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LNT vs SO
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. Southern Company (SO) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Alliant Energy (LNT) has outperformed SO on a YTD basis with 14.16% returns compared to SO's 10.84%, both surpassing the S&P 500's 6.04%.
- Recent Q1 2026 earnings showed LNT matching estimates at $0.82 ongoing EPS amid renewable and data center growth, while SO beat with $1.32 adjusted EPS driven by 42% data center demand surge.
- SO offers a higher dividend yield at 3.17% versus LNT's 2.83%, appealing to income-focused investors in the stable utilities sector.
- Both stocks exhibit low volatility with betas of 0.57 for LNT and 0.36 for SO, providing defensive positioning relative to broader market swings.
- SO's larger scale ($109B market cap) contrasts LNT's $19B, influencing growth drivers like extensive data center contracts.
- Recent market activity highlights data center demand as a shared catalyst, boosting retail sales for both in recent quarters.
Introduction
Both LNT (Alliant Energy) and SO (Southern Company) operate as regulated utilities in the U.S., delivering electric and natural gas services amid rising demand from data centers and renewables. This stock comparison analyzes their recent performance, earnings, and market positioning in the utilities sector, which offers stability and dividends. Investors seeking defensive plays with growth potential from AI-driven power needs, or traders eyeing relative momentum in recent market activity, will find value in understanding their contrasts in scale, regional focus, and catalysts like data center expansion.
LNT Overview and Recent Performance
Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT), headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, is a utility holding company serving about 1 million electric and 430,000 natural gas customers in Iowa and Wisconsin through subsidiaries Interstate Power and Light (IPL) and Wisconsin Power and Light (WPL). Its business emphasizes regulated electricity generation, distribution, and gas services, with a balanced energy mix including wind, solar, natural gas, and coal.
In recent market activity, LNT shares traded around $73, reflecting YTD gains of 14.16% and 1-year returns of about 24%, outperforming the S&P 500 YTD but trailing over longer periods. Q1 2026 earnings matched estimates with ongoing EPS of $0.82 and revenue up to $1.18 billion, supported by growth in renewables and data centers despite mild weather. Sentiment has been buoyed by new contracts for data center load, pushing electric sales growth projections, though rising costs and financing needs temper enthusiasm. The stock's low beta of 0.57 underscores its defensive nature.
SO Overview and Recent Performance
The Southern Company (SO), based in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of the largest U.S. electricity producers, serving over 9 million customers across Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and beyond via subsidiaries like Georgia Power. It generates power from diverse sources, including fossil, hydro, nuclear, and emerging renewables, while distributing natural gas in four states and engaging in wholesale energy.
Recent weeks saw SO shares near $96, with YTD returns of 10.84% topping the S&P 500 but 1-year gains at 8.78% lagging broader indices. Q1 2026 results impressed with adjusted EPS of $1.32 beating estimates by $0.12, fueled by a 42% surge in data center power usage and 2.3% retail sales growth, alongside $8.4 billion in revenue. Strong large-load contracts with tech giants have enhanced outlook, though higher interest and depreciation costs pose challenges. Its beta of 0.36 highlights superior stability.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
LNT and SO share regulated utility models focused on electric and gas distribution but differ in scale: SO's $109 billion market cap dwarfs LNT's $19 billion, enabling broader wholesale operations and a 50 GW large-load queue versus LNT's targeted Midwest data centers. Growth drivers include data centers for both—SO with 42% demand jump, LNT via 3.4 GW contracts—but LNT projects faster electric sales CAGR at 12% through 2030.
Recent momentum favors LNT's stronger YTD and 1-year gains, though SO leads in 5-year returns (76% vs. 55%). Risk factors show similar high debt/equity (LNT 160%, SO 190%) and ROE around 11%, with SO's lower beta (0.36 vs. 0.57) offering less volatility. Sector exposure is Midwest for LNT (Iowa/Wisconsin farming/industrial) versus Southeast for SO (tech-heavy). Valuations are close with P/E ratios near 23-24; SO's higher 3.17% yield suits income seekers, while LNT's outperformance signals momentum trade-offs.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors LNT for its superior recent trend consistency, stronger YTD relative performance, and catalysts in data center contracts aligning with utilities momentum. While SO exhibits greater stability and scale, LNT's positioning suggests higher probability of near-term outperformance in the current environment.
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 LNT 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).
LNT’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileSO’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- LNT’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 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.
LNT’s TA Score shows that 3 TA indicator(s) are bullish while SO’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- LNT’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 6 bearish.
- SO’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
LNT (@Electric Utilities) experienced а -1.18% 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
LNT is expected to report earnings on Jul 30, 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.
| LNT | SO | LNT / SO | |
| Capitalization | 18.3B | 104B | 18% |
| EBITDA | 2.03B | 14.5B | 14% |
| Gain YTD | 10.786 | 6.969 | 155% |
| P/E Ratio | 22.30 | 23.67 | 94% |
| Revenue | 4.42B | 30.2B | 15% |
| Total Cash | 115M | 981M | 12% |
| Total Debt | 11.8B | 76B | 16% |
LNT | SO | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 79 | 62 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 67 Overvalued | 63 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 33 | 20 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 65 | 63 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 35 | 54 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 43 | 35 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 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.
SO's Valuation (63) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as LNT (67). This means that SO’s stock grew similarly to LNT’s over the last 12 months.
SO's Profit vs Risk Rating (20) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as LNT (33). This means that SO’s stock grew similarly to LNT’s over the last 12 months.
SO's SMR Rating (63) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as LNT (65). This means that SO’s stock grew similarly to LNT’s over the last 12 months.
LNT's Price Growth Rating (35) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as SO (54). This means that LNT’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 LNT (43). This means that SO’s stock grew similarly to LNT’s over the last 12 months.
| LNT | SO | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 47% | 2 days ago 68% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 57% | 2 days ago 55% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 49% | 2 days ago 34% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 45% | 2 days ago 34% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 40% | 2 days ago 53% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 36% | 2 days ago 33% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 50% | 5 days ago 51% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 10 days ago 45% | 9 days ago 41% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 39% | 2 days ago 65% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 36% | 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 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.