Is SO or DGRO a better dividend investment in 2026?

SO currently yields 3.42% with a 3.1% 5-year dividend growth rate. DGRO yields 2.19% with 9.5% growth. The better choice depends on your goal: SO offers higher current income, while DGRO is better for long-term compounding. Use the DRIP calculator above to model your specific scenario.

What is the dividend yield difference between SO and DGRO?

SO has a forward dividend yield of 3.42% (2.88/share annually). DGRO yields 2.19% (1.28/share annually). The yield gap is 1.23 percentage points.

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

With $10,000 invested: SO would pay approximately $342/year in dividends. DGRO would pay approximately $219/year. With DRIP reinvestment over 10 years, these amounts grow substantially due to compounding.

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SO vs DGRO: Dividend Comparison 2026

SO yields 3.42% · DGRO yields 2.19% · See full DRIP projection below

vsEnter any two US tickers

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

🏆 DGRO wins by $12.4K in total portfolio value

INVESTMENT

TIME HORIZON10 years

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 →

DGRO

iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF

2.19%

Share price

$58.40

Annual div

$1.28

5Y div CAGR

9.5%

Payout ratio

40%

After 10 yrs · $10,000 · DRIP

Portfolio value

$34.2K

Annual income

$653.00

Full DGRO calculator →

Portfolio growth — SO vs DGRO

Annual dividend income

MetricSODGRO

Forward yield	3.42% ✓	2.19%
Annual dividend / share	$2.88 ✓	$1.28
Payout ratio	72%	40% ✓
1-year div growth	3%	8.8% ✓
5-year div CAGR	3.1%	9.5% ✓
Portfolio after 10y	$21.7K	$34.2K ✓
Annual income after 10y	$613.85	$653.00 ✓
Total dividends collected	$4.7K ✓	$4.2K
Payment frequency	quarterly	quarterly
Sector	Utilities	ETF

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

Year	SO Portfolio	SO Income/yr	DGRO Portfolio	DGRO Income/yr	Gap
1	$10,833	$352.65	$11,320	$240.00	$487.00 → DGRO
2	$11,728	$375.81	$12,811	$268.49	$1.1K → DGRO
3	$12,692	$400.29	$14,495	$300.29	$1.8K → DGRO
4	$13,727	$426.14	$16,396	$335.78	$2.7K → DGRO
5	$14,839	$453.42	$18,542	$375.36	$3.7K → DGRO
6	$16,034	$482.21	$20,964	$419.51	$4.9K → DGRO
7	$17,316	$512.58	$23,697	$468.75	$6.4K → DGRO
8	$18,692	$544.59	$26,780	$523.64	$8.1K → DGRO
9	$20,167	$578.32	$30,257	$584.82	$10.1K → DGRO
10	$21,749	$613.85	$34,178	$653.00	$12.4K → DGRO

SO vs DGRO: Complete Analysis 2026

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 →

DGRO — ETF

DGRO focuses on US companies with a history of growing dividends, screening for payout ratio sustainability. With 500+ holdings and ultra-low 0.08% expense ratio, it offers broad diversification among dividend growers. One of BlackRock's most popular ETFs for long-term dividend growth investors.

Full DGRO Calculator →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SO or DGRO better for dividend income in 2026?

SO currently offers a 3.42% yield (2.88/share/year) while DGRO offers 2.19% (1.28/share/year). SO provides higher current income. However, DGRO has grown its dividend faster (9.5% 5Y CAGR), which may lead to better long-term income through compounding.

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

With $10,000 invested today: SO pays approximately $342/year. DGRO pays approximately $219/year. With DRIP reinvestment over 10 years, these grow to $614/year (SO) and $653/year (DGRO).

Does SO or DGRO pay monthly dividends?

SO pays quarterly dividends. DGRO 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.