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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 Capitalization73.43 billion USD107.97 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962December 31, 1981
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Performance

Cumulative Growth

AEP
SO
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Southern Company (SO): 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.

Performance at a Glance

Performance metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricAEPSO
Total Return (1Y)34.81%8.82%

Risk

Drawdown

AEP
SO
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American Electric Power (AEP) vs. Southern Company (SO): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Risk at a Glance

Risk metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricAEPSO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)18.56%16.25%
Beta (5Y)0.510.34
Avg. Volume (3M)4.18M5.60M

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

American Electric Power (AEP) at 12.59% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Southern Company (SO) at 10.99% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for AEP.

AEP

Utilities industry group

12.59%

Max
16.11%
AEP
12.59%
Q3
11.15%
Median
9.46%
Q1
7.50%
Min
2.67%

SO

Utilities industry group

10.99%

Max
16.11%
Q3
11.15%
SO
10.99%
Median
9.46%
Q1
7.50%
Min
2.67%
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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 16.29% and Southern Company (SO) at 14.46% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

AEP

Utilities industry group

16.29%

Max
29.37%
Q3
17.31%
AEP
16.29%
Median
12.55%
Q1
9.24%
Min
-0.65%

SO

Utilities industry group

14.46%

Max
29.37%
Q3
17.31%
SO
14.46%
Median
12.55%
Q1
9.24%
Min
-0.65%
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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)

Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 23.74% and Southern Company (SO) at 25.82% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

AEP

Utilities industry group

23.74%

Max
43.52%
Q3
30.09%
AEP
23.74%
Median
23.50%
Q1
16.61%
Min
0.00%

SO

Utilities industry group

25.82%

Max
43.52%
Q3
30.09%
SO
25.82%
Median
23.50%
Q1
16.61%
Min
0.00%
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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 at a Glance

Profitability metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricAEPSO
ROE (TTM)12.59%10.99%
ROA (TTM)3.17%3.24%
Net Margin (TTM)16.29%14.46%
Operating Margin (TTM)23.74%25.82%
Gross Margin (TTM)47.24%48.00%

Growth

Revenue Growth

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

Revenue Growth at a Glance

Revenue 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

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

EPS Growth at a Glance

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

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 0.53 and Southern Company (SO) at 0.65 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

AEP

Utilities industry group

0.53

Max
1.88
Q3
1.16
Median
0.90
Q1
0.65
AEP
0.53
Min
0.33

SO

Utilities industry group

0.65

Max
1.88
Q3
1.16
Median
0.90
Q1
0.65
SO
0.65
Min
0.33
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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 1.57 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Southern Company (SO) at 1.90 uses more debt funding than most peers.

AEP

Utilities industry group

1.57

Max
3.02
Q3
1.81
AEP
1.57
Median
1.34
Q1
0.85
Min
0.00

SO

Utilities industry group

1.90

Max
3.02
SO
1.90
Q3
1.81
Median
1.34
Q1
0.85
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 at a Glance

Financial strength metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricAEPSO
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.530.65
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.571.90
Net Debt / EBITDA5.615.37

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 2.81% and Southern Company (SO) at 3.12% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

AEP

Utilities industry group

2.81%

Max
6.04%
Q3
3.84%
Median
2.98%
AEP
2.81%
Q1
1.88%
Min
0.00%

SO

Utilities industry group

3.12%

Max
6.04%
Q3
3.84%
SO
3.12%
Median
2.98%
Q1
1.88%
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 55.62% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Southern Company (SO) at 75.70% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

AEP

Utilities industry group

55.62%

Max
116.67%
Q3
73.40%
Median
58.69%
AEP
55.62%
Q1
36.87%
Min
0.00%

SO

Utilities industry group

75.70%

Max
116.67%
SO
75.70%
Q3
73.40%
Median
58.69%
Q1
36.87%
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.

Dividends at a Glance

Dividend metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricAEPSO
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.81%3.12%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)55.62%75.70%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

American Electric Power (AEP) at 19.96 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Southern Company (SO) at 24.50 sits in the richer quartile — SO needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

AEP

Utilities industry group

19.96

Max
31.16
Q3
23.44
AEP
19.96
Median
19.73
Q1
15.82
Min
4.91

SO

Utilities industry group

24.50

Max
31.16
SO
24.50
Q3
23.44
Median
19.73
Q1
15.82
Min
4.91
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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)

American Electric Power (AEP) at 3.27 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Southern Company (SO) at 3.58 sits in the pricier quartile — SO costs more per dollar of sales.

AEP

Utilities industry group

3.27

Max
6.04
Q3
3.54
AEP
3.27
Median
2.65
Q1
1.61
Min
0.00

SO

Utilities industry group

3.58

Max
6.04
SO
3.58
Q3
3.54
Median
2.65
Q1
1.61
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 2.31 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Southern Company (SO) at 2.91 carries an above-peer premium to book — SO is pricier on assets.

AEP

Utilities industry group

2.31

Max
3.85
Q3
2.41
AEP
2.31
Median
1.89
Q1
1.41
Min
0.34

SO

Utilities industry group

2.91

Max
3.85
SO
2.91
Q3
2.41
Median
1.89
Q1
1.41
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 at a Glance

Valuation metrics for American Electric Power (AEP) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricAEPSO
P/E Ratio (TTM)19.9624.50
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.273.58
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.312.91
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-9.47%-3.66%