FirstEnergyvsSouthern

FE and SO stock compared: price, dividend, valuation and results, from SEC filings.

FirstEnergy (FE) has a market value of $27.2B and Southern (SO) $105B. Over the last year, with dividends, FE moved +5.5% and SO +5.2%. The P/E is 25.0 for FE and 22.5 for SO. Dividend yield: FE 3.91%, SO 3.21%.

At a glance

The main figures of both. A bar only shows which number is larger, not which is better.

  • Market value

    FE$27.2B

    SO$105B

    SO is 3.9 times FE

  • Revenue, 12 months

    FE$15.8B

    SO$30.2B

    SO is 1.9 times FE

  • Net income, 12 months

    FE$1.1B

    SO$4.7B

    SO is 4.3 times FE

  • Operating margin

    FE14.6%

    SO24.2%

    9.6 points apart

  • ROIC

    FE4.8%

    SO5.8%

    1.0 points apart

  • P/E

    FE25.0

    SO22.5

    FE is 1.1 times SO

  • Dividend yield

    FE3.9%

    SO3.2%

    0.7 points apart

  • 5-year return

    FE+47.7%

    SO+79.5%

    31.8 points apart

A fainter bar means a negative number. The 5-year return includes dividends.

The price over time

Both start at 100 at the beginning of the period, so the lines show how much each changed. With dividends means each dividend buys more shares.

FE+47.7%

SO+79.5%

10015020222023202420252026
Returns by period
PeriodFEWith dividendsSOWith dividends
1 year since November 12, 2025+5.5%Price +1.4%+5.2%Price +1.9%
3 years since November 13, 2023+51.3%+14.8% a yearPrice +33.8%+54.0%+15.5% a yearPrice +39.0%
5 years since November 12, 2021+47.7%+8.1% a yearPrice +20.5%+79.5%+12.4% a yearPrice +51.2%
10 years since November 15, 2016+121.4%+8.3% a yearPrice +46.5%+191.9%+11.3% a yearPrice +93.6%

Each cell: the total return with dividends, its yearly rate, and the price change alone. Before taxes and costs. Past returns do not predict future ones.

Every figure

As on each company's page. A description, not a recommendation: no one figure says which is better.

FEFirstEnergySOSouthern

Valuation

FESO
Valuation
Price$47.00$93.59
Market value$27.2B$105B
Enterprise value (EV)$55.6B$177B
P/E25.022.5
P/E, 5-year median23.421.9
P/B2.12.5
EV/EBIT24.124.3
Free cash flow yield––

Results and growth

FESO
Results and growth
Revenue, 12 months$15.8B$30.2B
Net income, 12 months$1.1B$4.7B
Free cash flow, 12 months-$2.0B-$3.5B
Earnings per share, 12 months$1.87$4.15
Revenue growth, year on year12.0%10.6%
Revenue growth a year, past+6.9%over 5 years+7.7%over 5 years
EPS growth a year, past-2.4%over 5 years+6.0%over 5 years

Margins and returns on capital

FESO
Margins and returns on capital
Gross margin––
Operating margin14.6%24.2%
Net margin6.9%15.4%
ROIC4.8%5.8%
ROE8.5%12.0%

Balance sheet

FESO
Balance sheet
Cash$63M$3.0B
Total debt$28.5B$77.1B
Net debt / EBITDA7.25.4
Interest cover1.8×2.3×

Dividends and buybacks

FESO
Dividends and buybacks
Dividend yield3.9%3.2%
Dividend per share, 12 months$1.84$3.00
Dividend growth a year, past+2.7%over 5 years+3.0%over 5 years
Buyback yield––
Shareholder yield3.9%3.2%

Last 12 months from the latest 10-Q and 10-K. Value, P/E and yields at today's price. A dash means the figure does not exist or did not pass our checks.

Questions: FE or SO

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Which is bigger, FirstEnergy or Southern?

By market value, Southern ($105B) is about 3.9 times FirstEnergy ($27.2B), at today's prices.

How did FE and SO stock do over the last 10 years?

Since November 15, 2016, FE's price moved +46.5% and SO's +93.6%. With dividends: FE +121.4% (+8.3% a year), SO +191.9% (+11.3% a year). Past returns do not predict future ones.

Which pays the higher dividend, FE or SO?

The dividend yield at today's price is 3.91% for FirstEnergy and 3.21% for Southern. Over the last twelve months they paid $1.84 and $3.00 per share.

What is the P/E of FE and SO?

At today's price, the P/E is 25.0 for FE and 22.5 for SO. The median of the last five years was 23.4 and 21.9, which shows where each stands against its own past.

Which has the higher profit margins, FirstEnergy or Southern?

Over the last twelve months, the net margin was 6.9% for FirstEnergy and 15.4% for Southern, and the operating margin 14.6% and 24.2%. Revenue was $15.8B and $30.2B.

Which is the better investment, FirstEnergy or Southern?

The page does not answer that and does not suggest buying or selling. It puts the two companies' numbers side by side, from their SEC filings, for you to read and form your own view. The decision depends on your goals and situation.

Other comparisons

With each of the two, and with the largest in its sector.

Related pages

The other pages on US stocks, free to read. On the company pages, the last three fiscal years are open to everyone, five with a free account, and every year with Ploutos Investor.

Descriptive data from SEC filings and market prices.