Southern Company (SO)

Over the past six months, The Southern Co. stock has increased in value, reaching $94.10 as of July 18, 2025. Key events impacting the stock include analyst ratings and price targets, earnings performance surpassing Q2 estimates, strategic initiatives and capital plans, dividend announcements, and insider and congressional trading activities.

Demand for The Southern Co.'s products and services is influenced by weather patterns, with increased demand during extreme temperatures. Natural gas storage facilities play a vital role in ensuring a reliable supply during the winter heating season. Growing demand from data centers and industrial growth is also expected to impact the company's long-term load growth.

The Southern Company is a major American gas and electric utility holding company, operating as one of the largest electricity producers in the U.S. It serves approximately 9 million customers across six states through its subsidiaries, focusing on electricity sales, natural gas distribution, wholesale energy, distributed energy solutions, and telecommunications services.

The Southern Company's regulated regional electric utilities serve a 120,000-square-mile territory primarily in the Southern United States, including Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. Southern Company Gas serves utility customers in Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee. Southern Power serves wholesale electricity customers across the country, with its operational footprint expanding to 15 states.

The Southern Company has maintained a strong brand reputation, being named to FORTUNE's list of the World's Most Admired Companies and receiving the Energy Transition Award. The successful completion of the Plant Vogtle expansion project and the company's response to Hurricane Helene have also contributed to its reputation.

The Southern Co. is predominantly owned by institutional shareholders, holding between 67% and 70% of the company's shares. Vanguard Group Inc. is the largest individual shareholder. Retail investors own approximately 30% to 33% of the company, while individual insiders own a small percentage, typically under 1%.