Xcel Energy [XEL] vs Southern Company [SO] Detailed Stock Comparison

Xcel Energy Inc.

NASDAQ
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Southern Company

NYSE
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TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary

Based on 21 vital metrics comparison: Xcel Energy Inc. wins in 11 metrics, Southern Company wins in 10 metrics, with 0 ties. Xcel Energy Inc. appears stronger overall.

View Metrics Details

Vital Metrics Comparison

Metric Xcel Energy Inc. Southern Company Better
P/E Ratio (TTM) 23.04 23.96 Xcel Energy Inc.
Price-to-Book Ratio 2.08 2.92 Xcel Energy Inc.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 152.83 190.59 Xcel Energy Inc.
PEG Ratio 1.33 19.10 Xcel Energy Inc.
EV/EBITDA 14.28 12.95 Southern Company
Profit Margin (TTM) 13.76% 14.69% Southern Company
Operating Margin (TTM) 16.68% 12.74% Xcel Energy Inc.
EBITDA Margin (TTM) 16.68% 12.74% Xcel Energy Inc.
Return on Equity 9.36% 11.04% Southern Company
Return on Assets (TTM) 2.39% 3.28% Southern Company
Free Cash Flow (TTM) $-6.83B $-2.94B Southern Company
Dividend Yield 3.44% 3.14% Xcel Energy Inc.
1-Year Return 17.15% 4.04% Xcel Energy Inc.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) 3.35 3.58 Xcel Energy Inc.
Enterprise Value $85.39B $180.41B Southern Company
EV/Revenue Ratio 5.82 6.11 Xcel Energy Inc.
Gross Profit Margin (TTM) 45.52% 39.97% Xcel Energy Inc.
Revenue per Share (TTM) $25 $27 Southern Company
Earnings per Share (Diluted) $3.42 $3.92 Southern Company
Beta (Stock Volatility) 0.44 0.41 Southern Company
Short % of Float 5.46% 2.41% Southern Company

Xcel Energy Inc. vs Southern Company Stock Performance Analysis

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XEL
SO

Performance Comparison

Short-term Returns

Stock1D1W1M3M6MYTD
Xcel Energy Inc.0.16%2.23%1.84%-2.79%4.79%6.25%
Southern Company-0.19%2.78%1.37%-5.34%9.09%7.62%

Long-term Returns

Stock1Y3Y5Y10Y15Y20Y
Xcel Energy Inc.17.15%23.94%18.95%84.88%222.56%312.17%
Southern Company4.04%30.99%52.97%83.77%136.12%189.14%

Performance & Financial Health Analysis: Xcel Energy Inc. vs Southern Company

MetricXELSO
Market Information
Market Cap i$49.40B$105.39B
Market Cap CategoryLarge capLarge cap
10 Day Avg. Volume i4,393,3903,839,426
90 Day Avg. Volume i4,310,5134,787,199
Last Close$79.35$93.82
52 Week Range$65.21 - $84.23$83.80 - $100.84
% from 52W High-5.79%-6.96%
All-Time High$84.23 (Feb 26, 2026)$100.84 (Oct 16, 2025)
% from All-Time High-5.79%-6.96%
Growth Metrics
Quarterly Revenue Growth0.14%0.10%
Quarterly Earnings Growth0.22%-0.22%
Financial Health
Profit Margin (TTM) i0.14%0.15%
Operating Margin (TTM) i0.17%0.13%
Return on Equity (TTM) i0.09%0.11%
Debt to Equity (MRQ) i152.83190.59
Cash & Liquidity
Book Value per Share (MRQ)$37.86$32.18
Cash per Share (MRQ)$0.45$1.46
Operating Cash Flow (TTM) i$4.08B$9.80B
Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) i$-7,018,250,240$-3,460,124,928
Dividends
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i3.44%3.14%
Last 12-Month Dividend i$2.87$2.96

Valuation & Enterprise Metrics Analysis: Xcel Energy Inc. vs Southern Company

MetricXEL (Apr 26, 2026)SO (Apr 26, 2026)
Price Ratios
P/E Ratio (TTM) i23.0423.96
Forward P/E i17.4119.10
PEG Ratio i1.3319.10
Price to Sales (TTM) i3.353.58
Price to Book (MRQ) i2.082.92
Market Capitalization
Market Capitalization i$49.40B$105.39B
Enterprise Value i$85.39B$180.41B
Enterprise Value Metrics
Enterprise to Revenue i5.826.11
Enterprise to EBITDA i14.2812.95
Risk & Other Metrics
Beta i0.440.41
Book Value per Share (MRQ) i$37.86$32.18

Financial Statements Comparison: Xcel Energy 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

MetricXEL (2025)SO (2025)
Revenue/Sales i14.67B29.55B
Cost of Goods Sold i7.75B15.23B
COGS % of Revenue i52.8%51.5%
Gross Profit i6.92B14.32B
Gross Margin i47.2%48.5%
Research & Development iN/AN/A
Operating Income (EBIT) i2.88B7.29B
Operating Margin i19.6%24.7%
EBITDA i6.21B13.93B
EBITDA Margin i42.4%47.1%
Pre-Tax Income i1.77B5.00B
Pre-Tax Income % of Revenue i12.1%16.9%
Income Tax i-245.00M828.00M
Income Tax % of Revenue i-1.7%2.8%
Net Income (Profit) i2.02B4.17B
Profit Margin i13.8%14.1%

Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics

MetricXEL (2025)SO (2025)
Cash & Equivalents i274.00M1.64B
Total Current Assets i5.01B10.92B
Total Current Assets % of Revenue i34.2%36.9%
Total Current Liabilities i7.09B16.89B
Total Current Liabilities % of Revenue i48.3%57.1%
Long-Term Debt i32.62B66.94B
Long-Term Debt % of Revenue i222.4%226.5%
Total Shareholders Equity i23.61B38.87B
Retained Earnings i9.21B14.86B
Retained Earnings % of Revenue i62.8%50.3%
Property, Plant & Equipment i3.14B2.97B

Cash Flow Statement Comparison

MetricXEL (2025)SO (2025)
Operating Cash Flow i4.01B10.04B
Operating Cash Flow % of Revenue i27.3%34.0%
Capital Expenditures iN/A-12.74B
Free Cash Flow i-6.83B-2.94B
FCF Margin i-46.5%-9.9%
Debt Repayment i-1.71B-5.88B
Common Stock Repurchase iN/AN/A

Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis

MetricXELSO
Shares Short i30.11M27.12M
Short Ratio i7.054.94
Short % of Float i5.46%2.41%
Shares Outstanding i623.60M1.12B
Float Shares i622.24M1.12B
% Held by Insiders i0.20%0.10%
% Held by Institutions i93.03%72.46%
% Held by Public i6.77%27.44%

Dividend Analysis & Yield Comparison: Xcel Energy Inc. vs Southern Company

MetricXELSO
Last 12-Month Dividend i$2.87$2.96
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i3.44%3.14%
3-Year Avg Annual Dividend i$2.38$2.88
3-Year Avg Dividend Yield i0.85%0.89%
3-Year Total Dividends i$7.15$8.64
Ex-Dividend DateMar 13, 2026Feb 17, 2026