Southern Company (SO)vsWestern Digital Corporation (WDC)
SO
Southern Company
$93.39
-2.95%
UTILITIES · Cap: $104.54B
WDC
Western Digital Corporation
$293.10
-7.52%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $100.21B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Southern Company generates 175% more annual revenue ($29.55B vs $10.73B). WDC leads profitability with a 35.6% profit margin vs 14.7%. WDC appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.69. WDC earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 55/100 (C).
SO
Buy54
out of 100
Grade: C-
WDC
Buy55
out of 100
Grade: C
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-250.3%
Fair Value
$26.66
Current Price
$93.39
$66.73 premium
Margin of Safety
-311.2%
Fair Value
$66.57
Current Price
$293.10
$226.53 premium
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Large-cap with strong market position
Reasonable price relative to book value
Every $100 of equity generates 41 in profit
Keeps 36 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Large-cap with strong market position
Growing faster than its price suggests
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
Earnings declined 22.1%
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
Moderate valuation
Trading at 14.0x book value
Revenue declined 41.0%
Earnings declined 95.9%
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 : WDC
The strongest argument for WDC centers on Return on Equity, Profit Margin, Market Cap. Profitability is solid with margins at 35.6% and operating margin at 15.4%. PEG of 0.69 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bear Case : SO
The primary concerns for SO are PEG Ratio, EPS Growth, Free Cash Flow.
Bear Case : WDC
The primary concerns for WDC are P/E Ratio, Price/Book, Revenue Growth.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
SO profiles as a value stock while WDC is a declining play — different risk/reward profiles.
WDC carries more volatility with a beta of 1.85 — expect wider price swings.
SO is growing revenue faster at 10.1% — sustainability is the question.
WDC generates stronger free cash flow (653M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
WDC scores higher overall (55/100 vs 54/100), backed by strong 35.6% margins. 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.
Western Digital Corporation
TECHNOLOGY · COMPUTER HARDWARE · USA
Western Digital Corporation (WDC, commonly known as Western Digital or WD) is an American computer hard disk drive manufacturer and data storage company, headquartered in San Jose, California. It designs, manufactures and sells data technology products, including storage devices, data center systems and cloud storage services.
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