Northwest Natural Gas Co (NWN)vsSouthern Company (SO)
NWN
Northwest Natural Gas Co
$50.43
-0.85%
UTILITIES · Cap: $2.14B
SO
Southern Company
$92.30
+0.27%
UTILITIES · Cap: $107.10B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Southern Company generates 2234% more annual revenue ($30.18B vs $1.29B). SO leads profitability with a 15.4% profit margin vs 9.7%. SO appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.41. SO earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 66/100 (B-).
NWN
Buy54
out of 100
Grade: C-
SO
Strong Buy66
out of 100
Grade: B-
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
+17.3%
Fair Value
$59.10
Current Price
$50.43
$8.67 discount
Margin of Safety
-49.7%
Fair Value
$61.91
Current Price
$92.30
$30.39 premium
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Reasonable price relative to book value
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Large-cap with strong market position
Reasonable price relative to book value
Strong operational efficiency at 29.6%
Earnings expanding 30.4% YoY
Areas to Watch
3.1% revenue growth
ROE of 7.8% — below average capital efficiency
Elevated debt levels
Weak financial health signals
Expensive relative to growth rate
0.1% revenue growth
Elevated debt levels
Weak financial health signals
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : NWN
The strongest argument for NWN centers on Price/Book, P/E Ratio.
Bull Case : SO
The strongest argument for SO centers on Market Cap, Price/Book, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 15.4% and operating margin at 29.6%.
Bear Case : NWN
The primary concerns for NWN are Revenue Growth, Return on Equity, Debt/Equity. Debt-to-equity of 1.73 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Bear Case : SO
The primary concerns for SO are PEG Ratio, Revenue Growth, Debt/Equity. Debt-to-equity of 1.95 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
NWN carries more volatility with a beta of 0.43 — expect wider price swings.
NWN is growing revenue faster at 3.1% — sustainability is the question.
NWN generates stronger free cash flow (-12M), providing more financial flexibility.
Monitor UTILITIES - REGULATED GAS industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.
Bottom Line
SO scores higher overall (66/100 vs 54/100), backed by strong 15.4% margins. NWN offers better value entry with a 17.3% margin of safety. 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.
Northwest Natural Gas Co
UTILITIES · UTILITIES - REGULATED GAS · USA
Northwest Natural Holding Company, through its subsidiary, Northwest Natural Gas Company, provides regulated natural gas distribution services to residential, commercial, industrial and transportation customers in Oregon and Southwest Washington. The company is headquartered in Portland, Oregon.
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.
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