ETF · Energy | Whole market | +15.2% | 17.2% | 0.91 | −74.3% | +80.0% | 0.33 | 0.77% |
| 19 | DIVBiShares Core Dividend ETF · Dividend & Income | Whole market | +13.9% | 15.4% | 0.93 | −36.9% | — | 0.38 | 0.05% |
| 20 | PWVInvesco Large Cap Value ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +13.5% | 14.2% | 0.97 | −37.6% | +223% | 0.44 | 0.55% |
| 21 | FNDBSchwab Fundamental U.S. Broad Market Index ETF · Broad Market | Whole market | +13.0% | 15.1% | 0.89 | −38.1% | +284% | 0.39 | 0.25% |
| 22 | TPYPTortoise North American Pipeline ETF · Energy | Whole market | +16.9% | 17.3% | 0.99 | −51.9% | +184% | 0.55 | 0.40% |
| 23 | DGTState Street SPDR Global Dow ETF · International | Whole market | +13.8% | 15.1% | 0.94 | −34.4% | +261% | 0.44 | 0.50% |
| 24 | FYLDCambria Foreign Shareholder Yield ETF · Dividend & Income | Whole market | +13.1% | 16.0% | 0.85 | −44.6% | +203% | 0.50 | 0.59% |
| 25 | IDOGALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF · International | Whole market | +14.1% | 15.6% | 0.93 | −37.3% | +180% | 0.51 | 0.50% |
| 26 | FIVAFidelity International Value Factor ETF · International | Whole market | +13.1% | 16.4% | 0.84 | −39.7% | — | 0.48 | 0.18% |
| 27 | Whole market | +16.4% | 17.1% | 0.98 | −58.1% | +178% | 0.35 | — | |
| 28 | FDVVFidelity High Dividend ETF · US Dividend Equity | Whole market | +13.2% | 14.6% | 0.92 | −40.2% | +253% | 0.43 | 0.15% |
| 29 | EMLPFirst Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund · Energy Infrastructure | Whole market | +14.9% | 14.5% | 1.04 | −43.6% | +150% | 0.63 | 0.95% |
| 30 | AUSFGlobal X - Adaptive U.S. Factor ETF · International | Whole market | +13.2% | 13.6% | 0.99 | −44.2% | — | 0.43 | 0.27% |
| 31 | DTHWisdomTree International High Dividend Fund · International | Whole market | +13.0% | 15.1% | 0.89 | −40.8% | +131% | 0.54 | 0.58% |
ED against its popular alternatives
The investments people most often weigh against ED, compared period by period and year by year.
How do ED's risk and return compare with its alternatives?
This map plots each investment's annual return over the past 5 years against its volatility, the size of its typical price swings. Investments toward the upper left earned more for a smoother ride, and those toward the lower right earned less for a rougher one. The dashed lines cross at ED, which divides the map into what did better or worse on each measure.
- Only ATO was both more rewarding and calmer than ED over the past 5 years, earning a higher annual return with lower volatility.
- 17 of the 24 popular alternatives earned less than ED over the past 5 years while swinging more, the weaker corner of the map.
- Over the past 5 years, ED returned 12.0% a year, less than the S&P 500's 12.7%, with higher volatility (18.8% against 17.1%).
Green points earned more than ED with less volatility; red points earned less with more. Hover over a point for its figures. Total returns with dividends reinvested, annualized.
All figures
| Investment | Annual return | Volatility |
|---|---|---|
| VST Vistra Corp. | +53.4% | 48.6% |
| ETR Entergy Corporation | +19.2% | 22.4% |
| NI NiSource Inc | +15.1% | 20.3% |
| ATO Atmos Energy Corporation | +14.9% | 18.4% |
| PNW Pinnacle West Capital Corporation | +13.4% | 19.9% |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | +12.7% | 17.1% |
| AEP American Electric Power Company, Inc. | +12.4% | 20.2% |
| ED This pageConsolidated Edison, Inc. | +12.0% | 18.8% |
| SO The Southern Company | +11.3% | 18.8% |
| EVRG Evergy, Inc. | +9.5% | 18.9% |
| FE FirstEnergy Corp. | +8.5% | 19.4% |
| AEE Ameren Corporation | +7.8% | 19.4% |
| DUK Duke Energy Corporation | +7.5% | 18.0% |
| LNT Alliant Energy Corporation | +7.3% | 19.8% |
| WEC WEC Energy Group, Inc. | +7.2% | 19.0% |
| EXC Exelon Corporation | +7.1% | 20.9% |
| PPL PPL Corporation | +7.1% | 18.9% |
| XEL Xcel Energy Inc. | +6.5% | 20.9% |
| PEG Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated | +5.8% | 20.6% |
| DTE DTE Energy Company | +5.7% | 19.0% |
| CMS CMS Energy Corporation | +5.6% | 19.0% |
| EIX Edison International | +4.1% | 28.5% |
| PCG PG&E Corporation | +3.2% | 29.3% |
| D Dominion Energy, Inc. | +0.5% | 22.7% |
| ES Eversource Energy | −1.4% | 23.9% |
| AWK American Water Works Company, Inc. | −2.8% | 23.1% |
Has ED consistently beaten its popular alternatives?
This section compares ED with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over eight periods from one month to ten years. Counting how often an alternative earned more than ED helps separate lasting outperformance from a single strong stretch.
- Only one of the 25 popular alternatives, PNW, outperformed ED in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes.
- AEP outperformed ED over all three long-term periods but in none of the five short-term ones, so ED has had the better of it lately.
