Duke Energy (DUK) vs Southern (SO): Stock Comparison
Data as of November 7, 2026. Refreshed weekly from SEC filings and market data.
The two are priced about the same on earnings (19.3 and 21.3 times); net margin is about the same (15.8% and 16.7%); Southern grew revenue faster over the last year (8.2% against 6.3%); dividend yield is about the same (3.3% and 3.0%). Duke Energy clears 5 of this site's 8 value filters and Southern 5. Figures are as of November 7, 2026; each is on the page below with its source.
How do Duke Energy and Southern compare on the numbers?
| Measure | Duke Energy (DUK) | Southern (SO) | Clearer lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share price | $127.78 | $92.34 | |
| Market value | $101 billion | $106 billion | |
| P/E ratio (trailing) | 19.3 | 21.3 | About the same |
| PEG ratio | 2.79 | 2.97 | About the same |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 0.5% | 0.0% | About the same |
| Net profit margin | 15.8% | 16.7% | About the same |
| Revenue growth, last year | 6.3% | 8.2% | SO |
| Return on equity | 9.9% | 12.9% | SO |
| Debt to equity | 1.67 | 1.76 | About the same |
| Dividend yield | 3.3% | 3.0% | About the same |
| Margin of safety (DCF) | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Value filters passed (of 8) | 5 | 5 | About the same |
| Distance from 52-week high | -4.3% | -6.8% |
How have Duke Energy and Southern shares done against each other?
Duke Energy 126Southern 147
Each share price set to 100 on Nov 2021, to Nov 2026. Price only: dividends are not included.
From Nov 2021 to Nov 2026, Duke Energy shares are up 26% and Southern shares up 47%, so Southern has pulled ahead of Duke Energy by 21 points of the starting price. The deepest fall from a prior high in that window was 24% for Duke Energy and 19% for Southern.
| Period | Duke Energy (DUK) | Southern (SO) |
|---|---|---|
| Last 1 year | +3.0% | +1.6% |
| Last 3 years | +42.4% | +33.4% |
| Last 5 years | +25.7% | +46.3% |
Which has grown faster, Duke Energy or Southern?
Over 5 years, Duke Energy grew revenue 6.6% a year and earnings per share 27.9% a year; Southern grew revenue 7.7% and earnings per share 5.3%. Its net margin averaged 13.0% at Duke Energy and 13.4% at Southern.
| Measure | Duke Energy (DUK) | Southern (SO) |
|---|---|---|
| Latest fiscal year ended | Dec 2025 | Dec 2025 |
| Revenue, first year to latest | $23.4 billion to $32.2 billion | $20.4 billion to $29.6 billion |
| Revenue growth per year | 6.6% | 7.7% |
| Earnings per share, first year to latest | $1.87 to $6.39 | $2.91 to $3.76 |
| Earnings per share growth per year | 27.9% | 5.3% |
| Net margin, latest year | 15.4% | 14.1% |
| Net margin, average of the years | 13.0% | 13.4% |
| Free cash flow margin, latest year | -5.3% | -9.9% |
From each company's 10-K filings (SEC EDGAR), over its latest 5 years.
What growth does each share price assume?
| Measure | Duke Energy (DUK) | Southern (SO) |
|---|---|---|
| Free cash flow growth the price implies | n/a | n/a |
| Free cash flow per share | $0.59 | $0.03 |
| Margin of safety on this site's DCF | n/a | n/a |
A free-cash-flow DCF does not fit Duke Energy (its free cash flow is negative or missing, or it is the kind of business the DCF leaves out), so no implied growth is shown.
A free-cash-flow DCF does not fit Southern (its free cash flow is negative or missing, or it is the kind of business the DCF leaves out), so no implied growth is shown.
The same model and baseline as every stock page. A price that asks for less growth is not a better company, only a lower bar to clear.
Where is each stronger?
Where Duke Energy leads
- Faster earnings-per-share growth over its filed record: 27.9% against 5.3%
- A higher net margin in its latest filed year: 15.4% against 14.1%
- A higher free-cash-flow margin in its latest filed year: -5.3% against -9.9%
Where Southern leads
- Faster revenue growth last year: 8.2% against 6.3%
- Higher return on equity: 12.9% against 9.9%
- Faster revenue growth over its filed record: 7.7% against 6.6%
About the same on: p/e ratio (trailing), peg ratio, free-cash-flow yield, net profit margin, debt to equity, dividend yield, value filters passed (of 8), net margin, average of the years. A lead needs a clear gap (10% apart on a ratio, 1 point on a percentage), so a rounding difference never names a winner. A lead on one measure is not a verdict on the company.
How do the businesses differ?
Duke Energy. Duke Energy is a regulated electric and natural-gas utility serving millions of customers in the Carolinas, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.
Southern. Southern Company is a utility holding company that supplies electricity and natural gas in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and other states through its subsidiaries, and operates the Vogtle nuclear plant.
Both are in the Utilities industry on this site.
What stands out about Duke Energy
- Misses 1 of the 8 value filters. It fails PEG Ratio < 1.5 (2.79); the other 5 pass and 2 were not evaluated.
- Strongest against peers: P/E ratio. At 19.3× (peer median 21.3×) it ranks 8th of 31 among utilities stocks this site tracks.
- Dividend raises 1 of 6 flags. Its trailing yield is 3.34%.
What stands out about Southern
- Misses 1 of the 8 value filters. It fails PEG Ratio < 1.5 (2.97); the other 5 pass and 2 were not evaluated.
- Strongest against peers: return on equity. At 13% (peer median 10%) it ranks 7th of 31 among utilities stocks this site tracks.
- Dividend raises 1 of 6 flags. Its trailing yield is 2.98%.
Frequently asked questions about Duke Energy and Southern
Which is cheaper, Duke Energy or Southern?
On trailing earnings, they are priced about the same: Duke Energy trades at 19.3 times and Southern at 21.3 times. On free cash flow, the yields are 0.5% and 0.0%. Cheaper is not the same as better value: read the growth each price assumes below.
Which pays the higher dividend, Duke Energy or Southern?
Their yields are about the same: Duke Energy 3.3% and Southern 3.0% over the last year.
Which has grown faster, Duke Energy or Southern?
Over their latest filed five years, Duke Energy grew revenue 6.6% a year and Southern 7.7%; earnings per share grew 27.9% and 5.3% a year.
Which has more debt, Duke Energy or Southern?
They carry about the same debt for their equity: debt to equity is 1.67 for Duke Energy and 1.76 for Southern. A very high figure can also come from buybacks that shrank equity.
Which is more profitable, Duke Energy or Southern?
Their net margins are about the same: 15.8% for Duke Energy and 16.7% for Southern, with a return on equity of 9.9% and 12.9%.
Which passes more of the 8 value filters?
Both clear 5 of the 8. The filters are this site's own value rules, shown with each stock's page.
Where do these numbers come from?
Prices, ratios and yield are from this site's weekly data as of November 7, 2026; growth and margins by year are from each company's 10-K filings (sources on Duke Energy and Southern). The DCF is the same model on every stock page. See Editorial Standards. Educational, not investment advice.