Southern Company [SO] vs American Electric [AEP] Detailed Stock Comparison
TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary
Based on 21 vital metrics comparison: Southern Company wins in 6 metrics, American Electric Power Company, Inc. wins in 15 metrics, with 0 ties. American Electric Power Company, Inc. appears stronger overall.
View Metrics Details
Vital Metrics Comparison
| Metric | Southern Company | American Electric Power Company, Inc. | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 23.96 | 20.28 | American Electric Power Company, Inc. |
| Price-to-Book Ratio | 2.92 | 2.35 | American Electric Power Company, Inc. |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio | 190.59 | 154.24 | American Electric Power Company, Inc. |
| PEG Ratio | 19.10 | 19.66 | Southern Company |
| EV/EBITDA | 12.95 | 13.78 | Southern Company |
| Profit Margin (TTM) | 14.69% | 16.36% | American Electric Power Company, Inc. |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 12.74% | 22.84% | American Electric Power Company, Inc. |
| EBITDA Margin (TTM) | 12.74% | 22.84% | American Electric Power Company, Inc. |
| Return on Equity | 11.04% | 12.49% | American Electric Power Company, Inc. |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 3.28% | 3.17% | Southern Company |
| Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $-2.94B | $-1.64B | American Electric Power Company, Inc. |
| Dividend Yield | 3.14% | 4.02% | American Electric Power Company, Inc. |
| 1-Year Return | 4.04% | 25.59% | American Electric Power Company, Inc. |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 3.58 | 3.36 | American Electric Power Company, Inc. |
| Enterprise Value | $180.41B | $123.41B | Southern Company |
| EV/Revenue Ratio | 6.11 | 5.64 | American Electric Power Company, Inc. |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 39.97% | 61.60% | American Electric Power Company, Inc. |
| Revenue per Share (TTM) | $27 | $41 | American Electric Power Company, Inc. |
| Earnings per Share (Diluted) | $3.92 | $6.66 | American Electric Power Company, Inc. |
| Beta (Stock Volatility) | 0.41 | 0.57 | Southern Company |
| Short % of Float | 2.41% | 3.53% | Southern Company |
Southern Company vs American Electric Power Company, Inc. Stock Performance Analysis
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Performance Comparison
Short-term Returns
| Stock | 1D | 1W | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Company | -0.19% | 2.78% | 1.37% | -5.34% | 9.09% | 7.62% |
| American Electric Power Company, Inc. | -0.74% | -2.43% | -2.09% | -1.14% | 10.84% | 14.10% |
Long-term Returns
| Stock | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | 15Y | 20Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Company | 4.04% | 30.99% | 52.97% | 83.77% | 136.12% | 189.14% |
| American Electric Power Company, Inc. | 25.59% | 52.16% | 56.93% | 92.28% | 243.33% | 278.31% |
Performance & Financial Health Analysis: Southern Company vs American Electric Power Company, Inc.
| Metric | SO | AEP |
|---|---|---|
| Market Information | ||
| Market Cap | $105.39B | $73.23B |
| Market Cap Category | Large cap | Large cap |
| 10 Day Avg. Volume | 3,839,426 | 2,436,150 |
| 90 Day Avg. Volume | 4,787,199 | 3,100,040 |
| Last Close | $93.82 | $132.14 |
| 52 Week Range | $83.80 - $100.84 | $105.02 - $140.58 |
| % from 52W High | -6.96% | -6.00% |
| All-Time High | $100.84 (Oct 16, 2025) | $140.58 (Jul 07, 2026) |
| % from All-Time High | -6.96% | -6.00% |
| Growth Metrics | ||
| Quarterly Revenue Growth | 0.10% | 0.13% |
| Quarterly Earnings Growth | -0.22% | -0.12% |
| Financial Health | ||
| Profit Margin (TTM) | 0.15% | 0.16% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 0.13% | 0.23% |
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 0.11% | 0.12% |
| Debt to Equity (MRQ) | 190.59 | 154.24 |
| Cash & Liquidity | ||
| Book Value per Share (MRQ) | $32.18 | $57.57 |
| Cash per Share (MRQ) | $1.46 | $0.77 |
| Operating Cash Flow (TTM) | $9.80B | $6.94B |
| Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $-3,460,124,928 | $-5,140,375,040 |
| Dividends | ||
| Last 12-Month Dividend Yield | 3.14% | 4.02% |
| Last 12-Month Dividend | $2.96 | $4.69 |
Valuation & Enterprise Metrics Analysis: Southern Company vs American Electric Power Company, Inc.
