CEG vs. SO: Constellation Energy vs. Southern Company Stock Comparison
How do Constellation Energy (CEG) 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
Constellation Energy (CEG) 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.
Southern Company (SO) has more than two decades of public-market history since December 31, 1981, whereas Constellation Energy (CEG) listed on January 19, 2022 and has a much shorter record to draw on.
| Profile Item | CEG | SO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Constellation Energy Corporation | The Southern Company |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry Group | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry | Electric Utilities | Electric Utilities |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Electric Utilities | Electric Utilities |
| Market Capitalization | 87.80 billion USD | 108.21 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | January 19, 2022 | December 31, 1981 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | CEG | SO |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -20.75% | 8.32% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 40.23% | 14.64% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -- | 13.37% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | CEG | SO |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 46.91% | 16.68% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.12 | 0.34 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -50.70% | -23.28% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.64M | 5.74M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | CEG | SO |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.53 | 0.26 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.73 | 0.39 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Constellation Energy (CEG) at 16.11% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Southern Company (SO) at 10.99% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CEG.
CEG
Utilities industry group
16.11%
- CEG
- 16.11%
- Max
- 16.11%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Constellation Energy (CEG) at 12.69% 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.
CEG
Utilities industry group
12.69%
- Max
- 29.37%
- Q3
- 17.31%
- CEG
- 12.69%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Constellation Energy (CEG) at 21.86% and Southern Company (SO) at 25.82% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
CEG
Utilities industry group
21.86%
- Max
- 43.52%
- Q3
- 30.09%
- Median
- 23.50%
- CEG
- 21.86%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | CEG | SO |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 16.11% | 10.99% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.20% | 3.24% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 12.69% | 14.46% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 21.86% | 25.82% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 23.26% | 48.00% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | CEG | SO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 8.34% | 10.59% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 1.47% | 0.31% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | CEG | SO |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -37.76% | -1.75% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 6.34% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Constellation Energy (CEG) at 1.36 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Southern Company (SO) at 0.65 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.
CEG
Utilities industry group
1.36
- Max
- 1.88
- CEG
- 1.36
- Q3
- 1.16
- Median
- 0.90
- Q1
- 0.65
- 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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Constellation Energy (CEG) at 0.66 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while Southern Company (SO) at 1.90 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.
CEG
Utilities industry group
0.66
- Max
- 3.02
- Q3
- 1.81
- Median
- 1.34
- Q1
- 0.85
- CEG
- 0.66
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | CEG | SO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.36 | 0.65 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.66 | 1.90 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.71 | 5.37 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Southern Company (SO) at 3.02% pays a yield in its industry’s typical range, while Constellation Energy (CEG) at 0.66% falls in the bottom quartile of its peers.
CEG
Utilities industry group
0.66%
- Max
- 5.85%
- Q3
- 3.71%
- Median
- 2.81%
- Q1
- 1.92%
- CEG
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
SO
Utilities industry group
3.02%
- Max
- 5.85%
- Q3
- 3.71%
- SO
- 3.02%
- Median
- 2.81%
- Q1
- 1.92%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Constellation Energy (CEG) at 13.81% retains more earnings than its industry usually does; Southern Company (SO) at 75.70% distributes an above-typical share — opposite departures from the band, with the risk sitting on SO’s side.
CEG
Utilities industry group
13.81%
- Max
- 116.67%
- Q3
- 73.40%
- Median
- 58.69%
- Q1
- 36.87%
- CEG
- 13.81%
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | CEG | SO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.66% | 3.02% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 13.81% | 75.70% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Constellation Energy (CEG) at 21.36 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Southern Company (SO) at 24.55 sits in the richer quartile — SO needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
CEG
Utilities industry group
21.36
- Max
- 31.62
- Q3
- 24.08
- CEG
- 21.36
- Median
- 20.59
- Q1
- 16.20
- Min
- 5.03
SO
Utilities industry group
24.55
- Max
- 31.62
- SO
- 24.55
- Q3
- 24.08
- Median
- 20.59
- Q1
- 16.20
- Min
- 5.03
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Constellation Energy (CEG) at 2.94 and Southern Company (SO) at 3.59 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
CEG
Utilities industry group
2.94
- Max
- 6.54
- Q3
- 3.64
- CEG
- 2.94
- Median
- 2.70
- Q1
- 1.64
- Min
- 0.00
SO
Utilities industry group
3.59
- Max
- 6.54
- Q3
- 3.64
- SO
- 3.59
- Median
- 2.70
- Q1
- 1.64
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both Constellation Energy (CEG) at 2.66 and Southern Company (SO) at 2.91 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
CEG
Utilities industry group
2.66
- Max
- 3.78
- CEG
- 2.66
- Q3
- 2.46
- Median
- 1.88
- Q1
- 1.44
- Min
- 0.37
SO
Utilities industry group
2.91
- Max
- 3.78
- SO
- 2.91
- Q3
- 2.46
- Median
- 1.88
- Q1
- 1.44
- Min
- 0.37
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CEG | SO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 21.36 | 24.55 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.94 | 3.59 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.66 | 2.91 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -5.10% | -3.65% |