Southern Company vs Xcel Energy Inc — how do they compare? Southern Company trades at $88.67 (market cap $102.37B), while Xcel Energy Inc trades at $76.33 (market cap $48.02B). The key difference: Southern Company is far larger — about 2.1× Xcel Energy Inc's market cap, and Southern Company pays the higher dividend (3.42%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| SO | XEL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $102.37B | $48.02B |
Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
52-Week High | $99.72 | $83.91 |
52-Week Low | $84.08 | $72.05 |
Enterprise Value | $176.47B | $86.33B |
Dividend Yield | 3.42% | 3.08% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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XEL trades at $76.88, up 1.53% on the day, with a bearish technical signal but strong analyst consensus. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat estimates at $0.93 per share. The company maintains solid profitability with a 15.28% net income margin and is executing a $70B+ capital investment plan through 2030 to drive growth. Dividend payments remain consistent at $0.59 quarterly.
Outlook is positive with a $92 consensus price target, though risks include high capital expenditures, regulatory scrutiny from wildfire lawsuits, and rising interest rates. The stock offers stable income and growth potential but faces execution and macroeconomic headwinds.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Southern Company is a U.S. energy company with electric and gas utility businesses. Its power generation portfolio includes natural gas, nuclear, renewable, and other energy sources.
Read more on SO →Xcel Energy manages utilities serving 3.7 million electric customers and 2.1 million natural gas customers in eight states. Its utilities are Northern States Power, which serves customers in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Michigan
Read more on XEL →