Is O or SO a better dividend investment in 2026?

O currently yields 5.97% with a 3.2% 5-year dividend growth rate. SO yields 3.42% with 3.1% growth. The better choice depends on your goal: O offers higher current income, while O is better for long-term compounding. Use the DRIP calculator above to model your specific scenario.

What is the dividend yield difference between O and SO?

O has a forward dividend yield of 5.97% (3.12/share annually). SO yields 3.42% (2.88/share annually). The yield gap is 2.55 percentage points.

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

With $10,000 invested: O would pay approximately $597/year in dividends. SO would pay approximately $342/year. With DRIP reinvestment over 10 years, these amounts grow substantially due to compounding.

O vs SO Dividend Comparison 2026

Q: Does O or SO pay monthly dividends?

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

O dividend yield: 5.97%. SO dividend yield: 3.42%. Nicknamed 'The Monthly Dividend Company', Realty Income is a net-lease REIT with 15,000+ properties across the US and Europe. It has paid monthly dividends for 55+ consecutive years with 126 dividend increases since 1994 — a true Dividend Aristocrat. Its tenants include Walgreens, Dollar General, and FedEx. A cornerstone holding for income investors. 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.

Home › Compare › O vs SO

O vs SO: Dividend Comparison 2026

O yields 5.97% · SO yields 3.42% · See full DRIP projection below

vsEnter any two US tickers

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

🏆 O wins by $994.00 in total portfolio value

INVESTMENT

TIME HORIZON10 years

Realty Income Corporation

5.97%

Share price

$52.30

Annual div

$3.12

5Y div CAGR

3.2%

Payout ratio

76%

After 10 yrs · $10,000 · DRIP

Portfolio value

$22.7K

Annual income

$1,416.15

Full O 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 — O vs SO

Annual dividend income

MetricOSO

Forward yield	5.97% ✓	3.42%
Annual dividend / share	$3.12 ✓	$2.88
Payout ratio	76%	72% ✓
1-year div growth	2.8%	3% ✓
5-year div CAGR	3.2% ✓	3.1%
Portfolio after 10y	$22.7K ✓	$21.7K
Annual income after 10y	$1,416.15 ✓	$613.85
Total dividends collected	$9.6K ✓	$4.7K
Payment frequency	monthly	quarterly
Sector	REIT	Utilities

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

Year	O Portfolio	O Income/yr	SO Portfolio	SO Income/yr	Gap
1	$10,826	$615.65	$10,833	$352.65	$7.00 → SO
2	$11,727	$673.66	$11,728	$375.81	$1.00 → SO
3	$12,710	$737.59	$12,692	$400.29	+$18.00 → O
4	$13,785	$808.08	$13,727	$426.14	+$58.00 → O
5	$14,961	$885.87	$14,839	$453.42	+$122.00 → O
6	$16,247	$971.76	$16,034	$482.21	+$213.00 → O
7	$17,655	$1,066.66	$17,316	$512.58	+$339.00 → O
8	$19,197	$1,171.57	$18,692	$544.59	+$505.00 → O
9	$20,888	$1,287.65	$20,167	$578.32	+$721.00 → O
10	$22,743	$1,416.15	$21,749	$613.85	+$994.00 → O

O vs SO: Complete Analysis 2026

O — REIT

Nicknamed 'The Monthly Dividend Company', Realty Income is a net-lease REIT with 15,000+ properties across the US and Europe. It has paid monthly dividends for 55+ consecutive years with 126 dividend increases since 1994 — a true Dividend Aristocrat. Its tenants include Walgreens, Dollar General, and FedEx. A cornerstone holding for income investors.

Full O 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 O or SO better for dividend income in 2026?

O currently offers a 5.97% yield (3.12/share/year) while SO offers 3.42% (2.88/share/year). O provides higher current income. However, O has grown its dividend faster (3.2% 5Y CAGR), which may lead to better long-term income through compounding.

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

With $10,000 invested today: O pays approximately $597/year. SO pays approximately $342/year. With DRIP reinvestment over 10 years, these grow to $1,416/year (O) and $614/year (SO).

Does O or SO pay monthly dividends?

O pays monthly dividends. SO pays quarterly dividends. O pays monthly, which is preferred by investors who need regular cash flow.

📬

Get this O vs SO comparison by email

Save your analysis + get weekly dividend insights. Free forever.

More comparisons

O vs MAIN O vs STAG O vs ADC O vs NNN O vs VICI O vs NEE O vs DUK O vs D SO vs NEE SO vs DUK SO vs D SO vs AEP

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