Stocktoria

SOUTHERN CO SO

NYSE · stock · Electric Services · website · IPO 1949-09-30

SOUTHERN CO statistics & valuation

Market cap$109.5B
P / E25.2×
P / S3.7×
P / B2.8×
Dividend yield2.75%
Net margin14.7%
Return on equity11.2%
FCF margin-9.9%
Return on capital5.2%
Graham number -39.9%$55.60

Market cap as of 2026-06-29. Multiples are price-derived and refreshed daily; everything else from the latest financial reports. The Graham number is Benjamin Graham's rough maximum fair value ($55.60); a green figure means the price is below it.

Profitability & efficiency

Net margin (%)
15.70% 16.40% 14.70% 2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Gross margin (%)
2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Operating margin (%)
22.50% 10.10% 16.60% 34.20% 23.20% 15.80% 18.30% 23.10% 26.40% 24.70% 2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Return on equity (%)
11.30% 12.00% 11.20% 2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Shares outstanding
958.0M 1.01B 1.02B 1.05B 1.06B 1.07B 1.08B 1.10B 1.10B 1.11B 2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Net debt ($)
2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Share buybacks ($)
2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Return on assets (%)
2.90% 3.00% 2.80% 2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Free cash flow margin (%)
-12.10% -4.50% -4.20% -7.90% -3.90% -6.00% -5.50% -6.10% 3.10% -9.90% 2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Debt / equity (×)
2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
EPS ($)
$2.55 $0.84 $2.17 $4.50 $2.93 $2.24 $3.26 $3.62 $3.99 $3.92 2016201720182019202020212022202320242025

Margins and returns computed from annual filings. Falling shares outstanding = buybacks; rising = dilution. Net debt = debt − cash (negative = net cash).

P / E vs its own history

SOUTHERN CO trades at about 23.6× earnings — above its 10-year norm (10-year range 15.6×–53.7×, median 21×).

15.6× 53.7×

Shaded band = 10-year range (15.6×–53.7×); dot = today's 23.6×.

Historical P/E = month-end price near each fiscal year-end ÷ that year's EPS. A read on whether the stock is cheap or dear relative to how it has typically been valued — not a forecast.

Key ratios (by fiscal year)

RatioFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020FY2019FY2018FY2017FY2016
Operating margin24.7%26.4%23.1%18.3%15.8%23.2%34.2%16.6%10.1%22.5%
Net margin14.7%16.4%15.7%———————
FCF margin-9.9%3.1%-6.1%-5.5%-6.0%-3.9%-7.9%-4.2%-4.5%-12.1%
Return on assets2.8%3.0%2.9%———————
Return on equity11.2%12.0%11.3%———————
Current ratio0.650.670.770.660.820.710.780.670.740.75

Computed from company filings · US · as of 2025-12-31. Facts plus Stocktoria's own computed scores — not investment advice.