AES vs SO: Which Is the Better Dividend Stock?
As of September 2026, SO (The Southern Company) screens as the stronger dividend stock, winning 5 of 8 head-to-head metrics. AES offers the higher yield at 4.76%, SO has the higher dividend-safety score, and SO trades at the larger discount to fair value (+10%).
| Metric | AES | SO |
|---|---|---|
| Forward yield | 4.76% | 3.46% |
| Annual dividend | $0.70 | $3.04 |
| Payout ratio | 26% | 72% |
| Years of growth | 12 yr | 25 yr |
| 5-yr dividend growth | 4.2% | 3.0% |
| 5-yr total return | -35% | 41% |
| Dividend safety score | 85 (A) | 90 (A) |
| Fair value estimate | $13.39 | $96.70 |
| Upside to fair value | -9% | +10% |
| Frequency | quarterly | quarterly |
| Market cap | $10.6B | $100.3B |
| P/E ratio | 5.5 | 21.2 |
Higher yield
AES
4.76%
Safer dividend
SO
Grade A
Faster growth
AES
4.2%
Better value
SO
+10% upside
AES vs SO — FAQ
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