Booking Holdings Inc (BKNG)vsSouthern Company (SO)
BKNG
Booking Holdings Inc
$4,237.75
-1.23%
CONSUMER CYCLICAL · Cap: $138.30B
SO
Southern Company
$94.61
+0.67%
UTILITIES · Cap: $105.91B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Southern Company generates 10% more annual revenue ($29.55B vs $26.92B). BKNG leads profitability with a 20.1% profit margin vs 14.7%. BKNG appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.73. BKNG earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 78/100 (B+).
BKNG
Strong Buy78
out of 100
Grade: B+
SO
Buy54
out of 100
Grade: C-
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
+45.4%
Fair Value
$7757.57
Current Price
$4237.75
$3519.82 discount
Margin of Safety
-254.9%
Fair Value
$26.66
Current Price
$94.61
$67.95 premium
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Strong operational efficiency at 32.5%
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk
Large-cap with strong market position
Keeps 20 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Growing faster than its price suggests
Large-cap with strong market position
Reasonable price relative to book value
Areas to Watch
Moderate valuation
ROE of 2.3% — below average capital efficiency
Expensive relative to growth rate
Earnings declined 22.1%
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : BKNG
The strongest argument for BKNG centers on Operating Margin, Debt/Equity, Altman Z-Score. Profitability is solid with margins at 20.1% and operating margin at 32.5%. Revenue growth of 16.0% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bull Case : SO
The strongest argument for SO centers on Market Cap, Price/Book. Revenue growth of 10.1% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : BKNG
The primary concerns for BKNG are P/E Ratio, Return on Equity.
Bear Case : SO
The primary concerns for SO are PEG Ratio, EPS Growth, Free Cash Flow.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
BKNG profiles as a growth stock while SO is a value play — different risk/reward profiles.
BKNG carries more volatility with a beta of 1.23 — expect wider price swings.
BKNG is growing revenue faster at 16.0% — sustainability is the question.
BKNG generates stronger free cash flow (1.4B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
BKNG scores higher overall (78/100 vs 54/100), backed by strong 20.1% margins and 16.0% revenue growth. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
Booking Holdings Inc
CONSUMER CYCLICAL · TRAVEL SERVICES · USA
Booking Holdings Inc. is an American travel technology company organized in Delaware and based in Norwalk, Connecticut, that owns and operates several travel fare aggregators and travel fare metasearch engines including namesake and flagship Booking.com, Priceline.com, Agoda.com, Kayak.com, Cheapflights, Rentalcars.com, Momondo, and OpenTable.
Visit Website →Southern Company
UTILITIES · UTILITIES - REGULATED ELECTRIC · USA
Southern Company is an American gas and electric utility holding company based in the southern United States. It is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with executive offices also located in Birmingham, Alabama.
Compare with Other TRAVEL SERVICES Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?