A green cell means the alternative earned more than ED over that period. "Qualified" marks those that did so in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods.
| Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Fund | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpehigher is better | Worst declinepast 10 years | Expense | Assets | Overlapsame sectors | ||
| ED Consolidated Edison, Inc. (this page) | — | +7.8% | +1.7% | +3.8% | +14.7% | +13.7% | +42.4% | +76.3% | +114% | 18.8% | 0.70 | −30.9% | — | $41B | — |
| PNW QualifiedPinnacle West Capital Corporation | 3/5 short2/3 long | +10.3% | −2.3% | +1.8% | +20.0% | +15.3% | +57.1% | +87.3% | +103% | 19.9% | 0.73 | −39.3% | — | $12B | — |
| VST Independent Power ProducersVistra Corp. | 0/5 short3/3 long | +6.8% | −4.7% | −5.5% | −8.6% | −22.2% | +383% | +748% | +1,195% | 48.6% | 1.13 | −53.3% | — | $50B | — |
| ETR Regulated ElectricEntergy Corporation | 0/5 short3/3 long | +3.5% | −5.5% | −6.4% | +14.1% | +11.4% | +149% | +141% | +311% | 22.4% | 0.90 | −42.0% | — | $50B | — |
| ATO Regulated GasAtmos Energy Corporation | 0/5 short3/3 long | +5.6% | −5.2% | −9.2% | +0.4% | −3.8% | +65.2% | +100% | +194% | 18.4% | 0.85 | −32.9% | — | $28B | — |
| AEP Regulated ElectricAmerican Electric Power Company, Inc. | 0/5 short3/3 long | +6.0% | −2.2% | −3.1% | +12.4% | +11.3% | +93.3% | +79.4% | +185% | 20.2% | 0.68 | −32.9% | — | $69B | — |
| NI Regulated GasNiSource Inc | 0/5 short3/3 long | +5.5% | −5.1% | −9.3% | +3.4% | +0.1% | +86.1% | +102% | +158% | 20.3% | 0.80 | −30.9% | — | $21B | — |
| AEE Regulated ElectricAmeren Corporation | 0/5 short2/3 long | +4.3% | −3.1% | −3.2% | +7.6% | +3.4% | +52.5% | +45.9% | +192% | 19.4% | 0.49 | −29.1% | — | $29B | — |
| SO Regulated ElectricThe Southern Company | 0/5 short2/3 long | +6.1% | −3.2% | −1.4% | +6.6% | −4.1% | +53.0% | +70.9% | +170% | 18.8% | 0.67 | −38.4% | — | $104B | — |
| WEC Regulated ElectricWEC Energy Group, Inc. | 0/5 short2/3 long | +5.1% | −2.5% | −3.9% | +4.8% | −4.3% | +49.1% | +41.6% | +159% | 19.0% | 0.46 | −32.3% | — | $35B | — |
| XEL Regulated ElectricXcel Energy Inc. | 0/5 short2/3 long | +6.7% | −1.7% | −3.0% | +5.1% | −2.7% | +46.0% | +37.3% | +156% | 20.9% | 0.41 | −34.4% | — | $48B | — |
| LNT Regulated ElectricAlliant Energy Corporation | 0/5 short2/3 long | +5.1% | −7.0% | −4.3% | +6.5% | +2.6% | +54.6% | +42.3% | +150% | 19.8% | 0.46 | −33.5% | — | $18B | — |
| DUK Regulated ElectricDuke Energy Corporation | 0/5 short2/3 long | +3.9% | −2.7% | −3.5% | +6.0% | −2.6% | +56.1% | +43.9% | +132% | 18.0% | 0.50 | −37.4% | — | $95B | — |
| DTE Regulated ElectricDTE Energy Company | 0/5 short2/3 long | +2.5% | −10.6% | −9.8% | +1.7% | −6.7% | +48.3% | +32.2% | +127% | 19.0% | 0.39 | −42.4% | — | $27B | — |
| AWK Regulated WaterAmerican Water Works Company, Inc. | 1/5 short1/3 long | +1.4% | +2.3% | +3.3% | +6.4% | −4.1% | +26.2% | −13.1% | +131% | 23.1% | -0.01 | −37.1% | — | $27B | — |
| EVRG Regulated ElectricEvergy, Inc. | 1/5 short1/3 long | +4.5% | −1.9% | +3.2% | +16.3% | +9.0% | +93.6% | +57.2% | +109% | 18.9% | 0.57 | −38.8% | — | $19B | — |
| CEG Independent Power ProducersConstellation Energy Corporation | 1/5 short1/3 long | −1.2% | +2.3% | −9.7% | −29.0% | −29.7% | +135% | — | — | — | — | −50.7% | — | $92B | — |
| EXC Regulated ElectricExelon Corporation | 0/5 short1/3 long | +2.5% | −5.5% | −5.5% | +0.7% | −7.5% | +22.6% | +40.7% | +159% | 20.9% | 0.43 | −40.0% | — | $44B | — |
| PEG Regulated ElectricPublic Service Enterprise Group Incorporated | 0/5 short1/3 long | +2.2% | −8.1% | −10.7% | −10.2% | −13.6% | +31.9% | +32.3% | +142% | 20.6% | 0.38 | −40.8% | — | $35B | — |
| CMS Regulated ElectricCMS Energy Corporation | 0/5 short1/3 long | +5.8% | −5.4% | −9.8% | −0.6% | −6.0% | +42.2% | +31.4% | +123% | 19.0% | 0.38 | −29.6% | — | $21B | — |
| FE Regulated ElectricFirstEnergy Corp. | 0/5 short1/3 long | +1.7% | −4.9% | −5.7% | +4.1% | +0.7% | +46.8% | +50.2% | +111% | 19.4% | 0.52 | −47.7% | — | $26B | — |
| PPL Regulated ElectricPPL Corporation | 0/5 short1/3 long | +4.7% | −1.5% | −9.2% | +0.9% | −5.2% | +60.8% | +40.7% | +59.2% | 18.9% | 0.46 | −48.7% | — | $26B | — |
| D Regulated ElectricDominion Energy, Inc. | 0/5 short1/3 long | 0.0% | −9.8% | +3.0% | +9.4% | +6.6% | +80.8% | +2.7% | +32.5% | 22.7% | 0.14 | −52.2% | — | $55B | — |
| ES Regulated ElectricEversource Energy | 0/5 short0/3 long | −2.2% | −10.6% | −2.2% | −0.5% | −6.0% | +40.5% | −7.0% | +72.0% | 23.9% | 0.06 | −41.7% | — | $25B | — |
| EIX Regulated ElectricEdison International | 0/5 short0/3 long | +4.6% | −25.6% | −17.6% | −2.0% | +3.6% | +5.2% | +22.0% | +21.5% | 28.5% | 0.29 | −43.9% | — | $22B | — |
| PCG Regulated ElectricPG&E Corporation | 0/5 short0/3 long | +2.3% | −24.1% | −23.5% | −18.2% | −19.9% | −16.0% | +16.9% | −77.2% | 29.3% | 0.26 | −94.7% | — | $35B | — |
How did ED do year by year?
