Southern Company (SO)vsTesla Inc (TSLA)
SO
Southern Company
$94.61
+0.67%
UTILITIES · Cap: $105.91B
TSLA
Tesla Inc
$385.95
+0.76%
CONSUMER CYCLICAL · Cap: $1.38T
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Tesla Inc generates 221% more annual revenue ($94.83B vs $29.55B). SO leads profitability with a 14.7% profit margin vs 4.0%. SO appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.67. SO earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 54/100 (C-).
SO
Buy54
out of 100
Grade: C-
TSLA
Avoid23
out of 100
Grade: F
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-254.9%
Fair Value
$26.66
Current Price
$94.61
$67.95 premium
Margin of Safety
-5161.4%
Fair Value
$7.28
Current Price
$385.95
$378.67 premium
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Large-cap with strong market position
Reasonable price relative to book value
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Generating 1.4B in free cash flow
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
Earnings declined 22.1%
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
Trading at 17.6x book value
ROE of 4.9% — below average capital efficiency
4.0% margin — thin
Operating margin of 4.7%
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : SO
The strongest argument for SO centers on Market Cap, Price/Book. Revenue growth of 10.1% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bull Case : TSLA
The strongest argument for TSLA centers on Market Cap, Debt/Equity, Free Cash Flow.
Bear Case : SO
The primary concerns for SO are PEG Ratio, EPS Growth, Free Cash Flow.
Bear Case : TSLA
The primary concerns for TSLA are Price/Book, Return on Equity, Profit Margin. A P/E of 343.9x leaves little room for execution misses. Thin 4.0% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
TSLA carries more volatility with a beta of 1.93 — expect wider price swings.
SO is growing revenue faster at 10.1% — sustainability is the question.
TSLA generates stronger free cash flow (1.4B), providing more financial flexibility.
Monitor UTILITIES - REGULATED ELECTRIC industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.
Bottom Line
SO scores higher overall (54/100 vs 23/100) and 10.1% revenue growth. Both earn "Buy" and "Avoid" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
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.
Tesla Inc
CONSUMER CYCLICAL · AUTO MANUFACTURERS · USA
Tesla, Inc. is an American electric vehicle and clean energy company based in Palo Alto, California. Tesla's current products include electric cars, battery energy storage from home to grid-scale, solar panels and solar roof tiles, as well as other related products and services. In 2020, Tesla had the highest sales in the plug-in and battery electric passenger car segments, capturing 16% of the plug-in market (which includes plug-in hybrids) and 23% of the battery-electric (purely electric) market. Through its subsidiary Tesla Energy, the company develops and is a major installer of solar photovoltaic energy generation systems in the United States. Tesla Energy is also one of the largest global suppliers of battery energy storage systems, with 3 GWh of battery storage supplied in 2020.
Visit Website →Compare with Other UTILITIES - REGULATED ELECTRIC Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?