Is SO or VST cheaper?

On trailing earnings, SO is cheaper: SO trades at a 24.65 P/E and VST at 25.76.

Which has grown faster, SO or VST?

Over the past five years, SO grew revenue faster — SO at a 7.25% CAGR versus VST at 6.97%.

Does SO or VST pay a bigger dividend?

SO yields 3.15% and VST yields 0.59% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is SO or VST more profitable?

SO runs the higher net margin — SO at 14.46% versus VST at 13.82%.

Which has been the better investment, SO or VST?

Over the past 5-year, VST delivered the higher annualized total return — SO at 10.40% versus VST at 55.37%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

The Southern Company (SO) vs Vistra Corp. (VST)

SO leads on 9 of 16 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of The Southern Company and Vistra Corp. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of July 9, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

Total return — SO vs VST

growth of $100 · last 10y

SO +94.6%VST +898.8%VST compounded faster

Log scale — wide-divergence pair

SO VST

SO vs VST: by the numbers

•SO is the larger company ($107.29B vs $53.27B market cap).
•SO trades at the lower earnings multiple (24.65 vs 25.76 P/E).
•SO converts more revenue to profit (14.46% vs 13.82% net margin).
•SO grew revenue faster over the past five years (7.25% vs 6.97% CAGR).
•SO pays the higher dividend yield (3.15% vs 0.59%).

Which is better, SO or VST?

Metric tally: SO 9 · VST 7

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueSO(lower P/E)

GrowthSO(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeSO(higher dividend yield)

QualitySO(higher ROIC)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

Metric	SO	VST
P/E ratio	24.65●	25.76
Forward P/E	21.06	16.73●
P/S ratio	3.60	3.24●
P/B ratio	2.93●	9.40
PEG ratio	4.14	2.30●
EV / EBITDA	13.77●	21.79
FCF yield	—	2.14%

Profitability

Metric	SO	VST
Gross margin	29.81%●	12.72%
Operating margin	24.15%●	2.07%
Net margin	14.46%●	13.82%
ROE	11.75%	40.04%●
ROIC	4.36%●	3.30%

Dividends

Metric	SO	VST
Dividend yield	3.15%●	0.59%
Payout ratio	77.16%	41.45%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	SO	VST
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	7.25%●	6.97%
EPS CAGR (5Y)	5.96%	11.20%●
FCF CAGR (5Y)	-14.36%	-11.04%●
Total return CAGR (5Y)	13.48%	55.37%●

Frequently asked

Which is better, SO or VST?: It depends on your goal. value: SO (lower P/E); growth: SO (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: SO (higher dividend yield); quality: SO (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, SO leads 9 to 7.
Is SO or VST cheaper?: On trailing earnings, SO is cheaper: SO trades at a 24.65 P/E and VST at 25.76.
Which has grown faster, SO or VST?: Over the past five years, SO grew revenue faster — SO at a 7.25% CAGR versus VST at 6.97%.
Does SO or VST pay a bigger dividend?: SO yields 3.15% and VST yields 0.59% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is SO or VST more profitable?: SO runs the higher net margin — SO at 14.46% versus VST at 13.82%.
Which has been the better investment, SO or VST?: Over the past 5-year, VST delivered the higher annualized total return — SO at 10.40% versus VST at 55.37%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full SO analysis Full VST analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

Southern P/E ratio Vistra P/E ratio Southern dividend yield Vistra dividend yield Southern ROE Vistra ROE Southern operating margin Vistra operating margin Southern revenue growth Vistra revenue growth Southern free cash flow Vistra free cash flow

Southern & Vistra appear in these rankings

Highest Dividend Yield Stocks Dividend Aristocrats Highest ROE Stocks

Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified July 9, 2026.