SO vs. PRU

Last updated Jun 6, 2026

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

Performance

SO vs. PRU - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in The Southern Company (SO) and Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU). 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 higher than PRU's -4.78% return. Over the past 10 years, SO has outperformed PRU with an annualized return of 10.83%, while PRU has yielded a comparatively lower 7.94% 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%

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%

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

SO vs. PRU - 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%
PRU Prudential Financial, Inc.	-4.78%	0.18%	19.46%	10.09%	-3.86%	45.32%	-11.40%	20.10%	-26.46%	13.65%

Correlation

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

Fundamentals

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

Return for Risk

SO vs. PRU — 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

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

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. PRU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for The Southern Company (SO) and Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU). 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	PRU	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.52	0.28	+0.23
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.84	0.51	+0.33
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.10	1.07	+0.03
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.55	0.30	+0.25
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	1.29	0.65	+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.

SO vs. PRU - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SO Sharpe Ratio is 0.52, which is higher than the PRU Sharpe Ratio of 0.28. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SO and PRU, 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	PRU	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.52	0.28	+0.23
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.62	0.16	+0.46
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.49	0.25	+0.24
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.62	0.21	+0.41

Drawdowns

SO vs. PRU - Drawdown Comparison

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

Drawdown Indicators

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

Volatility

SO vs. PRU - Volatility Comparison

The Southern Company (SO) and Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU) have volatilities of 5.62% and 5.85%, 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

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

Dividends

SO vs. PRU - Dividend Comparison

SO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.22%, less than PRU's 5.26% 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 SO and PRU in my portfolio?

SO and PRU 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, SO or PRU?

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

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.