This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 1997, along with where ED ranked among its popular alternatives each year. Annual results reveal how consistently each one kept pace with ED and how far its good and bad years diverged, detail that multiyear averages tend to smooth over.
- ED finished ahead of the S&P 500 in 12 of its 29 full calendar years, and behind it in each of the last three.
- Ranked against its popular alternatives each year, ED finished in the top quarter in seven of 29 years and in the bottom quarter in ten. In 2025, it ranked 13 of 26.
- Among its popular alternatives, VST came out ahead of ED most often, in six of the nine years both traded.
Newest year first. Green marks a year in which the fund came out ahead of ED; gray means the two finished within a fraction of a point. The rank row places ED among the alternatives that traded the full year; dark green is the top quarter and red the bottom quarter.
| Investment | Years ahead of ED | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ED This pageConsolidated Edison, Inc. | — | +15.1% | +1.6% | −1.1% | +15.7% | +22.9% | −17.0% | +22.6% | −6.6% | +17.2% | +18.9% | +1.4% | +24.9% | +3.8% | −6.7% | +30.9% | +14.9% | +23.8% | −15.7% | +6.6% | +9.2% | +11.3% | +7.3% | +6.3% | +11.8% | +10.9% | +19.0% | −31.4% | +35.0% | +50.5% |
| Rank among alternatives | Top quarter in 7 of 29 | 13 of 26 | 24 of 26 | 9 of 26 | 2 of 25 | 6 of 25 | 24 of 25 | 14 of 25 | 22 of 25 | 9 of 25 | 10 of 24 | 9 of 24 | 22 of 24 | 21 of 24 | 22 of 24 | 2 of 24 | 12 of 24 | 5 of 24 | 7 of 23 | 13 of 23 | 21 of 23 | 12 of 23 | 21 of 23 | 21 of 23 | 7 of 23 | 4 of 23 | 20 of 23 | 17 of 23 | 3 of 23 | 2 of 23 |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 15 of 29 | +17.7% | +24.9% | +26.2% | −18.2% | +28.7% | +18.3% | +31.2% | −4.6% | +21.7% | +12.0% | +1.2% | +13.5% | +32.3% | +16.0% | +1.9% | +15.1% | +26.4% | −36.8% | +5.1% | +15.9% | +4.8% | +10.7% | +28.2% | −21.6% | −11.7% | −9.8% | +20.4% | +28.7% | +33.5% |
| PNW Pinnacle West Capital Corporation | 13 of 29 | +8.9% | +23.5% | −1.2% | +13.0% | −7.8% | −7.7% | +9.1% | +3.6% | +11.7% | +25.4% | −2.0% | +34.6% | +7.9% | +10.3% | +21.9% | +19.6% | +21.8% | −19.4% | −12.3% | +28.4% | −2.7% | +16.1% | +23.4% | −14.6% | −9.1% | +62.2% | −25.4% | +2.9% | +38.3% |
| VST Vistra Corp. | 6 of 9 | +17.7% | +262% | +70.7% | +5.1% | +19.5% | −11.9% | +2.5% | +24.9% | +18.2% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ETR Entergy Corporation | 14 of 29 | +25.4% | +55.9% | −6.1% | +3.5% | +17.1% | −13.7% | +44.3% | +10.6% | +15.9% | +12.6% | −18.2% | +44.8% | +4.3% | −8.3% | +8.4% | −9.7% | +2.4% | −28.3% | +32.5% | +38.4% | +4.6% | +22.0% | +29.3% | +20.3% | −4.6% | +71.4% | −14.0% | +9.7% | +16.7% |
| ATO Atmos Energy Corporation | 18 of 29 | +23.1% | +23.4% | +6.2% | +9.6% | +12.7% | −12.7% | +23.2% | +10.4% | +18.4% | +20.5% | +16.3% | +26.5% | +33.8% | +9.8% | +11.4% | +11.3% | +30.7% | −11.2% | −8.2% | +27.5% | 0.0% | +18.2% | +9.5% | +15.6% | −8.3% | +26.5% | −33.7% | +10.6% | +32.0% |
| AEP American Electric Power Company, Inc. | 16 of 29 | +29.4% | +18.2% | −11.0% | +10.4% | +10.7% | −9.0% | +30.5% | +5.4% | +19.9% | +11.9% | −0.4% | +35.1% | +14.2% | +8.2% | +20.7% | +8.6% | +10.4% | −25.5% | +13.0% | +19.7% | +12.3% | +17.5% | +19.2% | −32.8% | −1.3% | +54.8% | −27.3% | −4.1% | +32.6% |
| NI NiSource Inc | 18 of 29 | +16.8% | +43.5% | +0.4% | +2.7% | +24.8% | −14.8% | +13.0% | +1.9% | +19.3% | +16.7% | +20.4% | +32.7% | +36.5% | +7.4% | +41.8% | +21.1% | +51.7% | −38.7% | −18.4% | +20.6% | −4.5% | +8.8% | +16.3% | −7.9% | −21.5% | +81.9% | −38.8% | +28.0% | +30.5% |
