PEG vs. SO: Public Service Enterprise vs. Southern Company Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Public Service Enterprise (PEG) 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

Public Service Enterprise (PEG) and Southern Company (SO) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but PEG is classified in Multi-Utilities while SO is classified in Electric Utilities.

Company profile comparison for Public Service Enterprise (PEG) and Southern Company (SO)
Profile Item	PEG	SO
Name	Public Service Enterprise Group Inc.	The Southern Company
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry Group	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry	Multi-Utilities	Electric Utilities
GICS Sub-Industry	Multi-Utilities	Electric Utilities
Market Capitalization	36.20 billion USD	107.51 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1980	December 31, 1981
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PEG

GSPC

Public Service Enterprise (PEG) 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 Public Service Enterprise (PEG) and Southern Company (SO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Public Service Enterprise (PEG) and Southern Company (SO)
Metric	PEG	SO
Total Return (1Y)	-6.86%	6.21%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	10.69%	15.28%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	7.38%	12.24%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PEG

GSPC

Public Service Enterprise (PEG) 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 Public Service Enterprise (PEG) and Southern Company (SO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Public Service Enterprise (PEG) and Southern Company (SO)
Metric	PEG	SO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	18.73%	17.95%
Beta (5Y)	0.47	0.30
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-27.29%	-23.28%
Avg. Volume (3M)	3.44M	6.19M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

PEG 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 Public Service Enterprise (PEG) and Southern Company (SO)
Metric	PEG	SO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.60	0.11
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.82	0.16

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 10.28% and Southern Company (SO) at 11.90% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

PEG

Utilities industry group

10.28%

Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
PEG: 10.28%
Median: 9.44%
Q1: 7.56%
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%

Public Service Enterprise (PEG) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 14.32% 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.

PEG

Utilities industry group

14.32%

Max: 28.78%
Q3: 17.30%
PEG: 14.32%
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%

Public Service Enterprise (PEG) 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 Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 21.29%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

PEG

Utilities industry group

21.29%

Max: 53.83%
Q3: 31.12%
Median: 23.62%
PEG: 21.29%
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%

Public Service Enterprise (PEG) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Public Service Enterprise (PEG) and Southern Company (SO)
Metric	PEG	SO
ROE (TTM)	10.28%	11.90%
ROA (TTM)	2.93%	3.36%
Net Margin (TTM)	14.32%	16.00%
Operating Margin (TTM)	21.29%	36.92%
Gross Margin (TTM)	32.12%	48.55%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 18.25% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Southern Company (SO) at 10.59% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for PEG.

Public Service Enterprise (PEG) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 19.21% 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.

Public Service Enterprise (PEG) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Public Service Enterprise (PEG) and Southern Company (SO)
Metric	PEG	SO
Revenue Growth (YoY)	18.25%	10.59%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	7.48%	0.31%
EPS Growth (YoY)	19.21%	-1.75%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	27.05%	6.34%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 1.01 and Southern Company (SO) at 0.84 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

PEG

Utilities industry group

1.01

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
PEG: 1.01
Median: 0.88
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

Public Service Enterprise (PEG) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 1.48 and Southern Company (SO) at 1.68 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

PEG

Utilities industry group

1.48

Max: 2.63
Q3: 1.77
PEG: 1.48
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

Public Service Enterprise (PEG) 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 Public Service Enterprise (PEG) and Southern Company (SO)
Metric	PEG	SO
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.01	0.84
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.48	1.68
Net Debt / EBITDA	5.86	5.01

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 3.61% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Southern Company (SO) at 3.21% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, PEG the richer one.

PEG

Utilities industry group

3.61%

Max: 6.66%
PEG: 3.61%
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%

Public Service Enterprise (PEG) 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 Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 74.58% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

PEG

Utilities industry group

74.58%

Max: 113.04%
PEG: 74.58%
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%

Public Service Enterprise (PEG) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Public Service Enterprise (PEG) and Southern Company (SO)
Metric	PEG	SO
Dividend Yield (TTM)	3.61%	3.21%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	74.58%	68.49%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 20.51 and Southern Company (SO) at 21.08 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

PEG

Utilities industry group

20.51

Max: 31.22
Q3: 23.30
PEG: 20.51
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

Public Service Enterprise (PEG) 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 Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 2.93 and Southern Company (SO) at 3.45 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

PEG

Utilities industry group

2.93

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.63
PEG: 2.93
Median: 2.63
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

Public Service Enterprise (PEG) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 2.08 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.

PEG

Utilities industry group

2.08

Max: 3.12
Q3: 2.21
PEG: 2.08
Median: 1.83
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

Public Service Enterprise (PEG) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Public Service Enterprise (PEG) and Southern Company (SO)
Metric	PEG	SO
P/E Ratio (TTM)	20.51	21.08
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.93	3.45
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.08	2.56
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-0.90%	-4.73%