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DUK vs. SO: Duke Energy vs. Southern Company Stock Comparison

How do Duke Energy (DUK) 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

Duke Energy (DUK) 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 Duke Energy (DUK) and Southern Company (SO)
Profile ItemDUKSO
NameDuke Energy CorporationThe Southern Company
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization96.62 billion USD106.75 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980December 31, 1981
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DUK
SO
GSPC
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Duke Energy (DUK) 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 Duke Energy (DUK) and Southern Company (SO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricDUKSO
Total Return (1Y)4.12%1.74%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)14.78%14.43%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)7.23%11.01%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricDUKSO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)15.91%17.00%
Beta (5Y)0.380.33
Max Drawdown (5Y)-24.16%-23.28%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.94M5.85M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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DUK 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 Duke Energy (DUK) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricDUKSO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.01-0.13
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.01-0.19

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Duke Energy (DUK) at 9.86% 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.

DUK

Utilities industry group

9.86%

Max
17.16%
Q3
11.72%
DUK
9.86%
Median
9.48%
Q1
7.65%
Min
2.49%

SO

Utilities industry group

11.48%

Max
17.16%
Q3
11.72%
SO
11.48%
Median
9.48%
Q1
7.65%
Min
2.49%
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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Duke Energy (DUK) at 16.00% 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.

DUK

Utilities industry group

16.00%

Max
26.86%
Q3
16.62%
DUK
16.00%
Median
12.65%
Q1
8.88%
Min
-1.02%

SO

Utilities industry group

15.44%

Max
26.86%
Q3
16.62%
SO
15.44%
Median
12.65%
Q1
8.88%
Min
-1.02%
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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Duke Energy (DUK) at 27.50% and Southern Company (SO) at 29.61% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

DUK

Utilities industry group

27.50%

Max
45.14%
DUK
27.50%
Q3
27.32%
Median
21.97%
Q1
13.84%
Min
-4.80%

SO

Utilities industry group

29.61%

Max
45.14%
SO
29.61%
Q3
27.32%
Median
21.97%
Q1
13.84%
Min
-4.80%
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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricDUKSO
ROE (TTM)9.86%11.48%
ROA (TTM)2.84%3.27%
Net Margin (TTM)16.00%15.44%
Operating Margin (TTM)27.50%29.61%
Gross Margin (TTM)51.97%48.29%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Duke Energy (DUK) at 6.19% 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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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Duke Energy (DUK) at 10.51% 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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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricDUKSO
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.19%10.59%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.87%0.31%
EPS Growth (YoY)10.51%-1.75%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)23.75%6.34%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Duke Energy (DUK) at 0.66 and Southern Company (SO) at 0.79 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

DUK

Utilities industry group

0.66

Max
1.71
Q3
1.17
Median
0.87
DUK
0.66
Q1
0.66
Min
0.32

SO

Utilities industry group

0.79

Max
1.71
Q3
1.17
Median
0.87
SO
0.79
Q1
0.66
Min
0.32
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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Duke Energy (DUK) at 1.62 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Southern Company (SO) at 1.82 uses more debt funding than most peers.

DUK

Utilities industry group

1.62

Max
2.62
Q3
1.77
DUK
1.62
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00

SO

Utilities industry group

1.82

Max
2.62
SO
1.82
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00
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Duke Energy (DUK) 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 Duke Energy (DUK) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricDUKSO
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.660.79
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.621.82
Net Debt / EBITDA5.515.20

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Duke Energy (DUK) at 3.45% and Southern Company (SO) at 3.21% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

DUK

Utilities industry group

3.45%

Max
6.11%
Q3
3.60%
DUK
3.45%
Median
2.73%
Q1
1.42%
Min
0.00%

SO

Utilities industry group

3.21%

Max
6.11%
Q3
3.60%
SO
3.21%
Median
2.73%
Q1
1.42%
Min
0.00%
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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Duke Energy (DUK) at 64.16% 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.

DUK

Utilities industry group

64.16%

Max
108.33%
Q3
71.53%
DUK
64.16%
Median
58.37%
Q1
33.79%
Min
0.00%

SO

Utilities industry group

71.81%

Max
108.33%
SO
71.81%
Q3
71.53%
Median
58.37%
Q1
33.79%
Min
0.00%
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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricDUKSO
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.45%3.21%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)64.16%71.81%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Duke Energy (DUK) at 18.66 and Southern Company (SO) at 22.36 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

DUK

Utilities industry group

18.66

Max
32.88
Q3
23.67
Median
20.77
DUK
18.66
Q1
15.64
Min
5.52

SO

Utilities industry group

22.36

Max
32.88
Q3
23.67
SO
22.36
Median
20.77
Q1
15.64
Min
5.52
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Duke Energy (DUK) 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 Duke Energy (DUK) at 2.95 and Southern Company (SO) at 3.54 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

DUK

Utilities industry group

2.95

Max
6.26
Q3
3.60
DUK
2.95
Median
2.63
Q1
1.68
Min
0.00

SO

Utilities industry group

3.54

Max
6.26
Q3
3.60
SO
3.54
Median
2.63
Q1
1.68
Min
0.00
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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Duke Energy (DUK) at 1.80 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Southern Company (SO) at 2.70 carries an above-peer premium to book — SO is pricier on assets.

DUK

Utilities industry group

1.80

Max
3.15
Q3
2.28
Median
1.89
DUK
1.80
Q1
1.44
Min
0.35

SO

Utilities industry group

2.70

Max
3.15
SO
2.70
Q3
2.28
Median
1.89
Q1
1.44
Min
0.35
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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricDUKSO
P/E Ratio (TTM)18.6622.36
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.953.54
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.802.70
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-4.63%-3.67%