| AEE Ameren Corporation | 12 of 29 | +15.3% | +27.5% | −16.1% | +2.5% | +17.1% | +4.3% | +20.8% | +14.0% | +15.9% | +25.7% | −2.4% | +32.8% | +23.4% | −2.5% | +23.9% | +6.9% | −10.4% | −34.5% | +5.9% | +10.1% | +7.1% | +15.1% | +17.5% | +4.3% | −3.0% | +51.7% | −17.9% | +5.3% | +12.4% |
| SO The Southern Company | 16 of 29 | +9.5% | +21.7% | +2.2% | +8.2% | +16.4% | +0.6% | +51.6% | −3.8% | +2.4% | +9.9% | −0.1% | +25.3% | +0.5% | −3.5% | +26.9% | +20.7% | −4.9% | +0.1% | +9.8% | +11.7% | +7.6% | +16.1% | +11.7% | +17.6% | +32.5% | +48.5% | −14.9% | +18.0% | +21.3% |
| WEC WEC Energy Group, Inc. | 15 of 29 | +16.0% | +16.1% | −7.0% | −0.5% | +8.6% | +2.5% | +37.0% | +7.9% | +17.1% | +18.2% | +0.8% | +32.0% | +16.1% | +8.9% | +22.9% | +21.7% | +22.5% | −11.8% | +5.0% | +24.2% | +18.7% | +3.4% | +36.8% | +15.6% | +3.7% | +25.4% | −34.8% | +15.4% | +13.5% |
| XEL Xcel Energy Inc. | 16 of 29 | +13.9% | +12.3% | −8.7% | +6.4% | +4.4% | +7.8% | +32.4% | +5.9% | +20.9% | +17.1% | +3.8% | +33.4% | +8.8% | +0.5% | +22.3% | +16.1% | +20.3% | −13.8% | +2.0% | +30.6% | +6.1% | +12.4% | +61.7% | −57.1% | +0.8% | +58.8% | −24.9% | +0.2% | +33.9% |
| LNT Alliant Energy Corporation | 15 of 29 | +13.5% | +19.5% | −3.8% | −7.4% | +22.8% | −3.2% | +33.5% | +2.4% | +16.0% | +25.4% | −2.6% | +33.3% | +22.0% | +2.6% | +25.3% | +27.2% | +9.7% | −25.2% | +11.3% | +39.4% | +1.7% | +19.4% | +58.4% | −40.1% | +1.9% | +24.2% | −8.7% | +3.7% | +26.7% |
| DUK Duke Energy Corporation | 13 of 29 | +12.7% | +15.6% | −1.6% | +2.0% | +19.1% | +4.8% | +10.3% | +7.4% | +12.9% | +13.4% | −10.8% | +26.3% | +13.0% | +1.3% | +30.1% | +9.5% | +21.9% | −21.6% | +8.9% | +26.2% | +15.6% | +30.2% | +11.8% | −48.2% | −5.3% | +76.0% | −18.6% | +20.2% | +25.3% |
| DTE DTE Energy Company | 15 of 29 | +10.4% | +13.5% | −2.8% | +1.2% | +19.4% | −2.9% | +21.4% | +4.2% | +14.6% | +27.0% | −3.7% | +34.8% | +15.0% | +14.9% | +25.9% | +9.0% | +30.4% | −14.4% | −5.1% | +17.7% | +4.8% | +15.0% | −10.4% | +16.1% | +13.0% | +30.8% | −22.5% | +30.4% | +14.7% |
| AWK American Water Works Company, Inc. | 11 of 17 | +7.4% | −3.5% | −11.7% | −17.9% | +24.8% | +26.9% | +37.8% | +1.3% | +29.0% | +23.6% | +14.9% | +29.4% | +16.1% | +20.5% | +30.1% | +17.2% | +11.9% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| EVRG Evergy, Inc. | 15 of 29 | +22.4% | +23.4% | −13.3% | −4.9% | +28.0% | −11.7% | +18.4% | +10.9% | −3.5% | +36.8% | +6.9% | +33.2% | +17.5% | +4.2% | +20.3% | +22.2% | +13.0% | −16.5% | +4.1% | +26.1% | −2.0% | +17.3% | +115% | −37.2% | −26.4% | +58.7% | −44.3% | −18.3% | +48.3% |
| CEG Constellation Energy Corporation | 3 of 3 | +58.8% | +92.7% | +37.3% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| EXC Exelon Corporation | 16 of 29 | +20.0% | +9.2% | −14.0% | +8.3% | +41.4% | −3.8% | +4.3% | +18.4% | +14.1% | +32.8% | −22.2% | +40.6% | −3.5% | −27.4% | +9.5% | −10.5% | −8.4% | −29.9% | +35.1% | +19.8% | +24.5% | +37.5% | +30.1% | +14.1% | −29.5% | +106% | −14.8% | +78.5% | +4.0% |
| PEG Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated | 14 of 29 | −1.9% | +42.6% | +3.6% | −5.1% | +18.3% | +2.4% | +17.1% | +4.7% | +21.8% | +17.8% | −2.8% | +34.4% | +9.4% | −2.9% | +8.3% | −0.1% | +19.2% | −38.6% | +52.1% | +5.6% | +30.3% | +24.3% | +44.0% | −19.3% | −9.0% | +48.5% | −7.9% | +33.5% | +27.1% |
| CMS CMS Energy Corporation | 13 of 29 | +8.1% | +18.6% | −5.2% | +0.2% | +9.7% | −0.3% | +30.0% | +8.2% | +17.1% | +18.9% | +7.3% | +34.6% | +13.9% | +15.0% | +23.9% | +23.7% | +61.1% | −40.2% | +5.4% | +15.0% | +39.0% | +22.7% | −9.7% | −57.7% | −19.9% | +8.3% | −32.7% | +13.2% | +35.4% |
