DUK vs SO: which was the better investment?
Duke Energy Corporation against The Southern Company on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Dec 31, 1981 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Daily total-return data — dividends reinvested. Monthly additions buy on the first trading day.
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Frequently asked questions
Did DUK beat SO?
No — measured from Dec 31, 1981 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, SO came out ahead: $3,557,268 versus $1,225,438 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 14.1% annual return against 11.4%.
What would $10,000 in DUK be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) on Dec 31, 1981 would be worth about $1,225,438 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 12154.4% (11.4% per year). The same $10,000 in SO would be worth $3,557,268.
Which was riskier — DUK or SO?
DUK swung with an annualized volatility of 21.2% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -71.9%; SO ran at 20.0% volatility with a -38.4% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.44 for DUK vs 0.60 for SO.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Dec 31, 1981 through Jul 13, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with DUK vs SO. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.