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PNW vs. SO: Pinnacle West Capital vs. Southern Company Stock Comparison

How do Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) 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

Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and Southern Company (SO)
Profile ItemPNWSO
NamePinnacle West Capital CorporationThe Southern Company
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization12.63 billion USD107.51 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973December 31, 1981
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PNW
SO
GSPC
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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and Southern Company (SO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricPNWSO
Total Return (1Y)24.23%6.21%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.78%15.28%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)15.87%12.24%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PNW
SO
GSPC
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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and Southern Company (SO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricPNWSO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)17.21%17.95%
Beta (5Y)0.480.30
Max Drawdown (5Y)-24.02%-23.28%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.28M6.19M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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PNW 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricPNWSO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.160.11
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.770.16

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 9.09% 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.

PNW

Utilities industry group

9.09%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
PNW
9.09%
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%
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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 11.59% 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.

PNW

Utilities industry group

11.59%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
PNW
11.59%
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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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 31.70% and Southern Company (SO) at 36.92% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

PNW

Utilities industry group

31.70%

Max
53.83%
PNW
31.70%
Q3
31.12%
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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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricPNWSO
ROE (TTM)9.09%11.90%
ROA (TTM)2.36%3.36%
Net Margin (TTM)11.59%16.00%
Operating Margin (TTM)31.70%36.92%
Gross Margin (TTM)43.84%48.55%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 4.20% 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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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at -3.63% 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.

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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricPNWSO
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.20%10.59%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)7.28%0.31%
EPS Growth (YoY)-3.63%-1.75%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)5.83%6.34%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 0.71 and Southern Company (SO) at 0.84 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

PNW

Utilities industry group

0.71

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
PNW
0.71
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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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Southern Company (SO) at 1.68 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 2.26 uses more debt funding than most peers.

PNW

Utilities industry group

2.26

Max
2.63
PNW
2.26
Q3
1.77
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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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricPNWSO
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.710.84
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.261.68
Net Debt / EBITDA7.675.01

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 3.51% and Southern Company (SO) at 3.21% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

PNW

Utilities industry group

3.51%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
PNW
3.51%
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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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 68.42% and Southern Company (SO) at 68.49% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

PNW

Utilities industry group

68.42%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
PNW
68.42%
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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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricPNWSO
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.51%3.21%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)68.42%68.49%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 19.59 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.

PNW

Utilities industry group

19.59

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
PNW
19.59
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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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 2.21 and Southern Company (SO) at 3.45 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

PNW

Utilities industry group

2.21

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
PNW
2.21
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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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 1.69 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.

PNW

Utilities industry group

1.69

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
PNW
1.69
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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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. Southern Company (SO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and Southern Company (SO)
MetricPNWSO
P/E Ratio (TTM)19.5921.08
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.213.45
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.692.56
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-7.90%-4.73%