NEE vs. SO: NextEra Energy vs. Southern Company Stock Comparison

August 16, 2026

How do NextEra Energy (NEE) 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

NextEra Energy (NEE) 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 NextEra Energy (NEE) and Southern Company (SO)
Profile Item	NEE	SO
Name	NextEra Energy, Inc.	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	179.79 billion USD	106.75 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	February 21, 1973	December 31, 1981
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NEE

GSPC

NextEra Energy (NEE) 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 NextEra Energy (NEE) and Southern Company (SO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for NextEra Energy (NEE) and Southern Company (SO)
Metric	NEE	SO
Total Return (1Y)	22.77%	1.74%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	11.16%	14.43%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	3.33%	11.01%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NEE

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for NextEra Energy (NEE) and Southern Company (SO)
Metric	NEE	SO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	21.88%	17.00%
Beta (5Y)	0.65	0.33
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-44.97%	-23.28%
Avg. Volume (3M)	12.03M	5.85M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

NEE 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 NextEra Energy (NEE) and Southern Company (SO)
Metric	NEE	SO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.86	-0.13
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.30	-0.19

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both NextEra Energy (NEE) at 11.68% 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.

NEE

Utilities industry group

11.68%

Max: 17.16%
Q3: 11.72%
NEE: 11.68%
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%

NextEra Energy (NEE) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 32.40% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Southern Company (SO) at 15.44% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

NEE

Utilities industry group

32.40%

NEE: 32.40%
Max: 26.86%
Q3: 16.62%
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%

NextEra Energy (NEE) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both NextEra Energy (NEE) at 31.52% 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.

NEE

Utilities industry group

31.52%

Max: 45.14%
NEE: 31.52%
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%

NextEra Energy (NEE) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for NextEra Energy (NEE) and Southern Company (SO)
Metric	NEE	SO
ROE (TTM)	11.68%	11.48%
ROA (TTM)	2.44%	3.27%
Net Margin (TTM)	32.40%	15.44%
Operating Margin (TTM)	31.52%	29.61%
Gross Margin (TTM)	61.02%	48.29%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both NextEra Energy (NEE) at 10.74% 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.

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

EPS Growth

Both NextEra Energy (NEE) at -2.63% 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.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for NextEra Energy (NEE) and Southern Company (SO)
Metric	NEE	SO
Revenue Growth (YoY)	10.74%	10.59%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	9.36%	0.31%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-2.63%	-1.75%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	16.28%	6.34%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Southern Company (SO) at 0.79 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while NextEra Energy (NEE) at 0.53 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for NEE.

NEE

Utilities industry group

0.53

Max: 1.71
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.87
Q1: 0.66
NEE: 0.53
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

NextEra Energy (NEE) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

NextEra Energy (NEE) 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.

NEE

Utilities industry group

1.62

Max: 2.62
Q3: 1.77
NEE: 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

NextEra Energy (NEE) 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 NextEra Energy (NEE) and Southern Company (SO)
Metric	NEE	SO
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.53	0.79
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.62	1.82
Net Debt / EBITDA	7.35	5.20

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both NextEra Energy (NEE) at 2.77% and Southern Company (SO) at 3.21% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

NEE

Utilities industry group

2.77%

Max: 6.11%
Q3: 3.60%
NEE: 2.77%
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%

NextEra Energy (NEE) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 53.47% 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.

NEE

Utilities industry group

53.47%

Max: 108.33%
Q3: 71.53%
Median: 58.37%
NEE: 53.47%
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%

NextEra Energy (NEE) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for NextEra Energy (NEE) and Southern Company (SO)
Metric	NEE	SO
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.77%	3.21%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	53.47%	71.81%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both NextEra Energy (NEE) at 19.37 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.

NEE

Utilities industry group

19.37

Max: 32.88
Q3: 23.67
Median: 20.77
NEE: 19.37
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

NextEra Energy (NEE) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Southern Company (SO) at 3.54 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while NextEra Energy (NEE) at 6.26 sits in the pricier quartile — NEE costs more per dollar of sales.

NEE

Utilities industry group

6.26

NEE: 6.26
Max: 6.26
Q3: 3.60
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

NextEra Energy (NEE) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both NextEra Energy (NEE) at 3.15 and Southern Company (SO) at 2.70 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

NEE

Utilities industry group

3.15

NEE: 3.15
Max: 3.15
Q3: 2.28
Median: 1.89
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

NextEra Energy (NEE) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for NextEra Energy (NEE) and Southern Company (SO)
Metric	NEE	SO
P/E Ratio (TTM)	19.37	22.36
P/S Ratio (TTM)	6.26	3.54
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	3.15	2.70
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-9.88%	-3.67%