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EMA vs SO
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Emera Incorporated (EMA) vs. The Southern Company (SO) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both EMA and SO operate in the regulated utilities sector, offering stable dividends with yields around 4% for EMA and 3.1% for SO.
- SO shows stronger year-to-date performance at approximately 11%, outpacing EMA's 8% amid recent market activity.
- SO benefits from robust demand growth, including 42% rise in data center usage, driving Q1 2026 earnings beats.
- EMA maintains geographic diversity across North America and the Caribbean, with a $20 billion capital plan supporting 7-8% rate base growth through 2030.
- SO has a larger market cap of $109B versus EMA's $16B, reflecting greater scale but similar high debt-to-equity ratios around 160-190%.
- Recent analyst actions include initiations and target raises for both, with neutral to positive sentiment in a defensive sector environment.
Introduction
Emera Incorporated (EMA) and The Southern Company (SO) represent prominent players in the regulated electric utilities sector, providing essential power generation, transmission, and distribution services. This comparison is particularly relevant for income-focused investors and traders seeking defensive positions amid market volatility, as both offer reliable dividends and exposure to steady demand for electricity. With rising energy needs from data centers and electrification trends, evaluating their relative performance, growth drivers, and risk profiles helps assess positioning in the current environment. Key metrics highlight contrasts in scale, recent momentum, and sector catalysts.
EMA Overview and Recent Performance
Emera Incorporated (EMA), headquartered in Halifax, Canada, is a geographically diverse energy company investing in electricity generation, transmission, distribution, and gas utilities across the U.S., Canada, Barbados, and the Bahamas. Its operations include key segments like Florida Electric Utility and Canadian Electric Utilities, serving millions through regulated assets.
In recent market activity, EMA stock has traded around $52.50, with a 52-week range of $41.90-$54.06 and year-to-date gains of about 8%, supported by a 4% dividend yield. Sentiment has been influenced by leadership transitions, including COO retirement and CEO appointment, alongside a $20 billion five-year capital plan targeting 7-8% rate base growth. The company announced note redemptions and dividend declarations, reinforcing stability. Quarterly revenue grew 13.8% year-over-year, though earnings dipped, amid a P/E ratio (TTM) of 21.45 and beta of 0.46 indicating lower volatility. High debt-to-equity (161%) reflects capital-intensive utility norms, with analysts like Barclays initiating Equal Weight coverage.
SO Overview and Recent Performance
The Southern Company (SO), based in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of the largest U.S. utilities, serving 9 million customers across Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and beyond through vertically integrated electric operations and natural gas distribution. It owns 46 GW of regulated capacity and pursues net-zero emissions by 2050.
Recent weeks have seen SO shares near $96, within a 52-week range of $83.09-$100.84, delivering year-to-date returns of around 11% and a 3.1% dividend yield. Strong Q1 2026 results featured adjusted EPS of $1.32 (beating estimates), 8% revenue growth to $8.4B, and 42% data center load increase, boosting sentiment. A 2.7% dividend hike extended its growth streak. With a P/E (TTM) of 24.73, beta of 0.36, and debt-to-equity at 190%, SO exhibits defensive traits amplified by AI-driven demand. Analysts raised targets, e.g., Mizuho to $105, amid positive earnings momentum.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
EMA and SO share regulated utility models focused on electric and gas infrastructure, but differ in scale and exposure. SO's massive $109B market cap dwarfs EMA's $16B, enabling broader operations but higher absolute debt. Growth drivers contrast: SO leverages U.S. Southeast data center boom, while EMA emphasizes Florida and Canadian expansion via its capital plan.
Recent momentum favors SO with superior YTD returns and earnings beats, versus EMA's steady but less dynamic gains. Risk factors include similar high leverage (debt/equity ~160-190%), regulatory hurdles, and interest rate sensitivity, though both low betas (0.36-0.46) signal stability. Sector-wise, both tap electrification, but SO has stronger AI/data center tailwinds. Sentiment tilts positive for SO post-earnings, while EMA benefits from diversification trade-offs.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors SO due to consistent trend strength, recent earnings catalysts from data center demand, and superior relative YTD positioning in a growth-oriented utility landscape. EMA offers compelling yield and diversification, but SO's scale and momentum suggest higher probability of near-term outperformance, barring shifts in rates or regulation.
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 EMA is a Hold and SO is a Hold.
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).
EMA’s FA Score shows that 0 FA rating(s) are green whileSO’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- EMA’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- SO’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 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.
EMA’s TA Score shows that 3 TA indicator(s) are bullish while SO’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- EMA’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 5 bearish.
- SO’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
EMA (@Electric Utilities) experienced а -1.86% price change this week, while SO (@Electric Utilities) price change was +0.82% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electric Utilities industry was -0.83%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -2.32%, and the average quarterly price growth was +3.10%.
Reported Earning Dates
EMA is expected to report earnings on Aug 07, 2026.
SO is expected to report earnings on Jul 30, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electric Utilities (-0.83% 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.
| EMA | SO | EMA / SO | |
| Capitalization | 15.9B | 104B | 15% |
| EBITDA | 3.51B | 14.5B | 24% |
| Gain YTD | 4.833 | 6.969 | 69% |
| P/E Ratio | 21.64 | 23.67 | 91% |
| Revenue | 8.91B | 30.2B | 30% |
| Total Cash | 2.46B | 981M | 250% |
| Total Debt | 24B | 76B | 32% |
EMA | SO | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 69 | 65 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 40 Fair valued | 63 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 79 | 19 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 77 | 63 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 51 | 54 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 42 | 35 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 75 | 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.
EMA's Valuation (40) in the null industry is in the same range as SO (63) in the Electric Utilities industry. This means that EMA’s stock grew similarly to SO’s over the last 12 months.
SO's Profit vs Risk Rating (19) in the Electric Utilities industry is somewhat better than the same rating for EMA (79) in the null industry. This means that SO’s stock grew somewhat faster than EMA’s over the last 12 months.
SO's SMR Rating (63) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as EMA (77) in the null industry. This means that SO’s stock grew similarly to EMA’s over the last 12 months.
EMA's Price Growth Rating (51) in the null industry is in the same range as SO (54) in the Electric Utilities industry. This means that EMA’s stock grew similarly to SO’s over the last 12 months.
SO's P/E Growth Rating (35) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as EMA (42) in the null industry. This means that SO’s stock grew similarly to EMA’s over the last 12 months.
| EMA | SO | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | N/A | 3 days ago 68% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 57% | 3 days ago 55% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 44% | 3 days ago 34% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 51% | 3 days ago 34% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 41% | 3 days ago 53% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 40% | 3 days ago 33% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 51% | 6 days ago 51% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 39% | 10 days ago 41% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 66% | 3 days ago 65% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | N/A | N/A |
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EMA and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, EMA has been loosely correlated with ED. These tickers have moved in lockstep 53% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if EMA jumps, then ED could also see price increases.
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.