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FTS vs. SO: Fortis vs. Southern Company Stock Comparison

How do Fortis (FTS) 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

Fortis (FTS) 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 Fortis (FTS) and Southern Company (SO)
Profile ItemFTSSO
NameFortis Inc.The Southern Company
Country/RegionCanadaUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization31.00 billion USD107.51 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 5, 2010December 31, 1981
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

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

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Fortis (FTS) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricFTSSO
Total Return (1Y)19.13%6.21%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)17.59%15.28%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)9.53%12.24%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Fortis (FTS) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricFTSSO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)14.85%17.95%
Beta (5Y)0.400.30
Max Drawdown (5Y)-30.13%-23.28%
Avg. Volume (3M)879.23K6.19M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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FTS 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 Fortis (FTS) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricFTSSO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.000.11
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.530.16

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Southern Company (SO) at 11.90% is around its peer norm for ROE, while Fortis (FTS) at 7.55% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker returns on shareholders’ equity.

FTS

Utilities industry group

7.55%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
FTS
7.55%
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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Fortis (FTS) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Fortis (FTS) at 15.01% 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.

FTS

Utilities industry group

15.01%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
FTS
15.01%
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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Fortis (FTS) 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 Fortis (FTS) at 30.69%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

FTS

Utilities industry group

30.69%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
FTS
30.69%
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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Fortis (FTS) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Fortis (FTS) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricFTSSO
ROE (TTM)7.55%11.90%
ROA (TTM)2.93%3.36%
Net Margin (TTM)15.01%16.00%
Operating Margin (TTM)30.69%36.92%
Gross Margin (TTM)45.52%48.55%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Fortis (FTS) at 5.75% 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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Fortis (FTS) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Fortis (FTS) at 4.94% 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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Fortis (FTS) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Fortis (FTS) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricFTSSO
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.75%10.59%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.29%0.31%
EPS Growth (YoY)4.94%-1.75%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)6.94%6.34%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Fortis (FTS) at 0.69 and Southern Company (SO) at 0.84 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

FTS

Utilities industry group

0.69

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
FTS
0.69
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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Fortis (FTS) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Fortis (FTS) at 1.35 and Southern Company (SO) at 1.68 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

FTS

Utilities industry group

1.35

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
FTS
1.35
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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Fortis (FTS) 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 Fortis (FTS) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricFTSSO
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.690.84
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.351.68
Net Debt / EBITDA6.225.01

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Fortis (FTS) at 4.18% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Southern Company (SO) at 3.21% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, FTS the richer one.

FTS

Utilities industry group

4.18%

Max
6.66%
FTS
4.18%
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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Fortis (FTS) 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 Fortis (FTS) at 72.73% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

FTS

Utilities industry group

72.73%

Max
113.04%
FTS
72.73%
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%
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Fortis (FTS) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Fortis (FTS) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricFTSSO
Dividend Yield (TTM)4.18%3.21%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)72.73%68.49%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Southern Company (SO) at 21.08 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Fortis (FTS) at 23.66 sits in the richer quartile — FTS needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

FTS

Utilities industry group

23.66

Max
31.22
FTS
23.66
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
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Fortis (FTS) 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 Fortis (FTS) at 2.47 and Southern Company (SO) at 3.45 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

FTS

Utilities industry group

2.47

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
FTS
2.47
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
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Fortis (FTS) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Fortis (FTS) at 1.79 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.

FTS

Utilities industry group

1.79

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
FTS
1.79
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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Fortis (FTS) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Fortis (FTS) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricFTSSO
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.6621.08
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.473.45
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.792.56
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-9.42%-4.73%