SO vs GE vs EMR vs RTX

For growth investors, GE Aerospace (GE) is the stronger pick with 18.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 0% for Emerson Electric Co. (EMR). The Southern Company (SO) offers the better valuation at 23. 9x trailing P/E (20. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate GE Aerospace (GE) a "Buy" — based on 34 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, The Southern Company (SO) is the cheapest at 23.

9x versus GE Aerospace at 37. 5x. On forward P/E, The Southern Company is actually cheaper at 20. 4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: GE Aerospace wins at 3. 42x versus Emerson Electric Co. 's 5. 04x.

Over the past 5 years, GE Aerospace (GE) delivered a total return of +370.

5%, compared to +62. 8% for The Southern Company (SO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RTX returned +231. 2% versus GE's +121. 3%. 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 Emerson Electric Co. 's 1. 52β — meaning EMR is approximately -1103% more volatile than SO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, RTX Corporation (RTX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 59% versus 169% for The Southern Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), GE Aerospace (GE) is pulling ahead at 18.

5% versus 3. 0% for Emerson Electric Co. (EMR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: RTX Corporation grew EPS 39. 7% year-over-year, compared to -1. 8% for The Southern Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, GE leads at 16. 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.

GE Aerospace (GE) is the more profitable company, earning 19.

0% net margin versus 7. 6% for RTX Corporation — meaning it keeps 19. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SO leads at 24. 6% versus 10. 0% for RTX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EMR leads at 52. 8%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, GE Aerospace (GE) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 3. 42x versus Emerson Electric Co. 's 5. 04x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, The Southern Company (SO) trades at 20. 4x forward P/E versus 40. 4x for GE Aerospace — 20. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RTX: 27. 2% to $224. 89.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

The Southern Company (SO) offers the highest yield at 2. 9%, versus 0. 4% for GE Aerospace (GE).

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, +141. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SO: +141. 5%, GE: +121. 3%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (SO (Utilities) and GE (Industrials) and EMR (Industrials) and RTX (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: SO is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; GE is a large-cap high-growth stock; EMR is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; RTX is a large-cap quality compounder stock. SO, EMR, RTX pay a dividend while GE does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.