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AES vs. SO: AES vs. Southern Company Stock Comparison

How do AES (AES) 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

AES (AES) and Southern Company (SO) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but AES is classified in Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers while SO is classified in Electric Utilities.

Company profile comparison for AES (AES) and Southern Company (SO)
Profile ItemAESSO
NameThe AES CorporationThe Southern Company
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryIndependent Power and Renewable Electricity ProducersElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryIndependent Power Producers & Energy TradersElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization10.61 billion USD107.51 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 26, 1991December 31, 1981
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AES
SO
GSPC
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AES (AES) 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 AES (AES) and Southern Company (SO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AES (AES) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricAESSO
Total Return (1Y)10.79%6.21%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)3.44%15.28%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.12%12.24%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AES
SO
GSPC
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AES (AES) 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 AES (AES) and Southern Company (SO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for AES (AES) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricAESSO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)25.19%17.95%
Beta (5Y)0.930.30
Max Drawdown (5Y)-63.43%-23.28%
Avg. Volume (3M)8.50M6.19M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AES 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 AES (AES) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricAESSO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.260.11
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.330.16

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both AES (AES) at 8.68% and Southern Company (SO) at 11.90% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

AES

Utilities industry group

8.68%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
AES
8.68%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%

SO

Utilities industry group

11.90%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
SO
11.90%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%
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AES (AES) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both AES (AES) at 13.16% and Southern Company (SO) at 16.00% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

AES

Utilities industry group

13.16%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
AES
13.16%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%

SO

Utilities industry group

16.00%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
SO
16.00%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%
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AES (AES) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Southern Company (SO) at 36.92% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of AES (AES) at 23.89%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

AES

Utilities industry group

23.89%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
AES
23.89%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%

SO

Utilities industry group

36.92%

Max
53.83%
SO
36.92%
Q3
31.12%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%
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AES (AES) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AES (AES) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricAESSO
ROE (TTM)8.68%11.90%
ROA (TTM)3.13%3.36%
Net Margin (TTM)13.16%16.00%
Operating Margin (TTM)23.89%36.92%
Gross Margin (TTM)21.34%48.55%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Southern Company (SO) at 10.59% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while AES (AES) at -0.37% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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AES (AES) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Southern Company (SO) at -1.75% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while AES (AES) at -46.61% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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AES (AES) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for AES (AES) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricAESSO
Revenue Growth (YoY)-0.37%10.59%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.03%0.31%
EPS Growth (YoY)-46.61%-1.75%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--6.34%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both AES (AES) at 0.86 and Southern Company (SO) at 0.84 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

AES

Utilities industry group

0.86

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
AES
0.86
Q1
0.66
Min
0.29

SO

Utilities industry group

0.84

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
SO
0.84
Q1
0.66
Min
0.29
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AES (AES) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Southern Company (SO) at 1.68 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while AES (AES) at 2.43 uses more debt funding than most peers.

AES

Utilities industry group

2.43

Max
2.63
AES
2.43
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00

SO

Utilities industry group

1.68

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
SO
1.68
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00
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AES (AES) 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 AES (AES) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricAESSO
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.860.84
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.431.68
Net Debt / EBITDA7.285.01

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

AES (AES) at 4.73% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Southern Company (SO) at 3.21% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, AES the richer one.

AES

Utilities industry group

4.73%

Max
6.66%
AES
4.73%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
Min
0.00%

SO

Utilities industry group

3.21%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
SO
3.21%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
Min
0.00%
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AES (AES) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Southern Company (SO) at 68.49% keeps its payout within the industry’s typical band; AES (AES) at 28.27% pays out less than peers usually do, retaining more of its earnings — a policy difference more than a quality gap.

AES

Utilities industry group

28.27%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
AES
28.27%
Min
0.00%

SO

Utilities industry group

68.49%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
SO
68.49%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
Min
0.00%
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AES (AES) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AES (AES) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricAESSO
Dividend Yield (TTM)4.73%3.21%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)28.27%68.49%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

AES (AES) at 5.97 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Southern Company (SO) at 21.08 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for AES, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

AES

Utilities industry group

5.97

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
AES
5.97
Min
3.34

SO

Utilities industry group

21.08

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
SO
21.08
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34
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AES (AES) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

AES (AES) at 0.78 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Southern Company (SO) at 3.45 prices around its industry’s middle — AES costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

AES

Utilities industry group

0.78

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
AES
0.78
Min
0.00

SO

Utilities industry group

3.45

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
SO
3.45
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
Min
0.00
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AES (AES) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

AES (AES) at 1.86 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Southern Company (SO) at 2.56 carries an above-peer premium to book — SO is pricier on assets.

AES

Utilities industry group

1.86

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
AES
1.86
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34

SO

Utilities industry group

2.56

Max
3.12
SO
2.56
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34
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AES (AES) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AES (AES) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricAESSO
P/E Ratio (TTM)5.9721.08
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.783.45
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.862.56
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-30.54%-4.73%