| FE FirstEnergy Corp. | 14 of 29 | +17.3% | +13.3% | −8.9% | +4.8% | +41.7% | −34.2% | +34.1% | +27.9% | +3.6% | +1.9% | −15.2% | +23.6% | −16.6% | −1.1% | +26.1% | −15.6% | +0.5% | −30.6% | +23.7% | +27.3% | +28.7% | +16.5% | +11.7% | −1.5% | +16.1% | +47.9% | −26.6% | +18.1% | +27.5% |
| PPL PPL Corporation | 14 of 29 | +11.4% | +24.0% | −3.8% | +0.4% | +12.8% | −16.9% | +33.4% | −3.0% | −5.2% | +4.1% | +6.2% | +26.1% | +10.3% | +2.4% | +17.6% | −14.1% | +10.2% | −39.0% | +49.3% | +26.2% | +14.8% | +26.1% | +31.3% | +3.9% | −21.0% | +105% | −14.6% | +31.1% | +12.4% |
| D Dominion Energy, Inc. | 11 of 29 | +14.0% | +20.4% | −19.2% | −19.1% | +8.1% | −5.3% | +21.5% | −7.6% | +9.9% | +17.7% | −8.7% | +23.0% | +29.8% | +1.6% | +29.4% | +14.8% | +14.4% | −21.6% | +16.5% | +12.6% | +18.2% | +10.5% | +21.3% | −4.5% | −6.5% | +80.2% | −11.0% | +16.7% | +18.5% |
| ES Eversource Energy | 14 of 29 | +22.9% | −2.5% | −23.4% | −5.1% | +8.2% | +4.5% | +34.5% | +6.4% | +18.0% | +11.8% | −1.3% | +30.6% | +12.5% | +12.3% | +16.8% | +28.2% | +11.8% | −20.6% | +14.2% | +47.9% | +8.1% | −3.4% | +37.6% | −11.3% | −25.5% | +20.2% | +29.2% | +35.4% | −8.2% |
| EIX Edison International | 13 of 29 | −20.4% | +15.3% | +17.4% | −2.6% | +13.6% | −12.8% | +37.6% | −6.7% | −9.5% | +24.9% | −6.9% | +45.1% | +5.5% | +12.4% | +10.9% | +15.1% | +12.5% | −38.0% | +19.9% | +7.0% | +39.6% | +52.2% | +85.1% | −21.6% | −3.3% | −37.0% | −2.8% | +6.4% | +42.3% |
| PCG PG&E Corporation | 13 of 29 | −19.7% | +12.2% | +10.9% | +33.9% | −2.5% | +14.5% | −54.2% | −47.0% | −24.5% | +17.9% | +3.5% | +37.4% | +4.6% | +1.8% | −10.1% | +11.7% | +20.1% | −6.4% | −6.1% | +31.6% | +16.3% | +19.8% | +99.8% | −27.8% | −3.8% | +2.5% | −32.0% | +7.9% | +51.7% |
Risk and diversification
How ED has fallen, how it held up in crashes beside the S&P 500 and its popular alternatives, and what moves independently of it.
What were ED's worst declines?
A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high. This section presents ED's five deepest drawdowns since it began trading in 1986, alongside the S&P 500's return over the same dates, and how long each took to recover. Together, these figures show how much an investor could have lost and how long it took to get back to even.
- Not every decline was the market's doing: ED fell 49.4% from October 1998 to February 2000, while the S&P 500 rose 37.0%.
- The slowest recovery came after ED fell 49.4% from October 1998 to February 2000; it did not regain that peak until January 2003, three years later.
- In two of ED's four worst declines, it fell less than the S&P 500 did over the same dates.
Green means ED fell less than the S&P 500 over the same dates. Based on daily closing prices with dividends reinvested.
| During | ED fell | S&P 500, same dates | Peak | Low | Time to the low | Back at the peak | Time to recover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No named crash | −49.4% | +37.0% | Oct 1998 | Feb 2000 | 16 months | Jan 2003 | 2.9 years |
| No named crash | −34.5% | +3.6% | Sep 1993 | Sep 1994 | 12 months | Jan 1996 | 16 months |
| Covid crash | −30.9% | −33.4% | Feb 2020 | Mar 2020 | 1 month | Mar 2022 | 2 years |
| 2008 financial crisis | −30.8% | −52.7% | Apr 2007 | Mar 2009 | 23 months | Dec 2009 | 9 months |
| No named crash | −27.0% | — | Dec 1989 | Aug 1990 | 8 months | Aug 1991 | 12 months |
How did ED do in stock market crashes?
This section measures how far ED, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000. A smaller decline means an investment held up better, and comparing results across crashes shows whether that resilience was consistent or a one-off.
