HUBB vs ETN Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
Hubbell is generally evaluated as a more focused utility and grid infrastructure supplier with steady, cycle-tied growth, while Eaton is assessed as a broader diversified power management company whose growth is increasingly levered to AI data center buildout. Both benefit from the same electrification and grid modernization tailwinds but at different scales and valuations. The choice depends on whether an investor wants a more conservative utility-infrastructure play or broader, higher-growth data center exposure.
Eaton fits investors wanting direct, larger-scale exposure to AI-driven data center electrification even at a premium valuation, while Hubbell suits those preferring a more focused, reasonably valued utility infrastructure name.
HUBB holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. ETN has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+15.11% vs +6.39%), though HUBB has the better forward P/E setup (19.80x vs 25.07x for ETN). On fundamentals, ETN is growing revenue faster (21.40%), while HUBB maintains the higher operating margin (21.67%) — a classic growth-versus-profitability split. Analyst consensus implies meaningfully more upside for HUBB (+24.68%) than for ETN (+18.07%).
- Want focused exposure to utility grid modernization
- Prefer a more moderate valuation than data-center-hyped peers
- Value steady margin expansion and capital discipline
- Are comfortable with a smaller-cap industrial name
- Want direct exposure to AI data center power infrastructure demand
- Prefer diversification across electrical, aerospace, and vehicle markets
- Can tolerate a premium valuation tied to growth expectations
- Value multi-year backlog visibility
| Metric | HUBB | ETN |
|---|---|---|
| AI score | 51.9 | 61.1 |
| AI rank | #342 | #130 |
| Latest close | $453.00 | $401.88 |
| 1M return | -3.84% | -3.21% |
| 6M return | -10.92% | +6.49% |
| 1Y return | +6.39% | +15.11% |
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | HUBB | ETN |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $10.79K (+7.9%) started 2025-09-02 | $11.69K (+16.9%) started 2025-09-02 |
| 5Y ago | $25.68K (+156.8%) started 2021-08-31 | $27.42K (+174.2%) started 2021-09-01 |
| 10Y ago | $64.02K (+540.2%) started 2016-08-31 | $90.32K (+803.2%) started 2016-09-01 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | HUBB | ETN |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $23.93B | $156.44B |
| Trailing P/E | 26.85 | 40.97 |
| Forward P/E | 19.80 | 25.07 |
| Price/Sales | 3.85 | N/A |
| EV/Revenue | 4.73 | 5.90 |
| Analyst target | $564.82 | $475.57 |
| Target upside | +24.68% | +18.07% |
| Metric | HUBB | ETN |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | 15.30% | 21.40% |
| Earnings growth | -0.90% | -15.90% |
| EPS growth | -0.90% | -15.90% |
| FCF margin | +7.97% | +10.34% |
| Operating margin | 21.67% | 16.56% |
| Profit margin | 14.49% | 12.75% |
| ROIC proxy | 24.44% | 19.68% |
| Return on equity | 24.44% | 19.68% |
| Dividend yield | 1.24% | 1.09% |
| Beta | 0.90 | 1.18 |
| Debt/equity | 141.64 | 105.06 |
| Current ratio | 1.61 | 1.24 |
| Quick ratio | 0.83 | 0.70 |
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | HUBB | ETN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | +6.60% | +16.91% |
| CAGR | +6.64% | +17.02% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.22 | 0.49 | |
| Max drawdown | 18.30% | 18.55% | |
| Max daily drop | 6.92% | 7.00% | |
| Max wkly drop | 9.13% | 11.07% | |
| 5Y | Growth | +137.27% | +156.82% |
| CAGR | +18.87% | +20.77% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.58 | 0.62 | |
| Max drawdown | 32.65% | 34.46% | |
| Max daily drop | 9.01% | 15.56% | |
| Max wkly drop | 12.99% | 14.45% | |
| 10Y | Growth | +412.16% | +629.17% |
| CAGR | +17.75% | +21.98% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.55 | 0.66 | |
| Max drawdown | 41.63% | 44.55% | |
| Max daily drop | 12.42% | 15.56% | |
| Max wkly drop | 21.72% | 24.11% |
| Category | HUBB | ETN |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Hubbell Incorporated | Eaton Corporation plc |
| Sector | Industrials / Electrical Equipment | Industrials |
| Industry | N/A | N/A |
| Core business | Hubbell designs and manufactures electrical and utility solutions, including grid infrastructure products, connectors, and wiring devices used in construction and utility markets. | Eaton is a diversified power management company supplying electrical, hydraulic, and aerospace components, with a large and growing data center and grid infrastructure business. |
| Investor focus | Investors watch grid modernization and utility capital spending, electrification demand tied to data centers, and margin performance in its Utility Solutions segment. | Investors focus on Eaton's data center electrical equipment backlog, megaproject wins tied to AI infrastructure buildout, and margin trends in its Electrical Americas segment. |
- Strong position in utility grid infrastructure benefiting from grid modernization spend
- Consistent margin expansion and disciplined capital allocation
- Exposure to electrification trends including EV charging and data center power
- Direct beneficiary of AI data center power infrastructure buildout
- Diversified across electrical, aerospace, and vehicle end markets
- Large order backlog providing multi-year revenue visibility
- Smaller scale than diversified peers limits cross-sector diversification
- Sensitive to utility capex cycles and interest-rate-driven construction activity
- Raw material and tariff cost exposure
- Premium valuation reflects high growth expectations tied to data center capex
- Exposure to any slowdown in hyperscaler capital spending
- Integration and execution risk from an active acquisition strategy
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