Pictet Asset Management Holding SA raised its position in shares of Southern Company (The) (NYSE:SO – Free Report) by 0.5% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,785,562 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 19,239 shares during the quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA’s holdings in Southern were worth $313,785,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Leelyn Smith LLC grew its holdings in Southern by 3.0% during the third quarter. Leelyn Smith LLC now owns 34,750 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $2,880,000 after purchasing an additional 1,002 shares during the period. Formidable Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Southern by 18.4% during the 3rd quarter. Formidable Asset Management LLC now owns 7,012 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $581,000 after buying an additional 1,088 shares in the last quarter. Verus Capital Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of Southern by 80.5% during the third quarter. Verus Capital Partners LLC now owns 4,376 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $363,000 after acquiring an additional 1,951 shares during the last quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Southern by 0.4% during the third quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. now owns 78,303 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $6,491,000 after acquiring an additional 326 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC grew its stake in Southern by 31.5% during the third quarter. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC now owns 28,737 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $2,382,000 after acquiring an additional 6,889 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 64.10% of the company’s stock.
Southern Stock Performance
SO opened at $92.16 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.55. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $88.16 and a two-hundred day moving average of $92.48. Southern Company has a 12-month low of $81.69 and a 12-month high of $99.58. The firm has a market capitalization of $106.02 billion, a PE ratio of 20.99, a P/E/G ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 0.30.
Southern (NYSE:SO – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, November 5th. The utilities provider reported $1.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.71 by $0.23. The company had revenue of $8.84 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.38 billion. Southern had a net margin of 16.00% and a return on equity of 13.57%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 13.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.54 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Southern Company will post 4.70 EPS for the current year.
Southern Announces Dividend
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 7th. Investors of record on Monday, November 16th will be paid a $0.76 dividend. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.3%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 16th. Southern’s payout ratio is currently 69.25%.
Key Southern News
Here are the key news stories impacting Southern this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Third-quarter adjusted EPS of $1.94 beat the $1.71 consensus estimate, while revenue rose 13% year over year to $8.84 billion, also ahead of expectations. The company’s earnings release reported $1.77 per share on its stated basis, compared with $1.55 a year earlier. Article: Southern Co. Q3 Earnings and Revenues Surpass Estimates
- Positive Sentiment: Management highlighted surging data-center demand and 21 GW of large-load contracts. Its 2026 EPS guidance of $4.70 is above the $4.59 consensus, and 2028 guidance of $5.25–$5.45 spans from consensus to above it—supporting the longer-term growth outlook. Article: Southern Q3 Earnings Call Highlights Growth and Capital Upside
- Neutral Sentiment: A potential $100 billion capital plan could enable investment to serve rising electricity demand, but its eventual scale and funding needs remain considerations for investors. Article: Southern Q3 Earnings Call Highlights Growth and Capital Upside
- Negative Sentiment: Fourth-quarter 2026 EPS guidance of $0.30 is below analysts’ $0.44 estimate. That near-term shortfall may temper the positive reaction to the quarterly beat and full-year guidance. Article: Southern Company Q3 Earnings Report
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on SO shares. Wall Street Zen cut Southern from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Saturday. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on Southern from $96.00 to $95.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 20th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Southern from $85.00 to $84.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 21st. Bank of America lowered their price target on Southern from $100.00 to $92.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 13th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price target on Southern from $101.00 to $98.00 in a research note on Monday, October 26th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $97.24.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Southern
About Southern
Southern Company is an energy holding company based in Atlanta, Georgia. Through its subsidiaries, it generates, transmits and distributes electricity and provides natural gas service, primarily across the southeastern United States.
Its electric utility businesses include Alabama Power, Georgia Power and Mississippi Power, which serve customers in their respective states. Southern Company also owns Southern Power, which develops and operates wholesale power generation assets, and Southern Company Gas, whose businesses distribute natural gas to customers in several states.
Formed in 1945, Southern Company has grown from a regional electric utility holding company into a diversified energy provider.
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