FE vs SO
FirstEnergy Corp. compared with The Southern Company on yield, payout growth, payment schedule, cost and risk.
Quick take
- FE yields more today: 4.00% vs 3.42% (forward).
- FE has grown its payout faster: 3.1%/yr vs 2.9%/yr over the last 5 years.
- Both pay every quarter.
- SO has the longer streak of annual increases: 25 years vs 3.
- Over the last year FE delivered the higher total return: +10.7% vs -0.3% (price change plus payouts).
- SO raises fewer payout-risk flags on our heuristic (low vs low).
Generated from the latest data on both pages. Not a recommendation.
Side by side
| Metric | FE | SO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $46.45 | $88.99 |
| TTM yield | 3.92% | 3.37% |
| Forward yield | 4.00% | 3.42% |
| Annual payout per share | $1.86 | $3.04 |
| Payment frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Next ex-date | Nov 7, 2026 (est.) | Nov 16, 2026 (est.) |
| Payout ratio (earnings) | 96% | 72% |
| 1-year payout growth | +4.6% | +2.7% |
| 5-year payout CAGR | +3.1% | +2.9% |
| Consecutive years of increases | 3 years | 25 years |
| Payout consistency (last 12) | 96/100 | 97/100 |
| 1-year total return | +10.7% | -0.3% |
| 1-year price return | +6.5% | -3.6% |
| Size (market cap / AUM) | 26.9B | 102.4B |
| Years paying | 28.6 | 44.6 |
| Payout risk (heuristic) | Low | Low |
| Sector / category | Utilities | Utilities |
✓ marks the more favourable figure where one exists (higher yield, growth, streak, consistency, return and size; lower cost, payout ratio and risk).
$10,000 invested today
| FE | SO | |
|---|---|---|
| Shares | 215.3 | 112.4 |
| Income per year | $400 | $342 |
| Income per month (avg) | $33 | $28 |
Next payments
| Ex-date | Pay date | Per share | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FE Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 21, 2026 | $0.465 | Est. |
| FE Feb 7, 2027 | Feb 21, 2027 | $0.465 | Est. |
| FE May 10, 2027 | May 24, 2027 | $0.465 | Est. |
| SO Nov 16, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | $0.76 | Est. |
| SO Feb 15, 2027 | Mar 1, 2027 | $0.76 | Est. |
| SO May 17, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | $0.76 | Est. |
Annual payouts per share
FESO
Regular payments only; the current year is year to date. Per-share amounts are not directly comparable when share prices differ, so read this chart for growth trends.
FAQ
Which has the higher dividend yield, FE or SO?
FE currently has the higher trailing yield: FE yields 3.92% and SO yields 3.37%. Yield changes daily with price, so check the live figures above.
How often do FE and SO pay?
FE pays every quarter and SO pays every quarter. FE's next ex-date is Nov 7, 2026 and SO's is Nov 16, 2026.
Which has grown its dividend faster, FE or SO?
FE has grown its payout faster: 3.1%/yr vs 2.9%/yr over the last 5 years.
Is FE or SO better for income?
It depends on what you are optimising for. FE and SO differ in yield, growth, payment schedule and risk profile; the table above puts every metric side by side so you can weigh them for your own goals. This page is data, not advice.