Southern Company (SO)

In the past six months, The Southern Co. stock price has fluctuated, declining by 2.31% but increasing by 10.67% over the past year. The stock reached a 52-week low of $21.05 in March 2026 and a 4-week low of $94.09 in March 2026. Recent earnings reports include Q4 2025 with an EPS of $0.380. Analyst sentiment is currently a "Hold" with an average 12-month price target of $98.08. Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley downgraded Southern Co., while Evercore and KeyBanc upgraded the company. Insider selling activity includes CEO Kimberly S. Greene selling 25,000 shares in March 2026. Operational news includes Georgia Power's Grid Investment Program and the completion of Plant Vogtle Unit 4.

Demand for The Southern Company's products and services is seasonal, driven by weather conditions. Demand typically increases during periods of extreme heat and extreme cold. In 2025, Southern Company Gas successfully met near-record demand across multiple states during a significant winter event. The company actively manages its generation portfolio and invests in infrastructure to ensure reliability during peak demand periods.

The Southern Company is an American gas and electric utility holding company that generates, transmits, and distributes electricity, and distributes natural gas. It provides electricity from various sources, including nuclear, coal, natural gas, and renewables. Southern Power manages renewable energy projects and natural gas-fired plants, selling electricity under long-term contracts. The company also distributes natural gas and offers fiber optics and telecommunications services.

The Southern Company serves approximately 9 million gas and electric utility customers across six states. Its regulated regional electric utilities serve a 120,000-square-mile territory in Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. Southern Company Gas distributes natural gas to customers in Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee. Southern Power operates renewable energy projects and natural gas-fired plants across the U.S.

The Southern Company has maintained a strong brand reputation, being named to FORTUNE's list of the World's Most Admired Companies for both 2025 and 2026. In 2026, the company secured the No. 1 spot in the electric and gas utilities industry. Events that have positively affected its reputation include the completion of the Plant Vogtle expansion project and recognition for its system-wide efforts during the recovery from Hurricane Helene in 2024. Southern Company was also ranked as a top U.S. energy company in Newsweek's World's Most Trustworthy Companies 2025 list.

The Southern Company's ownership is mainly institutional, ranging from 64% to 71% of outstanding shares. Key institutional shareholders include Vanguard Group Inc. and BlackRock, Inc. Individual and retail investors hold a sizable minority stake, nearly 35% of shares. Insider ownership remains below 1%.