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ED vs SO
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Consolidated Edison (ED) vs. The Southern Company (SO) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both ED and SO have delivered strong year-to-date returns around 10-11%, outperforming broader utilities sector averages in recent market activity.
- SO reported robust Q1 results with adjusted EPS of $1.32, beating estimates amid 42% data center demand surge, boosting retail sales.
- ED offers a higher dividend yield near 3.2% with low beta (0.29), appealing for stability, ahead of Q1 earnings on May 7 expecting EPS $2.32.
- SO trades at a premium P/E of 24.5 versus ED's 19.4, reflecting growth from AI-driven demand but higher valuation risk.
- Utilities sector benefits from rising power needs, with both stocks showing resilience in volatile conditions, though SO edges on recent momentum.
Introduction
Consolidated Edison (ED) and The Southern Company (SO) represent leading regulated electric utilities, offering stability in the defensive utilities sector amid market volatility. Investors seeking reliable dividends, low-beta exposure, and exposure to rising electricity demand from data centers and electrification trends will find this stock comparison relevant. Both companies serve millions of customers with essential services, but differ in scale, regional focus, and growth catalysts. This analysis examines their recent performance, business models, and relative positioning to aid informed relative performance decisions in the current environment.
ED Overview and Recent Performance
Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED) is a holding company primarily operating through subsidiaries like Consolidated Edison of New York, delivering regulated electric, gas, and steam services to about 3.7 million electric customers in New York City and Westchester County. With a history dating to 1823, it maintains extensive infrastructure including transmission lines and substations, serving diverse industrial, commercial, and residential users.
In recent market activity, ED stock has hovered around $109, posting a year-to-date gain of 10.76% and trading within a 52-week range of $94.96-$116.23. Sentiment remains steady due to its low beta of 0.29, signaling defensive appeal, and a dividend yield near 3.2%. Recent weeks saw minor pullbacks amid broader sector rotations, but anticipation builds for Q1 earnings on May 7 with expected EPS of $2.32 and revenue of $4.95 billion. Analysts highlight its value as a dividend play, with average price targets around $111.
SO Overview and Recent Performance
The Southern Company (SO) operates as a major utility holding company, serving 9 million customers across electric and gas utilities in states like Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. It generates and sells electricity, manages power assets including nuclear and renewables, and distributes natural gas, with a focus on wholesale and retail markets.
Recently, SO shares trade near $96, with year-to-date returns of 10.84% and a 52-week range of $83.09-$100.84. Q1 results impressed, posting adjusted EPS of $1.32 (beating estimates by $0.12) on $8.4 billion revenue, fueled by 42% data center power growth and 2.3% retail sales rise. This has lifted sentiment, though higher P/E of 24.5 reflects growth premium. Dividend yield stands at 3.17%, with analysts lifting targets to $104-$105 amid AI demand tailwinds.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Both ED and SO operate regulated utility models focused on electric transmission and distribution, but SO boasts larger scale ($108B market cap vs. $40B) and geographic diversity across Southeast states, while ED concentrates on dense New York markets. Growth drivers differ: SO leverages data center boom (42% demand surge) and large-load pipelines, targeting 5-7% EPS growth; ED emphasizes steady infrastructure investments amid urban regulatory challenges.
Recent momentum favors SO post-earnings (1-year return 8.78% vs. 2.99%), but ED offers lower risk (beta 0.29 vs. 0.36) and valuation (P/E 19.4 vs. 24.5). Sector exposure aligns on utilities' defensive traits, yet SO shows stronger sentiment from AI catalysts, trading at a premium. Trade-offs include SO's higher capex risks versus ED's reliable yield.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI leans toward SO in the current environment, driven by consistent post-earnings momentum, data center catalysts, and superior 1-year relative performance amid utilities' upward trend. While ED provides stability and value ahead of earnings, SO's growth positioning offers higher probabilistic upside, though with elevated valuation sensitivity.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full Disclaimers and Limitations.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is ED is a Buy and SO is a Buy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
ED’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileSO’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- ED’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- SO’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
ED’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while SO’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- ED’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
- SO’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
ED (@Electric Utilities) experienced а +2.01% price change this week, while SO (@Electric Utilities) price change was +1.55% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electric Utilities industry was -0.67%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -1.56%, and the average quarterly price growth was +4.76%.
Reported Earning Dates
ED is expected to report earnings on Jul 30, 2026.
SO is expected to report earnings on Jul 30, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electric Utilities (-0.67% weekly)Electric utilities companies generate, transmit and distribute electricity to businesses/offices and residences. Companies may be owned by the government or investors or public shareholders, or a combination thereof. The industry also includes firms that buy and sell electricity. Companies in this industry typically require significant investments in infrastructure. Many firms in this industry pay substantial and regular dividends to shareholders. However, changes in interest rates (and their impact on debt burdens), natural disasters and changing commodity prices could be factors affecting energy utilities’ profit margins. NextEra Energy, Inc., Duke Energy Corporation, Dominion Energy Inc. and Southern Company are among U.S. electric utilities companies with the largest market capitalizations.
| ED | SO | ED / SO | |
| Capitalization | 39.9B | 106B | 38% |
| EBITDA | 6.35B | 14.5B | 44% |
| Gain YTD | 10.654 | 9.708 | 110% |
| P/E Ratio | 18.24 | 24.08 | 76% |
| Revenue | 17.2B | 30.2B | 57% |
| Total Cash | N/A | N/A | - |
| Total Debt | 28.4B | 76B | 37% |
ED | SO | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 62 | 74 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 59 Fair valued | 64 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 21 | 17 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 75 | 63 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 56 | 51 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 56 | 33 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 85 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
ED's Valuation (59) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as SO (64). This means that ED’s stock grew similarly to SO’s over the last 12 months.
SO's Profit vs Risk Rating (17) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as ED (21). This means that SO’s stock grew similarly to ED’s over the last 12 months.
SO's SMR Rating (63) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as ED (75). This means that SO’s stock grew similarly to ED’s over the last 12 months.
SO's Price Growth Rating (51) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as ED (56). This means that SO’s stock grew similarly to ED’s over the last 12 months.
SO's P/E Growth Rating (33) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as ED (56). This means that SO’s stock grew similarly to ED’s over the last 12 months.
| ED | SO | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 69% | 1 day ago 75% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 54% | 1 day ago 50% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 37% | 1 day ago 34% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 49% | 1 day ago 47% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 54% | 1 day ago 53% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 35% | 1 day ago 50% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 53% | 1 day ago 51% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 10 days ago 42% | 13 days ago 41% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 68% | 1 day ago 68% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 26% | N/A |
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SO and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, SO has been closely correlated with DUK. These tickers have moved in lockstep 83% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if SO jumps, then DUK could also see price increases.