SO vs XEL: Southern and Xcel Energy compared
The short version
From the latest prices and each company's SEC filings. Who's ahead on each measure, not which to buy.
- Southern is the larger company, worth $98.2B, about 2.1 times Xcel Energy.
- Southern grew revenue faster over the last year (+8.0% vs -5.1%).
- Southern keeps more of each dollar of revenue as operating profit (24.2% vs 19.1%).
- On earnings, Xcel Energy is the cheaper stock (21.2x vs 22.3x).
Side by side
The stronger figure is shaded where higher (or, for valuation multiples, lower) reads as better. How the implied growth works.
| Measure | SO | XEL |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $98.2B | $46.0B |
| Share price | $86.17 | $73.78 |
| Revenue (last fiscal year) | $29.6B | $14.7B |
| Free cash flow (last fiscal year) | -$2.9B | -$6.8B |
| Revenue growth, last year | +8.0% | -5.1% |
| Revenue growth per year, last 5 fiscal years | +6.3% | +2.2% |
| Operating margin | 24.2% | 19.1% |
| Net margin | 14.5% | 15.3% |
| Return on equity | 10.9% | 9.3% |
| P/E (trailing) | 22.3x | 21.2x |
| Price / free cash flow | — | 8.75x |
| EV / EBITDA | 11.8x | 12.7x |
| FCF growth the price implies | — | — |
| Dividend yield | 3.4% | 3.2% |
| Debt / equity | 2.93x | 2.62x |
| Fundamental grade | D | D |
| Superinvestors holding it | 5 | 5 |
| Insider purchases, last 12 months | 2 | 4 |
Results from SEC filings
Revenue and free cash flow by fiscal year, from each company's 10-K filings.
Southern
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $23.1B | -$1.4B | 16.0% |
| 2022 | $29.3B | -$1.6B | 18.3% |
| 2023 | $25.3B | -$1.5B | 23.1% |
| 2024 | $26.7B | $833M | 26.4% |
| 2025 | $29.6B | -$2.9B | 24.7% |
Xcel Energy
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $13.4B | -$2.1B | 16.4% |
| 2022 | $15.3B | -$706M | 15.9% |
| 2023 | $14.2B | -$527M | 17.5% |
| 2024 | $13.4B | -$2.7B | 17.8% |
| 2025 | $14.7B | -$6.8B | 17.6% |
Where the revenue comes from
Southern · by segments, 2025
Traditional Electric Operating Companies$22.1B75%
Southern Company Gas$5.0B17%
Southern Power$2.2B8%
Xcel Energy · by segments, 2018
Regulated Electric$9.7B84%
Regulated Natural Gas$1.7B15%
All Other$79M1%
Compare them in fullFifteen years of statements, quarterly results, DCF and IRR models, and any number of peers side by side.
Open SO in InvestinglyQuestions
Which is bigger, Southern or Xcel Energy?
Southern (SO), at $98.2B against $46.0B.
Is SO or XEL cheaper?
By trailing P/E, Xcel Energy (21.2x) is cheaper than Southern (22.3x). A lower multiple can also mean the market expects less growth.
Which grows faster, SO or XEL?
Southern: revenue grew +8.0% over the last year, against -5.1%.
Prices and ratios as of the last daily update; statements from SEC filings. Information only, not investment advice.