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NGG vs. SO: National Grid vs. Southern Company Stock Comparison

How do National Grid (NGG) 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

National Grid (NGG) and Southern Company (SO) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but NGG is classified in Multi-Utilities while SO is classified in Electric Utilities.

Southern Company (SO) trades as ordinary local shares, while National Grid (NGG) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for National Grid (NGG) and Southern Company (SO)
Profile ItemNGGSO
NameNational Grid plc Sponsored ADRThe Southern Company
Country/RegionUnited KingdomUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization80.40 billion USD108.76 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateAugust 10, 2005December 31, 1981
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NGG
SO
GSPC
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National Grid (NGG) 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 National Grid (NGG) and Southern Company (SO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for National Grid (NGG) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricNGGSO
Total Return (1Y)18.26%3.33%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)13.52%13.24%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)11.07%12.23%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for National Grid (NGG) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricNGGSO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)21.51%17.02%
Beta (5Y)0.780.34
Max Drawdown (5Y)-39.20%-23.28%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.26M5.89M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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NGG 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 National Grid (NGG) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricNGGSO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.66-0.04
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.91-0.06

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both National Grid (NGG) at 8.41% 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.

NGG

Utilities industry group

8.41%

Max
17.16%
Q3
11.74%
Median
9.47%
NGG
8.41%
Q1
7.66%
Min
2.67%

SO

Utilities industry group

11.48%

Max
17.16%
Q3
11.74%
SO
11.48%
Median
9.47%
Q1
7.66%
Min
2.67%
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National Grid (NGG) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

National Grid (NGG) at 18.32% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Southern Company (SO) at 15.44%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

NGG

Utilities industry group

18.32%

Max
27.58%
NGG
18.32%
Q3
17.19%
Median
12.61%
Q1
9.24%
Min
-1.02%

SO

Utilities industry group

15.44%

Max
27.58%
Q3
17.19%
SO
15.44%
Median
12.61%
Q1
9.24%
Min
-1.02%
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National Grid (NGG) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

National Grid (NGG) at 32.60% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Southern Company (SO) at 25.46%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

NGG

Utilities industry group

32.60%

Max
43.52%
NGG
32.60%
Q3
30.50%
Median
23.72%
Q1
17.21%
Min
0.00%

SO

Utilities industry group

25.46%

Max
43.52%
Q3
30.50%
SO
25.46%
Median
23.72%
Q1
17.21%
Min
0.00%
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National Grid (NGG) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for National Grid (NGG) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricNGGSO
ROE (TTM)8.41%11.48%
ROA (TTM)3.01%3.18%
Net Margin (TTM)18.32%15.44%
Operating Margin (TTM)32.60%25.46%
Gross Margin (TTM)100.00%48.29%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Southern Company (SO) at 10.59% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while National Grid (NGG) at -3.76% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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National Grid (NGG) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Southern Company (SO) reports EPS growth of -1.75%, ranked against its industry; National Grid (NGG) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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National Grid (NGG) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for National Grid (NGG) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricNGGSO
Revenue Growth (YoY)-3.76%10.59%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-6.53%0.31%
EPS Growth (YoY)---1.75%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-30.59%6.34%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both National Grid (NGG) at 0.76 and Southern Company (SO) at 0.79 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

NGG

Utilities industry group

0.76

Max
1.74
Q3
1.19
Median
0.93
NGG
0.76
Q1
0.66
Min
0.32

SO

Utilities industry group

0.79

Max
1.74
Q3
1.19
Median
0.93
SO
0.79
Q1
0.66
Min
0.32
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National Grid (NGG) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

National Grid (NGG) at 1.21 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Southern Company (SO) at 1.82 uses more debt funding than most peers.

NGG

Utilities industry group

1.21

Max
2.60
Q3
1.79
Median
1.33
NGG
1.21
Q1
0.85
Min
0.00

SO

Utilities industry group

1.82

Max
2.60
SO
1.82
Q3
1.79
Median
1.33
Q1
0.85
Min
0.00
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National Grid (NGG) 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 National Grid (NGG) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricNGGSO
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.760.79
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.211.82
Net Debt / EBITDA6.395.20

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Southern Company (SO) at 3.12% pays a yield in its industry’s typical range, while National Grid (NGG) at 0.60% falls in the bottom quartile of its peers.

NGG

Utilities industry group

0.60%

Max
6.00%
Q3
3.74%
Median
2.89%
Q1
1.42%
NGG
0.60%
Min
0.00%

SO

Utilities industry group

3.12%

Max
6.00%
Q3
3.74%
SO
3.12%
Median
2.89%
Q1
1.42%
Min
0.00%
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National Grid (NGG) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both National Grid (NGG) at 71.18% and Southern Company (SO) at 71.81% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

NGG

Utilities industry group

71.18%

Max
108.09%
Q3
72.14%
NGG
71.18%
Median
58.54%
Q1
37.81%
Min
0.00%

SO

Utilities industry group

71.81%

Max
108.09%
Q3
72.14%
SO
71.81%
Median
58.54%
Q1
37.81%
Min
0.00%
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National Grid (NGG) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for National Grid (NGG) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricNGGSO
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.60%3.12%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)71.18%71.81%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both National Grid (NGG) at 18.30 and Southern Company (SO) at 22.78 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

NGG

Utilities industry group

18.30

Max
31.65
Q3
23.25
Median
21.07
NGG
18.30
Q1
16.52
Min
6.64

SO

Utilities industry group

22.78

Max
31.65
Q3
23.25
SO
22.78
Median
21.07
Q1
16.52
Min
6.64
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National Grid (NGG) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both National Grid (NGG) at 4.55 and Southern Company (SO) at 3.60 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

NGG

Utilities industry group

4.55

Max
6.35
NGG
4.55
Q3
3.58
Median
2.63
Q1
1.61
Min
0.00

SO

Utilities industry group

3.60

Max
6.35
SO
3.60
Q3
3.58
Median
2.63
Q1
1.61
Min
0.00
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National Grid (NGG) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Southern Company (SO) at 2.87 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and National Grid (NGG) at 9.14 prices even higher, above its industry range.

NGG

Utilities industry group

9.14

NGG
9.14
Max
3.28
Q3
2.31
Median
1.85
Q1
1.40
Min
0.35

SO

Utilities industry group

2.87

Max
3.28
SO
2.87
Q3
2.31
Median
1.85
Q1
1.40
Min
0.35
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National Grid (NGG) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for National Grid (NGG) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricNGGSO
P/E Ratio (TTM)18.3022.78
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.553.60
P/B Ratio (MRQ)9.142.87
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-3.89%-3.53%