Northwestern Energy [NWE] vs Southern Company [SO] Detailed Stock Comparison

Northwestern Energy Group, Inc.

NASDAQ
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Southern Company

NYSE
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TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary

Based on 21 vital metrics comparison: Northwestern Energy Group, Inc. wins in 13 metrics, Southern Company wins in 8 metrics, with 0 ties. Northwestern Energy Group, Inc. appears stronger overall.

View Metrics Details

Vital Metrics Comparison

Metric Northwestern Energy Group, Inc. Southern Company Better
P/E Ratio (TTM) 23.80 23.96 Northwestern Energy Group, Inc.
Price-to-Book Ratio 1.49 2.92 Northwestern Energy Group, Inc.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 119.13 190.59 Northwestern Energy Group, Inc.
PEG Ratio 17.57 19.10 Northwestern Energy Group, Inc.
EV/EBITDA 13.30 12.95 Southern Company
Profit Margin (TTM) 11.24% 14.69% Southern Company
Operating Margin (TTM) 16.74% 12.74% Northwestern Energy Group, Inc.
EBITDA Margin (TTM) 16.74% 12.74% Northwestern Energy Group, Inc.
Return on Equity 6.31% 11.04% Southern Company
Return on Assets (TTM) 2.54% 3.28% Southern Company
Free Cash Flow (TTM) $-130.00M $-2.94B Northwestern Energy Group, Inc.
Dividend Yield 4.75% 3.14% Northwestern Energy Group, Inc.
1-Year Return 27.62% 2.28% Northwestern Energy Group, Inc.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) 2.67 3.58 Northwestern Energy Group, Inc.
Enterprise Value $7.76B $180.41B Southern Company
EV/Revenue Ratio 4.82 6.11 Northwestern Energy Group, Inc.
Gross Profit Margin (TTM) 49.04% 39.97% Northwestern Energy Group, Inc.
Revenue per Share (TTM) $26 $27 Southern Company
Earnings per Share (Diluted) $2.94 $3.92 Southern Company
Beta (Stock Volatility) 0.34 0.41 Northwestern Energy Group, Inc.
Short % of Float 5.83% 2.41% Southern Company

Northwestern Energy Group, Inc. vs Southern Company Stock Performance Analysis

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NWE
SO

Performance Comparison

Short-term Returns

Stock1D1W1M3M6MYTD
Northwestern Energy Group, Inc.1.24%-0.20%-0.73%0.18%7.47%8.83%
Southern Company1.07%0.60%-3.44%-4.73%7.32%6.22%

Long-term Returns

Stock1Y3Y5Y10Y15Y20Y
Northwestern Energy Group, Inc.27.62%22.52%10.95%18.97%120.52%104.43%
Southern Company2.28%32.54%43.05%83.44%133.81%182.19%

Performance & Financial Health Analysis: Northwestern Energy Group, Inc. vs Southern Company

MetricNWESO
Market Information
Market Cap i$4.41B$105.39B
Market Cap CategoryMid capLarge cap
10 Day Avg. Volume i372,9843,839,426
90 Day Avg. Volume i529,6284,787,199
Last Close$70.47$92.60
52 Week Range$50.46 - $75.18$83.80 - $100.84
% from 52W High-6.26%-8.17%
All-Time High$80.52 (Feb 17, 2020)$100.84 (Oct 16, 2025)
% from All-Time High-12.48%-8.17%
Growth Metrics
Quarterly Revenue Growth0.11%0.10%
Quarterly Earnings Growth-0.45%-0.22%
Financial Health
Profit Margin (TTM) i0.11%0.15%
Operating Margin (TTM) i0.17%0.13%
Return on Equity (TTM) i0.06%0.11%
Debt to Equity (MRQ) i119.13190.59
Cash & Liquidity
Book Value per Share (MRQ)$46.99$32.18
Cash per Share (MRQ)$0.14$1.46
Operating Cash Flow (TTM) i$394.46M$9.80B
Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) i$-188,033,872$-3,460,124,928
Dividends
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i4.75%3.14%
Last 12-Month Dividend i$3.31$2.96

Valuation & Enterprise Metrics Analysis: Northwestern Energy Group, Inc. vs Southern Company

MetricNWE (Apr 24, 2026)SO (Apr 26, 2026)
Price Ratios
P/E Ratio (TTM) i23.8023.96
Forward P/E i17.5719.10
PEG Ratio i17.5719.10
Price to Sales (TTM) i2.673.58
Price to Book (MRQ) i1.492.92
Market Capitalization
Market Capitalization i$4.41B$105.39B
Enterprise Value i$7.76B$180.41B
Enterprise Value Metrics
Enterprise to Revenue i4.826.11
Enterprise to EBITDA i13.3012.95
Risk & Other Metrics
Beta i0.340.41
Book Value per Share (MRQ) i$46.99$32.18

Financial Statements Comparison: Northwestern Energy Group, Inc. vs Southern Company

Financial Metrics

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Revenue

Operating Margin

Profit Margin

Long Term Debt

Income Flow Analysis

Financial Statements Comparison

Income Statement

MetricNWE (2025)SO (2025)
Revenue/Sales i1.61B29.55B
Cost of Goods Sold i694.68M15.23B
COGS % of Revenue i43.1%51.5%
Gross Profit i915.88M14.32B
Gross Margin i56.9%48.5%
Research & Development iN/AN/A
Operating Income (EBIT) i325.82M7.29B
Operating Margin i20.2%24.7%
EBITDA i587.44M13.93B
EBITDA Margin i36.5%47.1%
Pre-Tax Income i187.57M5.00B
Pre-Tax Income % of Revenue i11.6%16.9%
Income Tax i6.47M828.00M
Income Tax % of Revenue i0.4%2.8%
Net Income (Profit) i181.09M4.17B
Profit Margin i11.2%14.1%

Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics

MetricNWE (2025)SO (2025)
Cash & Equivalents i8.78M1.64B
Total Current Assets i503.94M10.92B
Total Current Assets % of Revenue i31.3%36.9%
Total Current Liabilities i697.45M16.89B
Total Current Liabilities % of Revenue i43.3%57.1%
Long-Term Debt i3.18B66.94B
Long-Term Debt % of Revenue i197.5%226.5%
Total Shareholders Equity i2.89B38.87B
Retained Earnings i896.72M14.86B
Retained Earnings % of Revenue i55.7%50.3%
Property, Plant & Equipment iN/A2.97B

Cash Flow Statement Comparison

MetricNWE (2025)SO (2025)
Operating Cash Flow i378.13M10.04B
Operating Cash Flow % of Revenue i23.5%34.0%
Capital Expenditures i-524.46M-12.74B
Free Cash Flow i-130.00M-2.94B
FCF Margin i-8.1%-9.9%
Debt Repayment i-309.00M-5.88B
Common Stock Repurchase iN/AN/A

Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis

MetricNWESO
Shares Short i2.71M27.12M
Short Ratio i5.474.94
Short % of Float i5.83%2.41%
Shares Outstanding i61.42M1.12B
Float Shares i61.04M1.12B
% Held by Insiders i0.65%0.10%
% Held by Institutions i99.31%72.46%
% Held by Public i0.04%27.44%

Dividend Analysis & Yield Comparison: Northwestern Energy Group, Inc. vs Southern Company

MetricNWESO
Last 12-Month Dividend i$3.31$2.96
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i4.75%3.14%
3-Year Avg Annual Dividend i$2.82$2.88
3-Year Avg Dividend Yield i1.19%0.89%
3-Year Total Dividends i$8.47$8.64
Ex-Dividend DateMar 13, 2026Feb 17, 2026