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FTS vs SO
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Fortis Inc. (FTS) vs. The Southern Company (SO) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both FTS and SO have posted solid year-to-date gains around 11%, reflecting utilities sector resilience amid market volatility.
- SO surged on Q1 2026 earnings beat and 42% data center-driven electricity sales growth, boosting recent momentum.
- FTS shows steady trading near 52-week highs, supported by analyst upgrades ahead of Q1 earnings.
- Dividend yields hover near 3.2% for both, appealing to income investors seeking reliable payouts.
- SO's larger market cap contrasts with FTS's geographic diversification across North America and the Caribbean.
- Utilities sector tailwinds from AI power demand favor growth-oriented plays like SO in recent market activity.
Introduction
Fortis Inc. (FTS) and The Southern Company (SO) represent prominent players in the regulated utilities sector, delivering essential electricity and gas services. This comparison is particularly relevant for dividend-focused investors, income traders, and those positioning for defensive plays amid economic uncertainty and rising power demands from data centers. By analyzing recent performance, growth drivers, and relative positioning, traders can gauge which stock aligns better with current market dynamics in a sector benefiting from stable cash flows and infrastructure investments.
FTS Overview and Recent Performance
Fortis Inc. (FTS) is a diversified electric and gas utility holding company with operations spanning Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean. It serves millions of customers through regulated assets, including transmission, distribution, and generation. In recent market activity, FTS stock has traded steadily around $57, near the upper end of its 52-week range of $45.87–$58.78, with year-to-date gains of 10.71%. Sentiment has been bolstered by analyst price target increases and anticipation for Q1 2026 earnings on May 6, alongside multi-year capital plans supporting long-term growth. Factors like favorable interest rate expectations and regulated rate base expansions have driven positive relative performance versus broader indices.
SO Overview and Recent Performance
The Southern Company (SO) is a leading U.S. energy provider, operating vertically integrated electric utilities across southeastern states and serving 9 million customers. It also engages in wholesale power and natural gas distribution. Recently, SO shares have advanced to around $97, within a 52-week range of $83.09–$100.84, delivering 11.78% year-to-date returns. Key influences include a Q1 2026 earnings beat with adjusted EPS of $1.32, fueled by 42% growth in data center sales and overall electricity demand up 2.3% year-over-year. This has enhanced market sentiment, with the stock reflecting optimism around large-load contracts totaling 11 GW.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
FTS and SO both operate regulated utility models emphasizing stable revenues from essential services, but differ in scale and exposure. FTS leverages geographic diversification (Canada-heavy with U.S./Caribbean assets), reducing regional risks, while SO focuses on high-growth U.S. Southeast markets. Growth drivers contrast: SO capitalizes on data center boom (11 GW contracts), versus FTS’s steady rate base expansions. Recent momentum favors SO post-earnings, though both exhibit low volatility. Risk profiles are similar—defensive betas, dividend reliability—but SO’s higher P/E (24.7 vs. 23) signals growth premium. Sector tailwinds from AI power needs and potential rate cuts enhance sentiment for both, with trade-offs in size versus diversification.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI analysis would currently favor SO over FTS, driven by stronger recent trend consistency from Q1 earnings catalysts, data center exposure, and superior year-to-date momentum. While FTS offers geographic stability, SO’s positioning amid rising electricity demand provides a probabilistic edge in the utilities sector’s growth phase.
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 disclaimer. 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 FTS 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).
FTS’s FA Score shows that 0 FA rating(s) are green whileSO’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- FTS’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.
FTS’s TA Score shows that 3 TA indicator(s) are bullish while SO’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- FTS’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 5 bearish.
- SO’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
FTS (@Electric Utilities) experienced а -2.46% 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
FTS is expected to report earnings on Jul 31, 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.
| FTS | SO | FTS / SO | |
| Capitalization | 28B | 104B | 27% |
| EBITDA | 5.91B | 14.5B | 41% |
| Gain YTD | 5.333 | 6.969 | 77% |
| P/E Ratio | 22.12 | 23.67 | 93% |
| Revenue | 12.2B | 30.2B | 40% |
| Total Cash | 359M | 981M | 37% |
| Total Debt | 35.4B | 76B | 47% |
FTS | SO | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 58 | 62 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 61 Fair valued | 63 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 62 | 20 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 78 | 63 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 52 | 54 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 35 | 35 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 43 | 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.
FTS's Valuation (61) in the null industry is in the same range as SO (63) in the Electric Utilities industry. This means that FTS’s stock grew similarly to SO’s over the last 12 months.
SO's Profit vs Risk Rating (20) in the Electric Utilities industry is somewhat better than the same rating for FTS (62) in the null industry. This means that SO’s stock grew somewhat faster than FTS’s over the last 12 months.
SO's SMR Rating (63) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as FTS (78) in the null industry. This means that SO’s stock grew similarly to FTS’s over the last 12 months.
FTS's Price Growth Rating (52) in the null industry is in the same range as SO (54) in the Electric Utilities industry. This means that FTS’s stock grew similarly to SO’s over the last 12 months.
FTS's P/E Growth Rating (35) in the null industry is in the same range as SO (35) in the Electric Utilities industry. This means that FTS’s stock grew similarly to SO’s over the last 12 months.
| FTS | SO | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | N/A | 2 days ago 68% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 45% | 2 days ago 55% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 37% | 2 days ago 34% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 38% | 2 days ago 34% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 34% | 2 days ago 53% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 29% | 2 days ago 33% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 39% | 5 days ago 51% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 13 days ago 34% | 9 days ago 41% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 41% | 2 days ago 65% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | N/A | N/A |
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FTS and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, FTS has been closely correlated with ED. These tickers have moved in lockstep 72% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if FTS 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 84% 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.