FirstEnergy [FE] vs Southern Company [SO] Detailed Stock Comparison

TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary

Based on 20 vital metrics comparison: FirstEnergy wins in 8 metrics, Southern Company wins in 11 metrics, with 0 ties. Southern Company appears stronger overall.

View Metrics Details

Vital Metrics Comparison

MetricFirstEnergySouthern CompanyBetter
P/E Ratio (TTM)19.2023.84FirstEnergy
Price-to-Book Ratio1.962.98FirstEnergy
Debt-to-Equity Ratio182.19189.66FirstEnergy
PEG Ratio0.0421.36FirstEnergy
EV/EBITDA11.4113.05FirstEnergy
Profit Margin (TTM)9.44%15.10%Southern Company
Operating Margin (TTM)19.85%28.08%Southern Company
EBITDA Margin (TTM)19.85%28.08%Southern Company
Return on Equity10.71%11.23%Southern Company
Return on Assets (TTM)3.16%3.39%Southern Company
Free Cash Flow (TTM)$-1.14B$833.00MSouthern Company
Dividend YieldN/A2.44%N/A
1-Year Return-1.30%1.95%Southern Company
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)1.823.58FirstEnergy
Enterprise Value$51.74B$174.39BSouthern Company
EV/Revenue Ratio3.736.15FirstEnergy
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)66.83%50.05%FirstEnergy
Revenue per Share (TTM)$24$26Southern Company
Earnings per Share (Diluted)$2.27$3.87Southern Company
Beta (Stock Volatility)0.480.39Southern Company
Performance
News Sentiment
Key Stats
Valuation
Financials
Short Interest
Dividends

FirstEnergy vs Southern Company Stock Performance Analysis

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Performance Comparison

Short-term Returns

Stock1D1W1M3M6MYTD
FirstEnergy-0.02%-0.37%1.40%9.29%8.85%8.82%
Southern Company-0.20%-0.74%-1.51%3.18%1.35%11.43%

Long-term Returns

Stock1Y3Y5Y10Y15Y20Y
FirstEnergy-1.30%8.44%51.85%39.92%13.99%-14.05%
Southern Company1.95%21.95%69.95%107.23%143.93%155.88%

News Based Sentiment: FirstEnergy vs Southern Company

FirstEnergy

News based Sentiment: MIXED

September brought a reaffirmation of FirstEnergy's financial guidance and long-term investment plans, but was tempered by mixed analyst ratings and a slight downward revision of Q4 2026 EPS estimates. The company's commitment to shareholder returns and substantial infrastructure investments remain key themes, creating a complex investment picture.

View FirstEnergy News Sentiment Analysis

Southern Company

News based Sentiment: MIXED

Southern Company experienced a mixed month with an earnings miss offset by revenue growth and positive long-term strategic initiatives. While the Q2 results were slightly disappointing, the company's commitment to shareholder returns and its plans to capitalize on growing energy demand from data centers and AI applications suggest continued, albeit moderate, growth potential. The mixed investor sentiment and potential for a Fed rate cut add complexity to the investment picture.

View Southern Company News Sentiment Analysis

Performance & Financial Health Analysis: FirstEnergy vs Southern Company

MetricFESO
Market Information
Market Cap i$24.98B$101.50B
Market Cap CategoryLarge capLarge cap
10 Day Avg. Volume i3,047,1803,549,940
90 Day Avg. Volume i3,440,7604,318,320
Last Close$43.43$91.45
52 Week Range$37.58 - $44.58$80.46 - $96.44
% from 52W High-2.58%-5.17%
All-Time High$84.00 (Jul 07, 2008)$96.44 (Jul 22, 2025)
% from All-Time High-48.30%-5.17%
Growth Metrics
Quarterly Revenue Growth0.03%0.08%
Quarterly Earnings Growth4.96%-0.27%
Financial Health
Profit Margin (TTM) i0.09%0.15%
Operating Margin (TTM) i0.20%0.28%
Return on Equity (TTM) i0.11%0.11%
Debt to Equity (MRQ) i182.19189.66
Cash & Liquidity
Book Value per Share (MRQ)$22.26$30.92
Cash per Share (MRQ)$0.99$1.15
Operating Cash Flow (TTM) i$3.54B$9.22B
Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) i$-1,210,437,504$-1,096,749,952
Dividends
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield iN/A2.44%
Last 12-Month Dividend iN/A$2.16

Valuation & Enterprise Metrics Analysis: FirstEnergy vs Southern Company

MetricFESO
Price Ratios
P/E Ratio (TTM) i19.2023.84
Forward P/E i15.0821.36
PEG Ratio i0.0421.36
Price to Sales (TTM) i1.823.58
Price to Book (MRQ) i1.962.98
Market Capitalization
Market Capitalization i$24.98B$101.50B
Enterprise Value i$51.74B$174.39B
Enterprise Value Metrics
Enterprise to Revenue i3.736.15
Enterprise to EBITDA i11.4113.05
Risk & Other Metrics
Beta i0.480.39
Book Value per Share (MRQ) i$22.26$30.92

Financial Statements Comparison: FirstEnergy vs Southern Company

Financial Metrics

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Revenue

EBITDA

Shareholders Equity

Operating Margin

Free Cash Flow

Long Term Debt

Profit Margin

Current Ratio

Operating Cash Flow

Income Statement (MRQ)

Metric (MRQ)FESO
Revenue/Sales i$3.77B$6.97B
Cost of Goods Sold i$1.24B$3.48B
Gross Profit i$2.53B$3.49B
Research & Development iN/AN/A
Operating Income (EBIT) i$754.00M$1.76B
EBITDA i$1.20B$3.39B
Pre-Tax Income i$540.00M$1.14B
Income Tax i$126.00M$289.00M
Net Income (Profit) i$414.00M$853.00M

Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics (MRQ)

Metric (MRQ)FESO
Cash & Equivalents i$132.00M$2.33B
Total Current Assets i$2.96B$11.82B
Total Current Liabilities i$7.11B$13.77B
Long-Term Debt i$21.22B$64.24B
Total Shareholders Equity i$13.86B$37.22B
Retained Earnings i$146.00M$14.29B
Property, Plant & Equipment iN/A$3.01B

Cash Flow Statement Comparison (MRQ)

Metric (MRQ)FESO
Operating Cash Flow i$894.00M$1.94B
Capital Expenditures iN/A$-2.44B
Free Cash Flow i$-368.00M$-1.19B
Debt Repayment i$-324.00M$-876.00M
Common Stock Repurchase iN/AN/A

Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis

MetricFESO
Shares Short i24.39M34.80M
Short Ratio i6.196.85
Short % of Float i0.06%0.03%
Average Daily Volume (10 Day) i3,047,1803,549,940
Average Daily Volume (90 Day) i3,440,7604,318,320
Shares Outstanding i576.61M1.10B
Float Shares i546.82M1.10B
% Held by Insiders i0.00%0.00%
% Held by Institutions i0.93%0.72%

Dividend Analysis & Yield Comparison: FirstEnergy vs Southern Company

MetricFESO
Last 12-Month Dividend iN/A$2.16
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield iN/A2.44%
3-Year Avg Annual Dividend iN/A$2.34
3-Year Avg Dividend Yield iN/A0.93%
3-Year Total Dividends iN/A$7.02
Ex-Dividend DateN/AFeb 18, 2025