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SO vs CMS: Dividend Comparison 2026

SO yields 3.42% · CMS yields 4.00% · See full DRIP projection below

vsEnter any two US tickers
After 10 years · $10,000 invested · DRIP enabled
🏆 CMS wins by $6.3K in total portfolio value
10 years
SO
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 →
CMS
CMS
4.00%
Share price
$50.00
Annual div
$2.00
5Y div CAGR
5%
Payout ratio
50%
After 10 yrs · $10,000 · DRIP
Portfolio value
$28.0K
Annual income
$899.19
Full CMS calculator →

Portfolio growth — SO vs CMS

Annual dividend income

MetricSOCMS
Forward yield3.42%4.00%
Annual dividend / share$2.88$2.00
Payout ratio72%50%
1-year div growth3%5%
5-year div CAGR3.1%5%
Portfolio after 10y$21.7K$28.0K
Annual income after 10y$613.85$899.19
Total dividends collected$4.7K$6.4K
Payment frequencyquarterlyquarterly
SectorUtilitiesUtilities

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

YearSO PortfolioSO Income/yrCMS PortfolioCMS Income/yrGap
1$10,833$352.65$11,120$420.00$287.00CMS
2$11,728$375.81$12,357$458.31$629.00CMS
3$12,692$400.29$13,721$499.76$1.0KCMS
4$13,727$426.14$15,227$544.58$1.5KCMS
5$14,839$453.42$16,885$593.02$2.0KCMS
6$16,034$482.21$18,713$645.34$2.7KCMS
7$17,316$512.58$20,724$701.81$3.4KCMS
8$18,692$544.59$22,938$762.73$4.2KCMS
9$20,167$578.32$25,372$828.41$5.2KCMS
10$21,749$613.85$28,047$899.19$6.3KCMS

SO vs CMS: Complete Analysis 2026

SOUtilities

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 →

CMSUtilities

CMS is a dividend-paying stock. Use this calculator to estimate your future dividend income, DRIP compounding returns, and passive income potential from investing in CMS shares.

Full CMS Calculator →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SO or CMS better for dividend income in 2026?
SO currently offers a 3.42% yield (2.88/share/year) while CMS offers 4.00% (2.00/share/year). CMS provides higher current income. However, CMS has grown its dividend faster (5% 5Y CAGR), which may lead to better long-term income through compounding.
How much would $10,000 in SO vs CMS earn per year?
With $10,000 invested today: SO pays approximately $342/year. CMS pays approximately $400/year. With DRIP reinvestment over 10 years, these grow to $614/year (SO) and $899/year (CMS).
Does SO or CMS pay monthly dividends?
SO pays quarterly dividends. CMS 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.