- ED fell less than the S&P 500 in all ten crashes it has traded through. The clearest case was the 2008 financial crisis, when ED fell 30.1% and the S&P 500 fell 55.2%.
- None of its popular alternatives fell less than ED in most of the crashes they both traded through.
Newest crash first. Each figure is the fund's deepest fall within the crash window; green means a smaller fall than ED.
| Investment | Held up better | 2023 regional bank crisisMar 2023 | 2022 bear marketJan 2022 | Covid crashFeb 2020 | Late-2018 sell-offSep 2018 | February 2018 volatility shockFeb 2018 | 2015 China and oil sell-offAug 2015 | 2011 euro debt crisisJul 2011 | 2010 flash crashMay 2010 | 2008 financial crisisOct 2007 | Dot-com bustMar 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ED This pageConsolidated Edison, Inc. | — | −1.2% | −22.0% | −30.9% | −10.3% | −4.1% | −9.8% | −5.9% | 0.0% | −30.1% | −25.5% |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 0 of 10 | −3.4% | −24.5% | −33.7% | −19.3% | −6.5% | −12.8% | −17.9% | −1.5% | −55.2% | −47.5% |
| PNW Pinnacle West Capital Corporation | 1 of 10 | −4.0% | −24.0% | −39.3% | −8.4% | −4.3% | −11.2% | −13.4% | −2.2% | −43.8% | −53.3% |
| VST Vistra Corp. | 0 of 5 | −7.1% | −22.1% | −45.7% | −17.3% | −8.8% | — | — | — | — | — |
| ETR Entergy Corporation | 1 of 10 | −3.0% | −21.9% | −41.3% | −8.0% | −4.1% | −13.2% | −13.4% | −1.1% | −49.4% | −28.4% |
| ATO Atmos Energy Corporation | 4 of 10 | −2.9% | −18.1% | −32.4% | −10.2% | −4.3% | −8.6% | −15.7% | −1.6% | −26.4% | −24.5% |
| AEP American Electric Power Company, Inc. | 1 of 10 | −2.0% | −22.3% | −32.4% | −8.5% | −5.5% | −10.6% | −9.3% | −0.8% | −48.0% | −62.8% |
| NI NiSource Inc | 0 of 10 | −3.5% | −24.3% | −30.6% | −9.9% | −5.3% | −10.1% | −12.3% | −1.4% | −58.6% | −51.0% |
| AEE Ameren Corporation | 2 of 10 | −2.5% | −22.9% | −29.1% | −10.2% | −4.2% | −11.5% | −13.2% | −1.9% | −60.6% | −17.8% |
| SO The Southern Company | 4 of 10 | −1.2% | −23.3% | −38.1% | −9.6% | −1.9% | −9.4% | −5.2% | 0.0% | −30.4% | −19.0% |
| WEC WEC Energy Group, Inc. | 2 of 10 | −1.9% | −23.6% | −32.3% | −9.8% | −4.0% | −9.6% | −12.0% | −0.6% | −24.4% | −21.3% |
| XEL Xcel Energy Inc. | 3 of 10 | −1.8% | −24.7% | −28.9% | −9.4% | −4.6% | −10.4% | −11.0% | −1.1% | −27.2% | −80.6% |
| LNT Alliant Energy Corporation | 0 of 10 | −2.7% | −25.2% | −32.9% | −11.0% | −4.5% | −13.3% | −15.5% | −1.3% | −49.5% | −45.0% |
| DUK Duke Energy Corporation | 2 of 10 | −1.9% | −24.1% | −37.4% | −7.7% | −2.9% | −13.7% | −8.8% | 0.0% | −38.9% | −63.5% |
| DTE DTE Energy Company | 1 of 10 | −2.7% | −24.9% | −42.4% | −8.4% | −4.6% | −11.1% | −14.1% | −1.9% | −50.6% | −27.7% |
| AWK American Water Works Company, Inc. | 1 of 8 | −3.3% | −28.9% | −31.1% | −11.8% | −5.9% | −6.8% | −13.4% | −3.2% | — | — |
| EVRG Evergy, Inc. | 2 of 10 | −2.1% | −22.8% | −38.8% | −8.0% | −2.6% | −11.2% | −14.6% | −1.2% | −39.8% | −59.5% |
| CEG Constellation Energy Corporation | 0 of 1 | −2.0% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| EXC Exelon Corporation | 1 of 10 | −2.6% | −27.4% | −39.8% | −6.9% | −4.6% | −24.7% | −10.5% | −0.8% | −50.9% | −40.6% |
| PEG Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated | 0 of 10 | −3.6% | −27.3% | −38.0% | −10.8% | −6.6% | −14.8% | −13.4% | −1.0% | −51.0% | −48.3% |
| CMS CMS Energy Corporation | 1 of 10 | −2.8% | −26.5% | −29.3% | −9.8% | −3.9% | −10.4% | −13.5% | −1.3% | −49.4% | −79.9% |
| FE FirstEnergy Corp. | 2 of 10 | −4.1% | −25.2% | −36.4% | −9.5% | −3.5% | −15.6% | −12.5% | 0.0% | −54.2% | −34.4% |
| PPL PPL Corporation | 0 of 10 | −1.9% | −21.8% | −47.1% | −13.1% | −5.3% | −11.7% | −11.5% | 0.0% | −53.5% | −55.4% |
| D Dominion Energy, Inc. | 2 of 10 | −3.2% | −28.0% | −33.3% | −7.5% | −3.1% | −13.3% | −7.7% | 0.0% | −41.4% | −44.4% |
| ES Eversource Energy | 1 of 10 | −2.7% | −23.1% | −36.8% | −9.1% | −5.4% | −11.5% | −13.8% | −1.8% | −40.3% | −43.1% |
| EIX Edison International | 0 of 10 | −3.0% | −22.0% | −42.7% | −33.1% | −5.7% | −11.3% | −15.2% | 0.0% | −57.7% | −69.5% |
| PCG PG&E Corporation | 0 of 10 | −3.4% | −24.9% | −59.7% | −63.8% | −7.7% | −12.5% | −8.8% | −0.3% | −36.9% | −78.8% |
How closely does ED move with the S&P 500?
