ED vs SO: Which Is the Better Dividend Stock?
As of Oct 19, 2026, ED and SO are closely matched. SO offers the higher yield at 3.33%, ED has the higher dividend-safety score, and SO looks like the better value (its fair-value estimate is 1% above its share price).
Key facts: ED vs SO
Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data
- As of Oct 19, 2026, The Southern Company (SO) has the higher forward dividend yield at 3.33%, versus 3.16% for Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED).
- As of Oct 19, 2026, SmarterDividends grades ED's dividend safety A (92/100) and SO's A (90/100).
- By SmarterDividends' count as of Oct 19, 2026, ED has raised its dividend for 44 consecutive years and SO for 25.
- As of Oct 19, 2026, ED pays out 57% of its earnings as dividends and SO pays out 72%.
- As of Oct 19, 2026, ED's fair-value estimate is 10% below its share price and SO's fair-value estimate is 1% above its share price, so SO looks like the better value of the two on SmarterDividends' blended model.
Cite this page
SmarterDividends, "ED vs SO: Dividend Yield, Safety & Value Compared," updated Oct 19, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/ed-vs-so
| Metric | ED | SO |
|---|---|---|
| Forward yield | 3.16% | 3.33% |
| Annual dividend | $3.55 | $3.04 |
| Payout ratio | 57% | 72% |
| Years of growth | 44 yr | 25 yr |
| 5-yr dividend growth | 2.1% | 3.0% |
| 5-yr total return | 45% | 49% |
| Dividend safety score | 92 (A) | 90 (A) |
| Fair value estimate | $100.60 | $91.87 |
| Upside to fair value | -10% | +1% |
| Frequency | quarterly | quarterly |
| Market cap | $41.5B | $104.9B |
| P/E ratio | 18.5 | 22.0 |
Higher yield
SO
3.33%
Safer dividend
ED
Grade A
Faster growth
SO
3.0%
Better value
SO
+1% upside
ED vs SO — FAQ
Is ED or SO a better dividend stock?
ED and SO are closely matched. SO has the higher yield; ED scores better on safety.
Which has a higher dividend yield, ED or SO?
SO has the higher forward dividend yield at 3.33%, versus 3.16% for ED.
Is ED or SO safer?
ED has the higher dividend-safety score (92/100 vs 90/100), reflecting stronger payout coverage and dividend-growth history.
Is ED or SO better value right now?
As of Oct 19, 2026, SO looks like the better value: its fair-value estimate is 1% above its share price (fairly valued). For ED, its fair-value estimate is 10% below its share price.
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See more dividend stock comparisons · data refreshes daily · for informational purposes only, not investment advice.