SO vs. T

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

SO (The Southern Company) and T (AT&T Inc.) are both stocks. SO operates in Utilities - Regulated Electric (Utilities), while T operates in Telecom Services (Communication Services). Over the past 10 years, SO returned 10.77%/yr vs 3.33%/yr for T. At a 0.35 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

SO vs. T - Performance Comparison

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

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, SO achieves a 10.02% return, which is significantly higher than T's -2.96% return. Over the past 10 years, SO has outperformed T with an annualized return of 10.77%, while T has yielded a comparatively lower 3.33% annualized return.

SO

• 1D: 1.22%
• 1M: 2.86%
• YTD: 10.02%
• 6M: 13.62%
• 1Y: 7.91%
• 3Y*: 14.19%
• 5Y*: 12.20%
• 10Y*: 10.77%

T

• 1D: 2.52%
• 1M: -1.87%
• YTD: -2.96%
• 6M: -1.93%
• 1Y: -12.71%
• 3Y*: 20.58%
• 5Y*: 7.38%
• 10Y*: 3.33%

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

SO vs. T - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
SO The Southern Company	10.02%	9.47%	21.72%	2.21%	8.24%	16.34%	0.63%	51.65%	-3.75%	2.42%
T AT&T Inc.	-2.96%	13.97%	44.08%	-2.74%	5.76%	-8.09%	-21.37%	45.55%	-22.25%	-4.01%

Correlation

The correlation between SO and T is 0.30, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.30
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.38
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.40
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.35
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 19, 1984	0.35

The correlation between SO and T shifts across timeframes, from 0.30 (1 year) to 0.40 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Fundamentals

EPS SO : $3.92 T : $3.04
PE Ratio SO : 23.98 T : 7.74
PEG Ratio SO : 1.49 T : 0.32
PS Ratio SO : 3.47 T : 1.35
Total Revenue (TTM) SO : $30.17B T : $125.65B
Gross Profit (TTM) SO : $13.01B T : $105.41B
EBITDA (TTM) SO : $14.44B T : $54.70B

Return for Risk

SO vs. T — 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: 60
SO Sortino Ratio Rank: 52
SO Omega Ratio Rank: 50
SO Calmar Ratio Rank: 55
SO Martin Ratio Rank: 56

T

T Risk / Return Rank: 18
T Sharpe Ratio Rank: 17
T Sortino Ratio Rank: 17
T Omega Ratio Rank: 18
T Calmar Ratio Rank: 21
T Martin Ratio Rank: 15

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. T - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for The Southern Company (SO) and AT&T Inc. (T). 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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	SO	T	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.49	-0.59	+1.08
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.81	-0.72	+1.53
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.10	0.92	+0.18
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.53	-0.59	+1.12
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	1.24	-1.22	+2.46

SO vs. T - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SO Sharpe Ratio is 0.49, which is higher than the T Sharpe Ratio of -0.59. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SO and T, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

SO vs. T - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SO drawdown since its inception was -38.43%, smaller than the maximum T drawdown of -64.15%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SO and T.

Drawdown Indicators

	SO	T	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-38.43%	-64.15%	+25.72%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-14.99%	-21.87%	+6.88%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-14.99%	-21.87%	+6.88%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-23.28%	-32.01%	+8.73%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-38.43%	-42.35%	+3.92%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-3.95%	-18.12%	+14.17%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-6.87%	-15.72%	+8.85%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	6.39%	10.64%	-4.25%

Volatility

SO vs. T - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for The Southern Company (SO) is 6.03%, while AT&T Inc. (T) has a volatility of 8.21%. This indicates that SO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than T based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	SO	T	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	6.03%	8.21%	-2.18%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	13.07%	17.80%	-4.73%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	16.21%	22.13%	-5.92%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	18.67%	24.01%	-5.34%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	21.96%	23.73%	-1.77%

Dividends

SO vs. T - Dividend Comparison

SO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.60%, less than T's 4.71% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
SO The Southern Company	3.60%	3.37%	3.47%	3.96%	3.78%	3.82%	4.13%	3.86%	5.42%	4.78%	4.52%	4.60%
T AT&T Inc.	4.71%	4.47%	4.87%	6.62%	6.66%	8.46%	7.23%	5.22%	7.01%	5.04%	4.51%	5.46%

Financials

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both SO and T in my portfolio?

SO and T have a correlation of 0.30, 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 T?

T has higher volatility (8.21%) compared to SO (6.03%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SO dropped -38.43% vs T's -64.15%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.49 vs -0.59), 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.