Southern (NYSE:SO) Posts Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.23 EPS

Southern (NYSE:SO) posted its earnings results on Wednesday. The utilities provider reported $1.94 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.71 by $0.23, Zacks reports. The business had revenue of $8.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.38 billion. Southern had a return on equity of 12.93% and a net margin of 15.43%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 13.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.54 EPS.

Southern Stock Performance

NYSE:SO traded up $0.38 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $93.50. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 15,867,626 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,927,408. The company has a current ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. The stock has a market cap of $107.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.42, a PEG ratio of 2.47 and a beta of 0.30. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $88.02 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $92.44. Southern has a 12-month low of $81.69 and a 12-month high of $99.58.

Southern Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 7th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 16th will be given a $0.76 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 16th. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.3%. Southern’s payout ratio is 72.90%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH decreased their price objective on shares of Southern from $96.50 to $85.50 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, September 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price target on Southern from $103.00 to $101.00 in a research report on Thursday, October 15th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Southern in a report on Wednesday, October 21st. Mizuho set a $106.00 price target on shares of Southern and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Finally, HSBC initiated coverage on Southern in a report on Thursday, October 22nd. They set a “buy” rating and a $99.50 price target for the company. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $97.24.

Southern News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Southern this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Southern reported third-quarter adjusted EPS of $1.94, topping the $1.71 consensus, while revenue of $8.84 billion also exceeded forecasts and rose 13% year over year. The company’s release reported earnings of $1.77 per share, compared with $1.55 a year earlier. The earnings beat and growth may support investor sentiment. Southern Co. Q3 Earnings and Revenues Surpass Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: FY 2026 EPS guidance of $4.70 is above the $4.59 consensus, offering a modestly favorable outlook for the full year.
• Positive Sentiment: FY 2028 EPS guidance of $5.25–$5.45 starts at the $5.25 consensus and allows for results above it at the upper end.
• Negative Sentiment: Fourth-quarter 2026 EPS guidance of $0.30 is below the $0.44 consensus, a near-term outlook shortfall that could temper the positive reaction to the quarterly beat.

About Southern

Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is an energy holding company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Through its subsidiaries, the company generates, transmits, distributes and sells electricity, while also providing natural gas distribution and related energy services.

Southern’s electric utility operations include Alabama Power, Georgia Power and Mississippi Power, which serve customers across Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. The company’s generation portfolio includes nuclear, natural gas, coal, hydroelectric and renewable energy resources.