Which has a higher dividend yield, ES or SO?

Eversource Energy (ES) has a higher dividend yield of 4.29% compared to Southern Co (SO) at 3.22%.

Is ES or SO a better dividend growth stock?

Eversource Energy has the stronger dividend growth with a 5-year CAGR of 5.7%, compared to Southern Co's 2.9%.

How much income does $10,000 in ES vs SO generate?

A $10,000 investment in ES generates approximately $429/year in dividends, while the same amount in SO generates about $322/year.

Is ES or SO a Dividend Aristocrat?

Eversource Energy is a Dividend Aristocrat (26 years) and Southern Co is a Dividend Aristocrat (25 years).

Which has a lower payout ratio, ES or SO?

Southern Co has a lower payout ratio of 73% compared to Eversource Energy's 82%. A lower payout ratio generally indicates more room for dividend growth and better sustainability.

ES vs SO: which is better for retirement income?

It depends on your priorities. ES for current income, ES for dividend growth, SO for safety. Many retirement investors hold both for diversification.

ES vs SO: Dividend Comparison

ES$73.58

Eversource Energy

Utilities

SO$94.53

Southern Co

Utilities

Dividend data as of August 16, 2026

Eversource Energy (ES) and Southern Co (SO) are both in the Utilities sector, making them natural rivals for dividend investors. ES offers a significantly higher 4.29% yield compared to SO's 3.22%, a gap of 1.07%. For dividend growth, ES leads with a 5-year CAGR of 5.7% versus SO's 2.9%. SO holds the edge in dividend safety with a "Moderate" rating. Both are classified as Dividend Aristocrats.

Verdict

Best for Income

Higher yield at 4.29%

Best for Growth

5yr CAGR of 5.7%

Best for Safety

Rated "Moderate"

Metric

Price

$73.58

$94.53

Dividend Yield

4.29%

3.22%

Annual Dividend

$2.97

$2.92

5yr Div CAGR

5.7%

2.9%

3yr Div CAGR

5.6%

2.8%

Consecutive Years

Payout Ratio

82.11%

72.64%

P/E Ratio

—

Market Cap

—

Income on $10k

$429/yr

$322/yr

Yield Analysis

4.29%

3.22%

ES yields 1.07% more than SO. In dollar terms, ES pays $2.97/share vs SO's $2.92/share annually.

Dividend Growth

ES 5yr CAGR

5.7%

steady

SO 5yr CAGR

2.9%

steady

ES: Dividend growth has been steady, with a 3-year CAGR of 5.6% and a 5-year CAGR of 5.7% (10-year: 6.0%).

SO: Dividend growth has been steady, with a 3-year CAGR of 2.8% and a 5-year CAGR of 2.9% (10-year: 6.4%).

Dividend Safety

At Risk

Payout Ratio82%

Moderate

Payout Ratio73%

ES: The payout ratio of 82% is elevated, which may indicate the dividend could be cut if earnings decline. Earnings cover the dividend 1.2x.

SO: The payout ratio of 73% is moderate. The dividend is currently covered by earnings but leaves less room for growth. Earnings cover the dividend 1.4x.

Estimated Annual Dividend Income

Based on current dividend yields. Actual income may vary.

Investment

Difference

$10,000

$429/yr

$322/yr

+$107 (ES)

$50,000

$2,145/yr

$1,609/yr

+$536 (ES)

$100,000

$4,290/yr

$3,219/yr

+$1,071 (ES)

What does $10,000 buy in ES vs SO today?

At $73.58 per share, $10,000 buys about 135.9 shares of Eversource Energy (ES). Each share pays $2.97 per year in dividends, so the position starts out generating roughly $404 per year — about $34 a month.

At $94.53 per share, $10,000 buys about 105.8 shares of Southern Co (SO). Each share pays $2.92 per year in dividends, so the position starts out generating roughly $309 per year — about $26 a month.

ES is the larger income stream from day one: $95 per year more on the same $10,000 invested.

What could $10,000 of ES or SO income look like in 10 years?

Eversource Energy (ES) has raised its dividend about 5.7% a year over the past five years. If that pace held, the $429 per year that $10,000 generates today at the current 4.29% yield would reach $748 per year by 2036 — a 7.5% yield on the original cost.

Southern Co (SO) has raised its dividend about 2.9% a year over the past five years. If that pace held, the $322 per year that $10,000 generates today at the current 3.22% yield would reach $429 per year by 2036 — a 4.3% yield on the original cost.

On those trailing rates, ES pays more in 2036: $748 versus $429 per year. The projection assumes each five-year growth rate persists and no dividends are reinvested — real payouts will differ.

When would SO's dividend growth overtake ES's higher yield?

It doesn't, on the trailing numbers. Eversource Energy (ES) yields more today (4.29% vs 3.22%) and has also grown its dividend at least as fast (5.7% vs 2.9% a year over five years). Unless SO accelerates its raises or ES stumbles, SO never closes the income gap — ES wins on both current income and growth.

Can ES and SO afford their dividends?

Eversource Energy (ES) earns $3.62 per share against $2.97 paid out in dividends — 1.2x coverage (a 82% payout ratio).

Southern Co (SO) earns $4.02 per share against $2.92 paid out in dividends — 1.4x coverage (a 73% payout ratio).

Coverage is similar for both, so neither dividend looks meaningfully more stretched than the other on current earnings.

Which fits an early-retirement income portfolio better, ES or SO?

For income you need right now, Eversource Energy (ES) leads: $100,000 invested today pays about $358 a month at the current 4.29% yield, versus $268 a month from Southern Co (SO) at 3.22%.

ES also leads on dividend growth (5.7% vs 2.9% a year over five years), so the trailing numbers favor it on both fronts.

On consistency: ES has raised its dividend 26 consecutive years; SO has raised its dividend 25 consecutive years.

Many income investors simply hold both — the mix pairs current yield with growth and spreads single-name risk. Whichever way you lean, dividends are never guaranteed; recheck the payout each quarter rather than setting and forgetting.

$10,000 with DRIP: projected annual income

If each holding keeps raising its dividend at its real 5-year rate and every payment is reinvested, a $10,000 position pays $1,138/yr in ES vs $589/yr in SO by year 10.

Assumes dividends are reinvested at the current yield and grow at each holding's trailing 5-year dividend CAGR. A projection, not a prediction — no price appreciation modeled.

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