Southern Company (SO)vsWest Pharmaceutical Services Inc (WST)
SO
Southern Company
$92.60
+1.22%
UTILITIES · Cap: $102.01B
WST
West Pharmaceutical Services Inc
$314.50
-0.89%
HEALTHCARE · Cap: $23.23B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Southern Company generates 837% more annual revenue ($30.18B vs $3.22B). WST leads profitability with a 16.9% profit margin vs 14.5%. SO appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.53. WST earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 65/100 (C+).
SO
Buy56
out of 100
Grade: C
WST
Buy65
out of 100
Grade: C+
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-47.7%
Fair Value
$62.70
Current Price
$92.60
$29.90 premium
Margin of Safety
-56.0%
Fair Value
$157.79
Current Price
$314.50
$156.71 premium
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Large-cap with strong market position
Reasonable price relative to book value
Strong operational efficiency at 25.8%
Earnings expanding 56.1% YoY
Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Strong operational efficiency at 21.7%
Revenue surging 21.0% year-over-year
Areas to Watch
Weak financial health signals
Expensive relative to growth rate
Earnings declined 0.8%
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : SO
The strongest argument for SO centers on Market Cap, Price/Book, Operating Margin.
Bull Case : WST
The strongest argument for WST centers on EPS Growth, Altman Z-Score, Debt/Equity. Profitability is solid with margins at 16.9% and operating margin at 21.7%. Revenue growth of 21.0% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : SO
The primary concerns for SO are Piotroski F-Score, PEG Ratio, EPS Growth. Debt-to-equity of 2.05 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Bear Case : WST
The primary concerns for WST are PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio. A P/E of 44.1x leaves little room for execution misses.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
SO profiles as a value stock while WST is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
WST carries more volatility with a beta of 1.18 — expect wider price swings.
WST is growing revenue faster at 21.0% — sustainability is the question.
WST generates stronger free cash flow (47M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
WST scores higher overall (65/100 vs 56/100), backed by strong 16.9% margins and 21.0% revenue growth. Both earn "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.
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.
West Pharmaceutical Services Inc
HEALTHCARE · MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & SUPPLIES · USA
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. is a designer and manufacturer of injectable pharmaceutical packaging and delivery systems. The company is headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania.
Compare with Other UTILITIES - REGULATED ELECTRIC Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?