Southern (NYSE:SO – Get Rating) and EnSync (OTCMKTS:ESNC – Get Rating) are both utilities companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, earnings, risk, profitability, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and dividends.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Southern and EnSync's gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Southern has higher revenue and earnings than EnSync.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

61.8% of Southern shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.4% of Southern shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 14.8% of EnSync shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for Southern and EnSync, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Southern presently has a consensus price target of $71.85, suggesting a potential upside of 9.09%.

Profitability

This table compares Southern and EnSync's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Risk and Volatility

Southern has a beta of 0.48, meaning that its stock price is 52% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, EnSync has a beta of 1.55, meaning that its stock price is 55% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Southern beats EnSync on 6 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Southern

(Get Rating)

The Southern Co is a holding company, which engages in the generation and sale of electricity. It operates through the following segments: Traditional Electric Operating Companies, Southern Power and Southern Company Gas. The Traditional Electric Operating Companies segment refers to vertically integrated utilities that own generation, transmission and distribution facilities, and supplies electric services in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi. The Southern Power segment constructs, acquires, owns, and manages generation assets such as renewable energy projects and sells electricity in the wholesale market. The Southern Company Gas segment distributes natural gas through natural gas distribution facilities in the states of Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, New Jersey, Florida, Tennessee, and Maryland. The company was founded on November 9, 1945, and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA.

About EnSync

(Get Rating)

EnSync, Inc. engages in the design, development and manufacture of advanced energy storage, power electronic systems and engineered custom and semi-custom products. Its services include matrix energy management, internet of energy, system support and system design. The company was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Menomonee Falls, WI.

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