PRU vs. SO

Last updated Jun 6, 2026

PRU (Prudential Financial, Inc.) and SO (The Southern Company) are both stocks. PRU operates in Insurance - Life (Financial Services), while SO operates in Utilities - Regulated Electric (Utilities). Over the past 10 years, PRU returned 7.94%/yr vs 10.83%/yr for SO. At a 0.24 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

PRU vs. SO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU) and The Southern Company (SO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, PRU achieves a -4.78% return, which is significantly lower than SO's 7.91% return. Over the past 10 years, PRU has underperformed SO with an annualized return of 7.94%, while SO has yielded a comparatively higher 10.83% annualized return.

PRU

• 1D: 1.26%
• 1M: 5.19%
• YTD: -4.78%
• 6M: -3.76%
• 1Y: 4.47%
• 3Y*: 13.09%
• 5Y*: 4.24%
• 10Y*: 7.94%

SO

• 1D: 1.07%
• 1M: 1.71%
• YTD: 7.91%
• 6M: 9.06%
• 1Y: 8.35%
• 3Y*: 14.05%
• 5Y*: 11.60%
• 10Y*: 10.83%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

PRU vs. SO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
PRU Prudential Financial, Inc.	-4.78%	0.18%	19.46%	10.09%	-3.86%	45.32%	-11.40%	20.10%	-26.46%	13.65%
SO The Southern Company	7.91%	9.47%	21.72%	2.21%	8.24%	16.34%	0.63%	51.65%	-3.75%	2.42%

Correlation

The correlation between PRU and SO is 0.08, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.08
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.17
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.21
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.16
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 14, 2001	0.24

The correlation between PRU and SO shifts across timeframes, from 0.08 (1 year) to 0.24 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Fundamentals

Market Cap PRU : $36.55B SO : $104.45B
EPS PRU : $9.85 SO : $3.92
PE Ratio PRU : 10.62 SO : 23.62
PEG Ratio PRU : 0.44 SO : 1.46
PS Ratio PRU : 0.78 SO : 3.42
Total Revenue (TTM) PRU : $47.43B SO : $30.17B
Gross Profit (TTM) PRU : $14.72B SO : $13.01B
EBITDA (TTM) PRU : $4.02B SO : $14.44B

Return for Risk

PRU vs. SO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

PRU

PRU Risk / Return Rank: 47
PRU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 51
PRU Sortino Ratio Rank: 43
PRU Omega Ratio Rank: 42
PRU Calmar Ratio Rank: 48
PRU Martin Ratio Rank: 49

SO

SO Risk / Return Rank: 54
SO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 59
SO Sortino Ratio Rank: 51
SO Omega Ratio Rank: 49
SO Calmar Ratio Rank: 54
SO Martin Ratio Rank: 55

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

PRU vs. SO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU) and The Southern Company (SO). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	PRU	SO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.28	0.52	-0.23
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.51	0.84	-0.33
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.07	1.10	-0.03
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.30	0.55	-0.25
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	0.65	1.29	-0.65
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

PRU vs. SO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current PRU Sharpe Ratio is 0.28, which is lower than the SO Sharpe Ratio of 0.52. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of PRU and SO, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	PRU	SO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.28	0.52	-0.23
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.16	0.62	-0.46
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.25	0.49	-0.24
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.21	0.62	-0.41

Drawdowns

PRU vs. SO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum PRU drawdown since its inception was -88.53%, which is greater than SO's maximum drawdown of -38.43%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PRU and SO.

Drawdown Indicators

	PRU	SO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-88.53%	-38.43%	-50.10%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-21.46%	-14.99%	-6.47%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-25.66%	-14.99%	-10.67%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-33.11%	-23.28%	-9.83%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-65.89%	-38.43%	-27.46%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-12.70%	-5.79%	-6.91%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-18.32%	-6.87%	-11.45%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	9.82%	6.35%	+3.47%

Volatility

PRU vs. SO - Volatility Comparison

Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU) and The Southern Company (SO) have volatilities of 5.85% and 5.62%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	PRU	SO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.85%	5.62%	+0.23%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	17.54%	12.98%	+4.56%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	22.61%	15.97%	+6.64%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	25.82%	18.65%	+7.17%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	31.84%	21.94%	+9.90%

Dividends

PRU vs. SO - Dividend Comparison

PRU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.26%, more than SO's 3.22% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
PRU Prudential Financial, Inc.	5.26%	4.78%	4.39%	4.82%	4.83%	4.25%	5.64%	4.27%	4.41%	2.61%	2.69%	3.00%
SO The Southern Company	3.22%	3.37%	3.47%	3.96%	3.78%	3.82%	4.13%	3.86%	5.42%	4.78%	4.52%	4.60%

Financials

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both PRU and SO in my portfolio?

PRU and SO have a correlation of 0.08, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, PRU or SO?

PRU has higher volatility (5.85%) compared to SO (5.62%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PRU dropped -88.53% vs SO's -38.43%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.52 vs 0.28), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.