Upside capture measures how much of the S&P 500's gains an investment kept in the months the market rose, and downside capture how much of its losses it took in the months the market fell. An investment that captures more of the gains than the losses has compounded ahead of the market over time. This section compares ED with its popular alternatives on both measures, and on beta (how strongly each has moved with the market), over the past 10 years.
- Over the past 10 years, ED captured 31% of the S&P 500's gains in rising months and 18% of its losses in falling months, with a beta of 0.22. That is a defensive profile: it gave up some of the market's upside in exchange for smaller losses.
- Five of the 23 popular alternatives had a higher capture ratio (upside capture divided by downside capture) than ED's 1.75, led by ETR, SO and AEP.
Monthly total returns over the past 10 years, measured against SPY. 100% capture or a beta of 1.00 means moving in line with the S&P 500. Green marks a better figure than ED's: more upside, less downside or a higher capture ratio. Sorted by capture ratio.
| Investment | Upside capture | Downside capture | Capture ratio | Beta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ED This pageConsolidated Edison, Inc. | 31% | 18% | 1.75 | 0.22 |
| ETR Entergy Corporation | 58% | 24% | 2.39 | 0.53 |
| SO The Southern Company | 41% | 20% | 1.98 | 0.39 |
| AEP American Electric Power Company, Inc. | 44% | 23% | 1.93 | 0.40 |
| EXC Exelon Corporation | 40% | 21% | 1.91 | 0.37 |
| DUK Duke Energy Corporation | 35% | 19% | 1.88 | 0.33 |
| WEC WEC Energy Group, Inc. | 41% | 23% | 1.73 | 0.34 |
| XEL Xcel Energy Inc. | 41% | 24% | 1.68 | 0.35 |
| CMS CMS Energy Corporation | 35% | 23% | 1.56 | 0.28 |
| AEE Ameren Corporation | 51% | 33% | 1.52 | 0.38 |
| NI NiSource Inc | 43% | 32% | 1.34 | 0.44 |
| PNW Pinnacle West Capital Corporation | 34% | 27% | 1.23 | 0.38 |
| FE FirstEnergy Corp. | 40% | 33% | 1.22 | 0.36 |
| ATO Atmos Energy Corporation | 58% | 49% | 1.19 | 0.51 |
| LNT Alliant Energy Corporation | 50% | 45% | 1.13 | 0.46 |
| DTE DTE Energy Company | 47% | 42% | 1.11 | 0.50 |
| EVRG Evergy, Inc. | 42% | 38% | 1.11 | 0.47 |
| PEG Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated | 52% | 47% | 1.09 | 0.53 |
| AWK American Water Works Company, Inc. | 48% | 45% | 1.07 | 0.44 |
| ES Eversource Energy | 49% | 61% | 0.79 | 0.52 |
| PPL PPL Corporation | 52% | 77% | 0.67 | 0.65 |
| D Dominion Energy, Inc. | 43% | 70% | 0.61 | 0.52 |
| EIX Edison International | 30% | 52% | 0.58 | 0.61 |
| PCG PG&E Corporation | -17% | 72% | -0.24 | 0.78 |
What diversifies ED?
Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions). This section lists large ETFs and stocks whose returns have had a low correlation with ED's. Because such investments tend not to fall at the same time, pairing ED with them can reduce a portfolio's overall swings.
- Moving a fifth of the money in ED into DXJ would have cut the portfolio's volatility by 18% over the past 5 years and raised its annual return (+10.8% for ED alone, +14.3% for the mix).
- Among large ETFs, DXJ, MLPX and SMH have moved largely independently of ED over the past 5 years, with correlations of 0.48 or lower, and each still earned a positive 5-year return.
- FIX made money in four of the six calendar years in which ED lost money.
Only ETFs with at least $1.0B in assets and stocks worth at least $10B, with a correlation below 0.5 over the past 5 years and a positive return, are included, ranked by Sharpe ratio; funds that hold the same thing are shown once. The year columns are the years in which ED lost money. The last two columns show a portfolio that is 80% ED and 20% the other investment, rebalanced monthly.
