Seek Returns

CMS vs. SO: CMS Energy vs. Southern Company Stock Comparison

How do CMS Energy (CMS) 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

CMS Energy (CMS) and Southern Company (SO) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but CMS is classified in Multi-Utilities while SO is classified in Electric Utilities.

Company profile comparison for CMS Energy (CMS) and Southern Company (SO)
Profile ItemCMSSO
NameCMS Energy Corporation Common StockThe Southern Company
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization21.70 billion USD107.51 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973December 31, 1981
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CMS
SO
GSPC
Loading price history…
CMS Energy (CMS) 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

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for CMS Energy (CMS) and Southern Company (SO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for CMS Energy (CMS) and Southern Company (SO). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricCMSSO
Total Return (1Y)-1.93%6.21%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)11.79%15.28%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.25%12.24%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CMS
SO
GSPC
Loading price history…
CMS Energy (CMS) 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

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for CMS Energy (CMS) and Southern Company (SO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricCMSSO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)17.58%17.95%
Beta (5Y)0.310.30
Max Drawdown (5Y)-28.04%-23.28%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.84M6.19M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
CMS 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 CMS Energy (CMS) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricCMSSO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.350.11
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.490.16

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Southern Company (SO) at 11.90% is around its peer norm for ROE, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 5.31% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker returns on shareholders’ equity.

CMS

Utilities industry group

5.31%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
CMS
5.31%
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%
Loading chart…
CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 9.72% 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.

CMS

Utilities industry group

9.72%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
CMS
9.72%
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%
Loading chart…
CMS Energy (CMS) 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 CMS Energy (CMS) at 28.45%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CMS

Utilities industry group

28.45%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
CMS
28.45%
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%
Loading chart…
CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricCMSSO
ROE (TTM)5.31%11.90%
ROA (TTM)3.07%3.36%
Net Margin (TTM)9.72%16.00%
Operating Margin (TTM)28.45%36.92%
Gross Margin (TTM)40.76%48.55%

Growth

Revenue Growth

CMS Energy (CMS) at 13.63% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Southern Company (SO) at 10.59% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for CMS.

Loading chart…
CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 4.19% 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.

Loading chart…
CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricCMSSO
Revenue Growth (YoY)13.63%10.59%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.22%0.31%
EPS Growth (YoY)4.19%-1.75%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)6.84%6.34%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 0.95 and Southern Company (SO) at 0.84 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

CMS

Utilities industry group

0.95

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
CMS
0.95
Median
0.88
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
Loading chart…
CMS Energy (CMS) 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 CMS Energy (CMS) at 1.96 uses more debt funding than most peers.

CMS

Utilities industry group

1.96

Max
2.63
CMS
1.96
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
Loading chart…
CMS Energy (CMS) 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 CMS Energy (CMS) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricCMSSO
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.950.84
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.961.68
Net Debt / EBITDA6.335.01

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 3.21% and Southern Company (SO) at 3.21% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

CMS

Utilities industry group

3.21%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
CMS
3.21%
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%
Loading chart…
CMS Energy (CMS) 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% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 80.45% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

CMS

Utilities industry group

80.45%

Max
113.04%
CMS
80.45%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
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%
Loading chart…
CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricCMSSO
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.21%3.21%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)80.45%68.49%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Southern Company (SO) at 21.08 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 24.71 sits in the richer quartile — CMS needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

CMS

Utilities industry group

24.71

Max
31.22
CMS
24.71
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
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
Loading chart…
CMS Energy (CMS) 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 CMS Energy (CMS) at 2.42 and Southern Company (SO) at 3.45 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

CMS

Utilities industry group

2.42

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
CMS
2.42
Q1
1.52
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
Loading chart…
CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 2.28 and Southern Company (SO) at 2.56 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

CMS

Utilities industry group

2.28

Max
3.12
CMS
2.28
Q3
2.21
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
Loading chart…
CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricCMSSO
P/E Ratio (TTM)24.7121.08
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.423.45
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.282.56
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-9.54%-4.73%