DTW vs SO

For growth investors, DTE Energy Company JR SUB DB 2017 E (DTW) is the stronger pick with 26.

9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 6% for The Southern Company (SO). DTE Energy Company JR SUB DB 2017 E (DTW) offers the better valuation at 3. 1x trailing P/E (2. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate The Southern Company (SO) a "Hold" — based on 33 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, DTE Energy Company JR SUB DB 2017 E (DTW) is the cheapest at 3.

1x versus The Southern Company at 23. 6x. On forward P/E, DTE Energy Company JR SUB DB 2017 E is actually cheaper at 2. 8x.

Over the past 5 years, The Southern Company (SO) delivered a total return of +60.

6%, compared to +7. 5% for DTE Energy Company JR SUB DB 2017 E (DTW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SO returned +137. 8% versus DTW's +30. 0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), The Southern Company (SO) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

15β versus DTE Energy Company JR SUB DB 2017 E's 0. 80β — meaning DTW is approximately -627% more volatile than SO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The Southern Company (SO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 169% versus 2% for DTE Energy Company JR SUB DB 2017 E — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), DTE Energy Company JR SUB DB 2017 E (DTW) is pulling ahead at 26.

9% versus 10. 6% for The Southern Company (SO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: DTE Energy Company JR SUB DB 2017 E grew EPS 4. 3% year-over-year, compared to -1. 8% for The Southern Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, SO leads at 0. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

The Southern Company (SO) is the more profitable company, earning 14.

7% net margin versus 9. 2% for DTE Energy Company JR SUB DB 2017 E — meaning it keeps 14. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SO leads at 24. 6% versus 15. 0% for DTW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DTW leads at 84. 9%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, DTE Energy Company JR SUB DB 2017 E (DTW) trades at 2.

8x forward P/E versus 20. 2x for The Southern Company — 17. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

DTE Energy Company JR SUB DB 2017 E (DTW) offers the highest yield at 19. 4%, versus 2. 9% for The Southern Company (SO).

For long-horizon retirement investors, The Southern Company (SO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.

15), 2. 9% yield, +137. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SO: +137. 8%, DTW: +30. 0%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Utilities sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: DTW is a small-cap high-growth stock; SO is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.