Fortis (FTS) vs Southern (SO)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Fortis (FTS) has outperformed Southern (SO) over the past year, gaining 5.2% versus a loss of 11.4%. Over five years, SO leads with a +35.3% price change compared with +16.3% for FTS. Southern is the larger company by market cap ($98.48 billion vs $27.27 billion), about 3.6 times the size.
On valuation, Southern trades at a lower forward P/E (17.4x vs 19.3x for Fortis). Fortis offers the higher dividend yield (4.75% vs 3.48%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | FTS | SO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $53.37 | $85.61 |
| Market cap | $27.27B | $98.48B |
| 1-day change | +0.66% | +0.20% |
| YTD return | +2.08% | -2.02% |
| 1-year return | +5.16% | -11.39% |
| 5-year return | +16.27% | +35.34% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 21.70 | 20.63 |
| Forward P/E | 19.31 | 17.39 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.46 | $4.15 |
| Dividend yield | 4.75% | 3.48% |
| Annual dividend | $2.54 | $2.98 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $29.55B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | +10.59% |
| Net income (latest FY) | — | $4.34B |
| Operating margin | — | 24.65% |
| Net margin | — | 14.69% |
| 52-week high | $59.40 | $100.84 |
| 52-week low | $49.60 | $81.69 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -10.15% | -15.10% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | -0.69% | +14.62% |
| Average volume | 774.21K | 5.67M |
| Shares outstanding | 510.90M | 1.15B |
| Employees | 9,900 | 29,502 |
| Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| Industry | Electric Utilities: Central | Electric Utilities: Central |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Southern is about 3.6 times larger than Fortis by market value ($98.48B vs $27.27B).
- FTS has outperformed SO by 16.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Fortis offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (4.75% vs 3.48%).
About Fortis
FTS stock →Fortis Inc. operates as an electric and gas utility company in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean countries.
Utilities · Electric Utilities: Central · 9,900 employees
About Southern
SO stock →The Southern Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the sale of electricity. The company offers electric service to retail customers and wholesale customers; and energy-related products and services to natural gas choice markets.
Utilities · Electric Utilities: Central · 29,502 employees
FTS vs SO FAQ
Which is bigger, Fortis or Southern?
Southern (SO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $98.48B compared with $27.27B for Fortis (FTS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, FTS or SO?
FTS returned +5.16% over the past 12 months, compared with -11.39% for SO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, FTS or SO?
SO has the lower trailing P/E at 20.6, versus 21.7 for FTS. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Fortis or Southern?
Fortis has the higher yield at 4.75%, compared with 3.48% for Southern.
Are Fortis and Southern in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Electric Utilities: Central industry within the Utilities sector.