Is D or SO a better dividend investment in 2026?

D currently yields 16.28% with a -3.8% 5-year dividend growth rate. SO yields 3.42% with 3.1% growth. The better choice depends on your goal: D offers higher current income, while SO is better for long-term compounding. Use the DRIP calculator above to model your specific scenario.

What is the dividend yield difference between D and SO?

D has a forward dividend yield of 16.28% (2.67/share annually). SO yields 3.42% (2.88/share annually). The yield gap is 12.86 percentage points.

How much would $10,000 in D vs SO pay in dividends per year?

With $10,000 invested: D would pay approximately $1628/year in dividends. SO would pay approximately $342/year. With DRIP reinvestment over 10 years, these amounts grow substantially due to compounding.

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D vs SO: Dividend Comparison 2026

Q: Does D or SO pay monthly dividends?

D pays quarterly dividends. SO pays quarterly dividends. Monthly payers are preferred by investors who want regular cash flow to cover living expenses.

D yields 16.28% · SO yields 3.42% · See full DRIP projection below

vsEnter any two US tickers

After 10 years · $10,000 invested · DRIP enabled

🏆 D wins by $319.8K in total portfolio value

INVESTMENT

TIME HORIZON10 years

Dominion Energy Inc.

16.28%

Share price

$16.40

Annual div

$2.67

5Y div CAGR

-3.8%

Payout ratio

89%

After 10 yrs · $10,000 · DRIP

Portfolio value

$341.6K

Annual income

$258,695.21

Full D calculator →

The Southern Company

3.42%

Share price

$84.20

Annual div

$2.88

5Y div CAGR

3.1%

Payout ratio

72%

After 10 yrs · $10,000 · DRIP

Portfolio value

$21.7K

Annual income

$613.85

Full SO calculator →

Portfolio growth — D vs SO

Annual dividend income

MetricDSO

Forward yield	16.28% ✓	3.42%
Annual dividend / share	$2.67	$2.88 ✓
Payout ratio	89%	72% ✓
1-year div growth	0%	3% ✓
5-year div CAGR	-3.8%	3.1% ✓
Portfolio after 10y	$341.6K ✓	$21.7K
Annual income after 10y	$258,695.21 ✓	$613.85
Total dividends collected	$405.2K ✓	$4.7K
Payment frequency	quarterly	quarterly
Sector	Utilities	Utilities

Year-by-year: D vs SO ($10,000, DRIP)

Year	D Portfolio	D Income/yr	SO Portfolio	SO Income/yr	Gap
1	$8,726	$1,566.18	$10,833	$352.65	$2.1K → SO
2	$8,084	$1,836.24	$11,728	$375.81	$3.6K → SO
3	$8,074	$2,285.61	$12,692	$400.29	$4.6K → SO
4	$8,848	$3,066.98	$13,727	$426.14	$4.9K → SO
5	$10,851	$4,515.75	$14,839	$453.42	$4.0K → SO
6	$15,210	$7,440.74	$16,034	$482.21	$824.00 → SO
7	$24,904	$14,013.36	$17,316	$512.58	+$7.6K → D
8	$48,659	$30,827.65	$18,692	$544.59	+$30.0K → D
9	$115,768	$80,928.09	$20,167	$578.32	+$95.6K → D
10	$341,585	$258,695.21	$21,749	$613.85	+$319.8K → D

D vs SO: Complete Analysis 2026

D — Utilities

Dominion Energy serves customers in Virginia and South Carolina. After cutting its dividend in 2020 during a strategic restructuring, the company has maintained payments and is pursuing offshore wind development. High current yield reflects the transition period — income investors must weigh yield against the uncertain growth outlook.

Full D Calculator →

SO — Utilities

Southern Company is a Dividend Aristocrat with 23+ consecutive years of increases. It serves 9M+ customers across Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi through its regulated electric and gas utilities. Vogtle Unit 4 nuclear plant completion in 2024 adds decades of low-carbon baseload generation capacity.

Full SO Calculator →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is D or SO better for dividend income in 2026?

D currently offers a 16.28% yield (2.67/share/year) while SO offers 3.42% (2.88/share/year). D provides higher current income. However, SO has grown its dividend faster (3.1% 5Y CAGR), which may lead to better long-term income through compounding.

How much would $10,000 in D vs SO earn per year?

With $10,000 invested today: D pays approximately $1628/year. SO pays approximately $342/year. With DRIP reinvestment over 10 years, these grow to $258,695/year (D) and $614/year (SO).

Does D or SO pay monthly dividends?

D pays quarterly dividends. SO pays quarterly dividends. Neither pay monthly — both use a quarterly schedule, which is preferred by investors who need regular cash flow.

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⚠️ Educational purposes only. Not financial advice. All projections use historical data; actual results will vary.