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NextEra Energy (NEE) vs. Southern Company (SO)

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

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.

SymbolNEESO
Company NameNextEra Energy, Inc.The Southern Company
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization187.06 billion USD106.24 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973December 31, 1981
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

NEE
SO
Loading price history…
NextEra Energy (NEE) 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

SymbolNEESO
5-Day Price Return-3.93%1.83%
13-Week Price Return-2.13%-0.85%
26-Week Price Return6.79%3.37%
52-Week Price Return25.37%5.11%
Month-to-Date Return-8.37%-2.54%
Year-to-Date Return11.72%8.07%
10-Day Avg. Volume13.80M5.52M
3-Month Avg. Volume10.11M5.81M
3-Month Volatility26.77%18.56%
Beta0.710.36

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Both NextEra Energy (NEE) at 15.24% and Southern Company (SO) at 12.28% rank in the top quartile for Return on Equity (TTM) among industry peers, indicating strong returns on shareholders’ equity.

NEE

Utilities industry group

15.24%

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%
NextEra Energy (NEE) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 29.36% ranks in the top quartile for Net Profit Margin (TTM), ahead of Southern Company (SO) at 15.09%, which sits closer to the industry mid-range.

NEE

Utilities industry group

29.36%

Max
31.27%
Q3
18.62%
Median
12.78%
Q1
9.35%
Min
-0.93%

SO

Utilities industry group

15.09%

Max
31.27%
Q3
18.62%
Median
12.78%
Q1
9.35%
Min
-0.93%
NextEra Energy (NEE) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 29.54% ranks in the top quartile for Operating Profit Margin (TTM), ahead of Southern Company (SO) at 25.23%, which sits closer to the industry mid-range.

NEE

Utilities industry group

29.54%

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%
NextEra Energy (NEE) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolNEESO
Return on Equity (TTM)15.24%12.28%
Return on Assets (TTM)3.91%2.84%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)29.36%15.09%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)29.54%25.23%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)--40.04%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both NextEra Energy (NEE) at 0.54 and Southern Company (SO) at 0.65 run Current Ratio (MRQ) in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

NEE

Utilities industry group

0.54

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

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 1.89 carries Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) around its industry mid-range, while Southern Company (SO) at 2.01 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

NEE

Utilities industry group

1.89

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
NextEra Energy (NEE) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

Southern Company (SO) at 2.60 posts Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) around its industry mid-range, while NextEra Energy (NEE) at 2.01 drops into the bottom quartile.

NEE

Utilities industry group

2.01

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

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolNEESO
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.540.65
Quick Ratio (MRQ)0.440.42
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)1.892.01
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)2.012.60

Growth

Revenue Growth

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

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolNEESO
Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)7.27%8.55%
Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)10.29%8.74%
3-Year Revenue CAGR9.36%-0.33%
5-Year Revenue CAGR9.21%7.50%

EPS Growth

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

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolNEESO
EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)157.99%-0.42%
EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)47.29%-6.31%
3-Year EPS CAGR16.35%6.18%
5-Year EPS CAGR17.36%5.87%

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both NextEra Energy (NEE) at 2.59% and Southern Company (SO) at 2.88% report Dividend Yield (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on cash yield relative to share price.

NEE

Utilities industry group

2.59%

Max
5.04%
Q3
3.67%
Median
2.83%
Q1
2.30%
Min
0.36%

SO

Utilities industry group

2.88%

Max
5.04%
Q3
3.67%
Median
2.83%
Q1
2.30%
Min
0.36%
NextEra Energy (NEE) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 58.83% 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.

NEE

Utilities industry group

58.83%

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%
NextEra Energy (NEE) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolNEESO
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.59%2.88%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)58.83%70.02%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 22.73 carries typical industry Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM), while Southern Company (SO) at 24.34 sits in the higher-multiple quartile — SO carries a higher trailing earnings multiple relative to peers.

NEE

Utilities industry group

22.73

Max
30.49
Q3
23.61
Median
21.08
Q1
16.53
Min
7.17

SO

Utilities industry group

24.34

Max
30.49
Q3
23.61
Median
21.08
Q1
16.53
Min
7.17
NextEra Energy (NEE) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Southern Company (SO) at 3.67 carries typical industry Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM), while NextEra Energy (NEE) at 6.68 sits in the higher-multiple quartile — NEE carries a higher trailing revenue multiple relative to peers.

NEE

Utilities industry group

6.68

Max
7.05
Q3
4.40
Median
3.03
Q1
1.83
Min
0.25

SO

Utilities industry group

3.67

Max
7.05
Q3
4.40
Median
3.03
Q1
1.83
Min
0.25
NextEra Energy (NEE) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Both NextEra Energy (NEE) at 3.51 and Southern Company (SO) at 2.93 trade in the higher-multiple quartile for Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) among industry peers, indicating higher book-value multiples than typical peers.

NEE

Utilities industry group

3.51

Max
3.86
Q3
2.47
Median
1.97
Q1
1.53
Min
0.26

SO

Utilities industry group

2.93

Max
3.86
Q3
2.47
Median
1.97
Q1
1.53
Min
0.26
NextEra Energy (NEE) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolNEESO
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)22.7324.34
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)6.683.67
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)3.512.93
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)57.93190.01