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AEP vs. SO: American Electric Power vs. Southern Company Stock Comparison

How do American Electric Power (AEP) and Southern Company (SO) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

American Electric Power (AEP) and Southern Company (SO) are both classified in the Electric Utilities sub-industry within the broader Electric Utilities industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for American Electric Power (AEP) and Southern Company (SO)
Profile ItemAEPSO
NameAmerican Electric Power Company, Inc.The Southern Company
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization67.78 billion USD100.28 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962December 31, 1981
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AEP
SO
GSPC
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Southern Company (SO), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for American Electric Power (AEP) and Southern Company (SO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for American Electric Power (AEP) and Southern Company (SO). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricAEPSO
Total Return (1Y)18.15%-2.26%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)21.41%12.37%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)10.51%9.59%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AEP
SO
GSPC
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Southern Company (SO), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for American Electric Power (AEP) and Southern Company (SO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricAEPSO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)19.05%17.18%
Beta (5Y)0.480.31
Max Drawdown (5Y)-29.56%-23.28%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.49M5.83M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AEP and SO are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricAEPSO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.74-0.37
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.11-0.54

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 10.13% and Southern Company (SO) at 11.48% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

AEP

Utilities industry group

10.13%

Max
17.16%
Q3
11.72%
AEP
10.13%
Median
9.45%
Q1
7.55%
Min
2.49%

SO

Utilities industry group

11.48%

Max
17.16%
Q3
11.72%
SO
11.48%
Median
9.45%
Q1
7.55%
Min
2.49%
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 13.78% and Southern Company (SO) at 15.44% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

AEP

Utilities industry group

13.78%

Max
28.78%
Q3
16.42%
AEP
13.78%
Median
12.53%
Q1
8.04%
Min
-1.02%

SO

Utilities industry group

15.44%

Max
28.78%
Q3
16.42%
SO
15.44%
Median
12.53%
Q1
8.04%
Min
-1.02%
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Southern Company (SO) at 29.61% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of American Electric Power (AEP) at 23.25%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

AEP

Utilities industry group

23.25%

Max
42.26%
Q3
26.90%
AEP
23.25%
Median
21.42%
Q1
13.61%
Min
-4.80%

SO

Utilities industry group

29.61%

Max
42.26%
SO
29.61%
Q3
26.90%
Median
21.42%
Q1
13.61%
Min
-4.80%
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricAEPSO
ROE (TTM)10.13%11.48%
ROA (TTM)2.98%3.27%
Net Margin (TTM)13.78%15.44%
Operating Margin (TTM)23.25%29.61%
Gross Margin (TTM)46.35%48.29%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 10.93% and Southern Company (SO) at 10.59% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 19.35% and Southern Company (SO) at -1.75% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricAEPSO
Revenue Growth (YoY)10.93%10.59%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.66%0.31%
EPS Growth (YoY)19.35%-1.75%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)14.04%6.34%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Southern Company (SO) at 0.79 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while American Electric Power (AEP) at 0.50 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for AEP.

AEP

Utilities industry group

0.50

Max
1.71
Q3
1.17
Median
0.87
Q1
0.62
AEP
0.50
Min
0.32

SO

Utilities industry group

0.79

Max
1.71
Q3
1.17
Median
0.87
SO
0.79
Q1
0.62
Min
0.32
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

American Electric Power (AEP) at 1.61 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Southern Company (SO) at 1.82 uses more debt funding than most peers.

AEP

Utilities industry group

1.61

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
AEP
1.61
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00

SO

Utilities industry group

1.82

Max
2.63
SO
1.82
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricAEPSO
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.500.79
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.611.82
Net Debt / EBITDA5.865.20

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 3.03% and Southern Company (SO) at 3.40% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

AEP

Utilities industry group

3.03%

Max
6.10%
Q3
3.82%
Median
3.06%
AEP
3.03%
Q1
1.91%
Min
0.00%

SO

Utilities industry group

3.40%

Max
6.10%
Q3
3.82%
SO
3.40%
Median
3.06%
Q1
1.91%
Min
0.00%
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

American Electric Power (AEP) at 65.51% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Southern Company (SO) at 71.81% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

AEP

Utilities industry group

65.51%

Max
108.33%
Q3
71.18%
AEP
65.51%
Median
58.04%
Q1
30.08%
Min
0.00%

SO

Utilities industry group

71.81%

Max
108.33%
SO
71.81%
Q3
71.18%
Median
58.04%
Q1
30.08%
Min
0.00%
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricAEPSO
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.03%3.40%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)65.51%71.81%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 21.61 and Southern Company (SO) at 21.00 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

AEP

Utilities industry group

21.61

Max
31.51
Q3
22.14
AEP
21.61
Median
20.42
Q1
15.87
Min
6.57

SO

Utilities industry group

21.00

Max
31.51
Q3
22.14
SO
21.00
Median
20.42
Q1
15.87
Min
6.57
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both American Electric Power (AEP) at 2.97 and Southern Company (SO) at 3.32 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

AEP

Utilities industry group

2.97

Max
5.98
Q3
3.47
AEP
2.97
Median
2.63
Q1
1.60
Min
0.00

SO

Utilities industry group

3.32

Max
5.98
Q3
3.47
SO
3.32
Median
2.63
Q1
1.60
Min
0.00
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

American Electric Power (AEP) at 2.11 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Southern Company (SO) at 2.53 carries an above-peer premium to book — SO is pricier on assets.

AEP

Utilities industry group

2.11

Max
3.16
Q3
2.20
AEP
2.11
Median
1.84
Q1
1.44
Min
0.34

SO

Utilities industry group

2.53

Max
3.16
SO
2.53
Q3
2.20
Median
1.84
Q1
1.44
Min
0.34
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricAEPSO
P/E Ratio (TTM)21.6121.00
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.973.32
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.112.53
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-8.85%-3.90%