ETFs
| Investment | Correlation | 5Y return | Sharpe | 2023 | 2020 | 2018 | 2012 | 2008 | 1999 | 80/20 mix volatility | 80/20 mix annual return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ED Consolidated Edison, Inc. (this page) | 1.00 | +76.3% | 0.70 | −1.1% | −17.0% | −6.6% | −6.7% | −15.7% | −31.4% | 18.1% | +10.8% |
| DXJ InternationalWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | 0.07 | +225% | 1.34 | +42.0% | +3.9% | −19.8% | +19.6% | −20.8% | — | 14.8% | +14.3% |
| MLPX EnergyGlobal X - MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF | 0.48 | +135% | 0.97 | +15.8% | −20.3% | −15.5% | — | — | — | 16.6% | +13.0% |
| SMH TechnologyVanEck Semiconductor ETF | 0.08 | +323% | 0.97 | +73.4% | +55.5% | −9.1% | +8.6% | −44.7% | — | 16.5% | +17.0% |
| DBEF InternationalXtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF | 0.36 | +85.0% | 0.96 | +20.1% | +2.1% | −9.5% | +20.9% | — | — | 15.4% | +11.7% |
| GLD CommoditiesSPDR Gold Shares | 0.41 | +126% | 0.96 | +12.7% | +24.8% | −1.9% | +6.6% | +4.9% | — | 16.2% | +12.6% |
| SPMO Broad MarketInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF | 0.05 | +136% | 0.93 | +17.6% | +28.2% | −0.9% | — | — | — | 15.2% | +13.5% |
| XLE EnergyState Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 0.39 | +177% | 0.93 | −0.6% | −32.7% | −18.2% | +5.2% | −39.0% | +18.1% | 17.2% | +13.7% |
| DFIV InternationalDimensional - International Value ETF | 0.47 | +99.4% | 0.93 | +17.7% | — | — | — | — | — | 16.2% | +12.0% |
Stocks
| Investment | Correlation | 5Y return | Sharpe | 2023 | 2020 | 2018 | 2012 | 2008 | 1999 | 80/20 mix volatility | 80/20 mix annual return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ED Consolidated Edison, Inc. (this page) | 1.00 | +76.3% | 0.70 | −1.1% | −17.0% | −6.6% | −6.7% | −15.7% | −31.4% | 18.1% | +10.8% |
| CAH Medical - DistributionCardinal Health, Inc. | 0.25 | +479% | 1.55 | +34.1% | +10.1% | −24.5% | +3.8% | −39.6% | −36.8% | 16.6% | +16.5% |
| CLS Hardware, Equipment & PartsCelestica Inc. | -0.15 | +3,143% | 1.47 | +160% | −2.4% | −16.3% | +11.2% | −20.5% | +350% | 17.2% | +29.8% |
| FIX Engineering & ConstructionComfort Systems USA, Inc. | 0.10 | +1,636% | 1.46 | +79.6% | +6.7% | +0.8% | +15.7% | −15.2% | −58.7% | 17.8% | +25.3% |
| MCK Medical - DistributionMcKesson Corporation | 0.30 | +413% | 1.44 | +24.1% | +27.1% | −28.4% | +25.6% | −40.4% | −71.3% | 16.7% | +15.8% |
| MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation | 0.21 | +690% | 1.41 | +30.4% | −27.4% | −8.2% | +94.3% | — | — | 17.1% | +18.6% |
Common questions
What was ED's worst drawdown?
ED's deepest decline since it began trading in 1986 was 49.4%, from October 1998 to February 2000. It took about three years from the low to climb back to its old high.
What were ED's best and worst years?
Over 29 full calendar years, ED's best year was 1997, when it returned 50.5%. Its worst was 1999, with a return of -31.4%.
Is there a better investment than ED?
Among ED's popular alternatives, NI earned more than ED over the past 5 years with similar volatility: 15.1% a year at 20.3% volatility, against 12.0% a year at 18.8%. Few investments have done better on both counts: only 57 of the 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than ED with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them BRK-B, BRK-A and KO.
Is ED more volatile than the S&P 500?
Yes. ED's volatility over the past 5 years was 18.8%, 1.1 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, ED's return lands within 18.8% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump.
What is ED's Sharpe ratio?
ED's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.70, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so ED earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings.
How correlated is ED with the S&P 500?
Over the past 5 years, ED's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.23 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They are only loosely linked, which makes it a real diversifier next to an index fund. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against ED instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a ED holding.
What are the best alternatives to ED?
Of the 25 popular alternatives we compared, one outperformed ED in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, with dividends reinvested: PNW.
Did ED outperform the S&P 500?
ED finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in 12 of 29 full calendar years. In 2025, it returned +15.1%, against +17.7% for the index.
How did ED do in stock market crashes?
ED fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in ten of the ten major crashes it has traded through, and further in no. The clearest case was the 2008 financial crisis, when ED fell 30.1% and the S&P 500 fell 55.2%.
What diversifies ED?
These had a low correlation with ED over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, DXJ (correlation 0.07), MLPX (correlation 0.48) and SMH (correlation 0.08); among large stocks, CAH (correlation 0.25), CLS (correlation -0.15) and FIX (correlation 0.10). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.
How we measure
- Short-term periods are 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y; long-term periods are 3Y, 5Y, 10Y. An investment outperformed in a period when its total return, with dividends reinvested, was higher than ED's. Returns within 0.5 points or 3% of ED's, whichever is larger, count as a tie.
- "Qualified" means outperforming in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods. "All-weather" means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period.
- Popular alternatives are the funds and stocks most often compared with this one. We include only those that trade today, are not leveraged or inverse, and hold at least $200 million.
- Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily returns over 5 years, a measure of how much the price typically swings in a year. The Sharpe ratio is the return above cash for each unit of that volatility.
- A decline, or drawdown, runs from a peak to the lowest close before the next high. The worst decline ever uses all the price history we have; comparisons between funds use the past 10 years so that younger funds are judged on the same stretch.
- Sector overlap is the share of assets two funds hold in the same sectors. Correlation and the mixed-portfolio figures use monthly returns.
- Upside and downside capture follow Morningstar's definition: the compound monthly return in the months the S&P 500 rose (or fell), divided by the S&P 500's compound return in those months. Beta measures how strongly monthly returns have moved with the S&P 500. All three use the same window for every investment.
- Figures are computed from daily adjusted prices and update after each trading day. Past performance does not predict future results.
More research
Popular alternatives to ED
VSTVistra
ETREntergy
AEPAmerican Electric Power
SOSouthern
XELXcel Energy
DUKDuke Energy
CEGConstellation Energy
EXCExelon
DDominion Energy