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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Southern Company (SO)

This page compares Duke Energy (DUK) with Southern Company (SO) using historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation metrics.

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.

SymbolDUKSO
Company NameDuke Energy CorporationThe Southern Company
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization97.11 billion USD106.12 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980December 31, 1981
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

DUK
SO
Loading price history…
Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Southern Company (SO): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolDUKSO
5-Day Price Return0.53%0.26%
13-Week Price Return-1.70%-1.31%
26-Week Price Return0.72%3.25%
52-Week Price Return6.47%5.64%
Month-to-Date Return-3.85%-3.09%
Year-to-Date Return6.27%7.47%
10-Day Avg. Volume3.44M5.85M
3-Month Avg. Volume4.11M5.77M
3-Month Volatility16.01%20.25%
Beta0.400.36

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Southern Company (SO) at 12.28% ranks in the top quartile for Return on Equity (TTM), ahead of Duke Energy (DUK) at 9.85%, which sits closer to the industry mid-range.

DUK

Utilities industry group

9.85%

Max
16.88%
Q3
11.84%
Median
9.42%
Q1
7.90%
Min
2.48%

SO

Utilities industry group

12.28%

Max
16.88%
Q3
11.84%
Median
9.42%
Q1
7.90%
Min
2.48%
Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Duke Energy (DUK) at 15.49% and Southern Company (SO) at 15.09% post Net Profit Margin (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on net profitability.

DUK

Utilities industry group

15.49%

Max
31.27%
Q3
18.62%
Median
12.78%
Q1
9.35%
Min
-4.14%

SO

Utilities industry group

15.09%

Max
31.27%
Q3
18.62%
Median
12.78%
Q1
9.35%
Min
-4.14%
Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Duke Energy (DUK) at 27.16% and Southern Company (SO) at 25.23% post Operating Profit Margin (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on operating profitability.

DUK

Utilities industry group

27.16%

Max
44.19%
Q3
28.40%
Median
22.82%
Q1
17.50%
Min
3.06%

SO

Utilities industry group

25.23%

Max
44.19%
Q3
28.40%
Median
22.82%
Q1
17.50%
Min
3.06%
Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolDUKSO
Return on Equity (TTM)9.85%12.28%
Return on Assets (TTM)2.65%2.84%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)15.49%15.09%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)27.16%25.23%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)45.97%40.04%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Duke Energy (DUK) at 0.66 keeps Current Ratio (MRQ) within its industry mid-range, while Southern Company (SO) at 0.65 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for SO.

DUK

Utilities industry group

0.66

Max
1.77
Q3
1.15
Median
0.86
Q1
0.65
Min
0.33

SO

Utilities industry group

0.65

Max
1.77
Q3
1.15
Median
0.86
Q1
0.65
Min
0.33
Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Duke Energy (DUK) at 1.66 carries Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) around its industry mid-range, while Southern Company (SO) at 2.01 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

DUK

Utilities industry group

1.66

Max
3.17
Q3
1.93
Median
1.45
Q1
1.02
Min
0.00

SO

Utilities industry group

2.01

Max
3.17
Q3
1.93
Median
1.45
Q1
1.02
Min
0.00
Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

Both Duke Energy (DUK) at 2.62 and Southern Company (SO) at 2.60 post Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on interest-coverage headroom.

DUK

Utilities industry group

2.62

Max
5.80
Q3
3.67
Median
2.74
Q1
2.25
Min
0.39

SO

Utilities industry group

2.60

Max
5.80
Q3
3.67
Median
2.74
Q1
2.25
Min
0.39
Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolDUKSO
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.660.65
Quick Ratio (MRQ)0.440.42
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)1.662.01
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)2.622.60

Growth

Revenue Growth

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

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolDUKSO
Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)11.26%8.55%
Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)7.21%8.74%
3-Year Revenue CAGR3.87%-0.33%
5-Year Revenue CAGR6.20%7.50%

EPS Growth

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

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolDUKSO
EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)12.11%-0.42%
EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)7.27%-6.31%
3-Year EPS CAGR24.52%6.18%
5-Year EPS CAGR27.93%5.87%

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Duke Energy (DUK) at 3.48% and Southern Company (SO) at 2.87% report Dividend Yield (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on cash yield relative to share price.

DUK

Utilities industry group

3.48%

Max
5.10%
Q3
3.69%
Median
2.87%
Q1
2.33%
Min
0.37%

SO

Utilities industry group

2.87%

Max
5.10%
Q3
3.69%
Median
2.87%
Q1
2.33%
Min
0.37%
Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Duke Energy (DUK) at 65.05% maintains Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) around its industry median — a balanced dividend policy. Southern Company (SO) at 70.02% sits outside the typical mid-range, leaning toward more retention or more distribution than the industry median.

DUK

Utilities industry group

65.05%

Max
124.38%
Q3
68.47%
Median
57.52%
Q1
29.88%
Min
0.00%

SO

Utilities industry group

70.02%

Max
124.38%
Q3
68.47%
Median
57.52%
Q1
29.88%
Min
0.00%
Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolDUKSO
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.48%2.87%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)65.05%70.02%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Duke Energy (DUK) at 18.68 carries typical industry Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM), while Southern Company (SO) at 24.44 sits in the higher-multiple quartile — SO carries a higher trailing earnings multiple relative to peers.

DUK

Utilities industry group

18.68

Max
30.22
Q3
23.32
Median
20.89
Q1
16.43
Min
7.09

SO

Utilities industry group

24.44

Max
30.22
Q3
23.32
Median
20.89
Q1
16.43
Min
7.09
Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Both Duke Energy (DUK) at 2.89 and Southern Company (SO) at 3.69 post Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) near the typical industry midpoint — neither company stands out strongly from peers on trailing revenue multiple.

DUK

Utilities industry group

2.89

Max
6.84
Q3
4.40
Median
3.01
Q1
1.84
Min
0.25

SO

Utilities industry group

3.69

Max
6.84
Q3
4.40
Median
3.01
Q1
1.84
Min
0.25
Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Duke Energy (DUK) at 1.87 carries typical industry Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ), while Southern Company (SO) at 2.93 sits in the higher-multiple quartile — SO carries a higher book-value multiple relative to peers.

DUK

Utilities industry group

1.87

Max
3.87
Q3
2.47
Median
1.97
Q1
1.53
Min
0.26

SO

Utilities industry group

2.93

Max
3.87
Q3
2.47
Median
1.97
Q1
1.53
Min
0.26
Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolDUKSO
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)18.6824.44
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)2.893.69
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)1.872.93
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)205.54190.73