Northwest Natural Gas Co (NWN)vsSouthern Company (SO)
NWN
Northwest Natural Gas Co
$53.12
-0.47%
UTILITIES · Cap: $2.24B
SO
Southern Company
$96.70
+3.41%
UTILITIES · Cap: $109.01B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Southern Company generates 2192% more annual revenue ($29.55B vs $1.29B). SO leads profitability with a 14.7% profit margin vs 8.8%. SO appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.66. NWN earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 64/100 (C+).
NWN
Buy64
out of 100
Grade: C+
SO
Buy54
out of 100
Grade: C-
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
+32.4%
Fair Value
$72.25
Current Price
$53.12
$19.13 discount
Margin of Safety
-35.0%
Fair Value
$71.61
Current Price
$96.70
$25.09 premium
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Reasonable price relative to book value
Strong operational efficiency at 25.4%
Earnings expanding 24.1% YoY
Large-cap with strong market position
Areas to Watch
ROE of 7.9% — below average capital efficiency
Elevated debt levels
Expensive relative to growth rate
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
Expensive relative to growth rate
Earnings declined 22.1%
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : NWN
The strongest argument for NWN centers on Price/Book, Operating Margin, EPS Growth.
Bull Case : SO
The strongest argument for SO centers on Market Cap. Revenue growth of 10.1% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : NWN
The primary concerns for NWN are Return on Equity, Debt/Equity, PEG Ratio. Debt-to-equity of 1.76 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Bear Case : SO
The primary concerns for SO are PEG Ratio, EPS Growth, Free Cash Flow.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
NWN carries more volatility with a beta of 0.49 — expect wider price swings.
SO is growing revenue faster at 10.1% — sustainability is the question.
NWN generates stronger free cash flow (-131M), providing more financial flexibility.
Monitor UTILITIES - REGULATED GAS industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.
Bottom Line
NWN scores higher overall (64/100 vs 54/100). 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.
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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