Quantify

Southern Company (The) vs Xcel Energy Inc. — Stock Comparison

Southern Company (The) (SO) and Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) are both listed on US exchanges. This page compares their Q·Score ratings, key fundamentals (P/E, margins, growth), and Wall Street analyst consensus side by side. Data sourced from Yahoo Finance and updated on each page load.

vs
Q·Score Winner
Xcel Energy Inc.
XEL6.6/10vs 6.1/10

Xcel Energy Inc. narrowly edges Southern Company (The) on Q·Score (6.6 vs 6.1 out of 10), led by Sentiment (8.1 vs 4.4) and Valuation (7 vs 6.8). Analyst consensus targets imply greater upside for XEL (+15.4%) than for SO (+7.8%).

Price Performance

Normalised to 100 at period start — shows relative performance.

Loading…
● SO● XEL

Q·Score Breakdown

6.1
Neutral
Overall
6.6
Neutral
6.6
Quality
6.6
5.3
Health
5.3
6.6
Growth
6.6
6.8
Valuation
7
4.4
Sentiment
8.1
SO

Valuation metrics in line with sector peers.

⚠ cautious analyst consensus — few Buy ratings.

XEL

89% of 19 covering analysts have a positive rating.

⚠ negative free cash flow.

Analyst Consensus

Neutral
+7.8%
Target $101.34
19 analysts
Bullish
+15.4%
Target $91.39
18 analysts

Fundamentals

SO
XEL
24.0×
Trailing P/E
22.8×
19.1×
Forward P/E
17.5×
14.46%
Profit Margin
14.14%
48.00%
Gross Margin
45.93%
10.99%
ROE
9.59%
8.00%
Revenue Growth
2.90%
-0.80%
Earnings Growth
6.00%
0.34
Beta
0.41
3.23%
Dividend Yield
2.99%
$106.0B
Market Cap
$49.5B
52-Week Range
SO
$8460% of range$101
XEL
$6574% of range$84

Frequently Asked Questions

SO vs XEL: which stock scores better overall?

Based on Q·Score, Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) scores 6.6/10 versus Southern Company (The) (SO) at 6.1/10. The Q·Score measures five dimensions: Quality, Health, Growth, Valuation, and Sentiment. For informational purposes only — not financial advice.

Which has better revenue growth: SO or XEL?

Southern Company (The) (SO) scores higher on Growth (6.6/10 vs 6.6/10). Southern Company (The) reports revenue growth (8.0% YoY) while Xcel Energy Inc. reports (2.9% YoY). Growth scores reflect revenue and earnings momentum relative to sector peers.

Is SO or XEL more attractively valued?

Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) scores higher on Valuation (7/10 vs 6.8/10). SO trades at 19.1× P/E versus XEL at 17.5×. Valuation is assessed using P/E ratio, analyst price targets, and 52-week range positioning relative to sector peers.

What do analysts say about SO vs XEL?

There are 19 analysts covering SO with a consensus price target of $101.34, and 18 analysts covering XEL with a consensus target of $91.39. Analyst consensus ratings are aggregated from Wall Street research and do not constitute investment advice.

Which is more profitable: SO or XEL?

Southern Company (The) (SO) scores higher on Quality (6.6/10 vs 6.6/10). Net profit margin: SO at 14.5%, XEL at 14.1%. Quality scores reflect profit margins, return on equity, and free cash flow generation.

Which has stronger financial health: SO or XEL?

Southern Company (The) (SO) scores higher on Financial Health (5.3/10 vs 5.3/10). Market beta: SO at 0.34, XEL at 0.41. Health scores consider beta, debt-to-equity, and current ratio. All investments carry risk — this is not investment advice.

What are the market caps of SO and XEL?

Southern Company (The) (SO) has a market capitalisation of $106.0B, while Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) has a market cap of $49.5B. Market cap data is sourced from Yahoo Finance and reflects the most recent available figures.

Do SO or XEL pay dividends?

SO pays a dividend yield of 3.23%, while XEL pays a dividend yield of 2.99%. Dividend yields fluctuate with share price and company payout decisions.

Related Comparisons

DUK vs SOAEP vs XEL

Q·Score is an educational tool and is not financial advice. Data provided by Yahoo Finance. Updated on each page load. How it's calculated →

Data provided by Yahoo Finance ·  Updated on each page load ·  For informational purposes only · Not financial advice · Quantify.biz © 2026