| Metric | SO (Apr 26, 2026) | AEP (Apr 26, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Price Ratios | ||
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 23.96 | 20.28 |
| Forward P/E | 19.10 | 19.66 |
| PEG Ratio | 19.10 | 19.66 |
| Price to Sales (TTM) | 3.58 | 3.36 |
| Price to Book (MRQ) | 2.92 | 2.35 |
| Market Capitalization | ||
| Market Capitalization | $105.39B | $73.23B |
| Enterprise Value | $180.41B | $123.41B |
| Enterprise Value Metrics | ||
| Enterprise to Revenue | 6.11 | 5.64 |
| Enterprise to EBITDA | 12.95 | 13.78 |
| Risk & Other Metrics | ||
| Beta | 0.41 | 0.57 |
| Book Value per Share (MRQ) | $32.18 | $57.57 |
Financial Statements Comparison: Southern Company vs American Electric Power Company, Inc.
Financial Metrics
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Revenue
Operating Margin
Profit Margin
Long Term Debt
Income Flow Analysis
Financial Statements Comparison
Income Statement
| Metric | SO (2025) | AEP (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue/Sales | 29.55B | 21.88B |
| Cost of Goods Sold | 15.23B | 8.53B |
| COGS % of Revenue | 51.5% | 39.0% |
| Gross Profit | 14.32B | 13.35B |
| Gross Margin | 48.5% | 61.0% |
| Research & Development | N/A | N/A |
| Operating Income (EBIT) | 7.29B | 5.39B |
| Operating Margin | 24.7% | 24.6% |
| EBITDA | 13.93B | 9.06B |
| EBITDA Margin | 47.1% | 41.4% |
| Pre-Tax Income | 5.00B | 3.72B |
| Pre-Tax Income % of Revenue | 16.9% | 17.0% |
| Income Tax | 828.00M | 129.00M |
| Income Tax % of Revenue | 2.8% | 0.6% |
| Net Income (Profit) | 4.17B | 3.70B |
| Profit Margin | 14.1% | 16.9% |
Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics
| Metric | SO (2025) | AEP (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Cash & Equivalents | 1.64B | 197.00M |
| Total Current Assets | 10.92B | 6.05B |
| Total Current Assets % of Revenue | 36.9% | 27.7% |
| Total Current Liabilities | 16.89B | 13.31B |
| Total Current Liabilities % of Revenue | 57.1% | 60.9% |
| Long-Term Debt | 66.94B | 44.71B |
| Long-Term Debt % of Revenue | 226.5% | 204.4% |
| Total Shareholders Equity | 38.87B | 32.22B |
| Retained Earnings | 14.86B | 15.44B |
| Retained Earnings % of Revenue | 50.3% | 70.6% |
| Property, Plant & Equipment | 2.97B | 9.30B |
Cash Flow Statement Comparison
| Metric | SO (2025) | AEP (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Cash Flow | 10.04B | 6.96B |
| Operating Cash Flow % of Revenue | 34.0% | 31.8% |
| Capital Expenditures | -12.74B | -130.00M |
| Free Cash Flow | -2.94B | -1.64B |
| FCF Margin | -9.9% | -7.5% |
| Debt Repayment | -5.88B | -5.04B |
| Common Stock Repurchase | N/A | N/A |
Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis
| Metric | SO | AEP |
|---|---|---|
| Shares Short | 27.12M | 19.16M |
| Short Ratio | 4.94 | 5.11 |
| Short % of Float | 2.41% | 3.53% |
| Shares Outstanding | 1.12B | 540.86M |
| Float Shares | 1.12B | 540.07M |
| % Held by Insiders | 0.10% | 0.02% |
| % Held by Institutions | 72.46% | 85.01% |
| % Held by Public | 27.44% | 14.97% |
Dividend Analysis & Yield Comparison: Southern Company vs American Electric Power Company, Inc.
| Metric | SO | AEP |
|---|---|---|
| Last 12-Month Dividend | $2.96 | $4.69 |
| Last 12-Month Dividend Yield | 3.14% | 4.02% |
| 3-Year Avg Annual Dividend | $2.88 | $3.88 |
| 3-Year Avg Dividend Yield | 0.89% | 0.94% |
| 3-Year Total Dividends | $8.64 | $11.63 |
| Ex-Dividend Date | Feb 17, 2026 | Feb 10, 2026 |