Columbus Macro LLC Raises Holdings in The Southern Company (NYSE:SO)

Columbus Macro LLC raised its position in shares of The Southern Company (NYSE:SO) by 84.0% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 22,109 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 10,090 shares during the period. Columbus Macro LLC’s holdings in Southern were worth $1,820,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Czech National Bank grew its stake in Southern by 6.9% in the 3rd quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 222,742 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $20,087,000 after acquiring an additional 14,380 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in Southern by 31.6% during the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 17,380 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,567,000 after purchasing an additional 4,172 shares during the period. Diversified Trust Co lifted its holdings in shares of Southern by 64.7% in the 3rd quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 25,516 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $2,301,000 after buying an additional 10,028 shares during the period. Callan Family Office LLC grew its position in shares of Southern by 3.8% during the 3rd quarter. Callan Family Office LLC now owns 4,631 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $418,000 after buying an additional 168 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Alpha Cubed Investments LLC increased its stake in shares of Southern by 10.5% during the third quarter. Alpha Cubed Investments LLC now owns 6,667 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $601,000 after buying an additional 636 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 64.10% of the company’s stock.

Southern Trading Up 0.1 %

SO opened at $84.03 on Tuesday. The Southern Company has a 52-week low of $65.80 and a 52-week high of $94.45. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $83.92 and its 200-day moving average is $86.64. The company has a quick ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $92.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.54, a P/E/G ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.53.

Southern Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be given a dividend of $0.72 per share. This represents a $2.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 18th. Southern’s dividend payout ratio is currently 66.98%.

Insider Transactions at Southern

In other Southern news, EVP Martin Bernard Davis sold 1,170 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.90, for a total value of $100,503.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 88,393 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,592,958.70. The trade was a 1.31 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.18% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Guggenheim cut shares of Southern from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Mizuho increased their target price on Southern from $83.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on Southern from $88.00 to $85.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. BMO Capital Markets cut their target price on Southern from $99.00 to $97.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Barclays increased their price objective on Southern from $71.00 to $83.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 15th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $89.79.

Southern Company Profile

The Southern Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. The company also develops, constructs, acquires, owns, and manages power generation assets, including renewable energy projects and sells electricity in the wholesale market; and distributes natural gas in Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee, as well as provides gas marketing services, gas distribution operations, and gas pipeline investments operations.