SO vs. LYB

Last updated Jun 6, 2026

SO (The Southern Company) and LYB (LyondellBasell Industries N.V.) are both stocks. SO operates in Utilities - Regulated Electric (Utilities), while LYB operates in Specialty Chemicals (Basic Materials). Over the past 10 years, SO returned 10.83%/yr vs 5.29%/yr for LYB. At a 0.16 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

SO vs. LYB - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in The Southern Company (SO) and LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, SO achieves a 7.91% return, which is significantly lower than LYB's 52.35% return. Over the past 10 years, SO has outperformed LYB with an annualized return of 10.83%, while LYB has yielded a comparatively lower 5.29% annualized return.

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%

LYB

• 1D: -2.54%
• 1M: -9.18%
• YTD: 52.35%
• 6M: 52.17%
• 1Y: 22.89%
• 3Y*: -4.03%
• 5Y*: -4.78%
• 10Y*: 5.29%

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

SO vs. LYB - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
SO The Southern Company	7.91%	9.47%	21.72%	2.21%	8.24%	16.34%	0.63%	51.65%	-3.75%	2.42%
LYB LyondellBasell Industries N.V.	52.35%	-35.96%	-17.38%	20.70%	-0.98%	5.07%	2.64%	44.63%	-21.69%	33.72%

Correlation

The correlation between SO and LYB is 0.05, 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	0.05
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.14
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.19
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.13
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 29, 2010	0.16

The correlation between SO and LYB shifts across timeframes, from 0.05 (1 year) to 0.19 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Fundamentals

EPS SO : $3.92 LYB : -$3.19
PS Ratio SO : 3.42 LYB : 0.70
Total Revenue (TTM) SO : $30.17B LYB : $22.48B
Gross Profit (TTM) SO : $13.01B LYB : -$4.33B
EBITDA (TTM) SO : $14.44B LYB : $935.00M

Return for Risk

SO vs. LYB — Risk / Return Rank

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

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

LYB

LYB Risk / Return Rank: 56
LYB Sharpe Ratio Rank: 60
LYB Sortino Ratio Rank: 55
LYB Omega Ratio Rank: 54
LYB Calmar Ratio Rank: 57
LYB 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.

SO vs. LYB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for The Southern Company (SO) and LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB). 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.

	SO	LYB	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.52	0.54	-0.03
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.84	1.05	-0.21
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.10	1.13	-0.03
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.55	0.71	-0.16
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	1.29	1.26	+0.04
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

SO vs. LYB - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SO Sharpe Ratio is 0.52, which is comparable to the LYB Sharpe Ratio of 0.54. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SO and LYB, 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

	SO	LYB	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.52	0.54	-0.03
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.62	-0.15	+0.77
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.49	0.14	+0.35
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.62	0.40	+0.22

Drawdowns

SO vs. LYB - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SO drawdown since its inception was -38.43%, smaller than the maximum LYB drawdown of -63.26%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SO and LYB.

Drawdown Indicators

	SO	LYB	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-38.43%	-63.26%	+24.83%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-14.99%	-35.45%	+20.46%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-14.99%	-55.35%	+40.36%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-23.28%	-55.35%	+32.07%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-38.43%	-63.26%	+24.83%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-5.79%	-28.50%	+22.71%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-6.87%	-15.11%	+8.24%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	6.35%	19.88%	-13.53%

Volatility

SO vs. LYB - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for The Southern Company (SO) is 5.62%, while LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB) has a volatility of 7.40%. This indicates that SO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than LYB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	SO	LYB	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.62%	7.40%	-1.78%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	12.98%	34.97%	-21.99%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	15.97%	46.09%	-30.12%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	18.65%	32.84%	-14.19%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	21.94%	36.75%	-14.81%

Dividends

SO vs. LYB - Dividend Comparison

SO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.22%, less than LYB's 6.39% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
LYB LyondellBasell Industries N.V.	6.39%	12.59%	7.10%	5.20%	11.92%	4.81%	4.58%	20.27%	4.81%	3.22%	3.88%	3.50%
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 SO and LYB in my portfolio?

SO and LYB have a correlation of 0.05, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, SO or LYB?

LYB has higher volatility (7.40%) compared to SO (5.62%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SO dropped -38.43% vs LYB's -63.26%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

LYB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.54 vs 0.52), 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.