CenterBook Partners LP Makes New $1.81 Million Investment in Southern Company (The) $SO

Key Points

• CenterBook Partners LP initiated a position in Southern Company, acquiring 21,834 shares valued at approximately $1.81 million in the third quarter.
• Southern’s third-quarter results beat expectations: adjusted EPS was $1.94 versus $1.71 consensus, while revenue rose 13% year over year to $8.84 billion.
• Management cited strong data-center demand and 21 GW in large-load contracts, with 2026 EPS guidance above consensus; however, fourth-quarter 2026 EPS guidance of $0.30 fell short of analysts’ $0.44 estimate.

CenterBook Partners LP acquired a new position in shares of Southern Company (The) (NYSE:SO - Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 21,834 shares of the utilities provider's stock, valued at approximately $1,810,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of SO. Evergreen Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Southern during the first quarter valued at $25,000. Scarborough Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Southern during the 1st quarter worth about $25,000. Bullseye Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Southern during the 2nd quarter worth about $26,000. J.Safra Asset Management Corp bought a new position in shares of Southern in the 2nd quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, Frazier Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Southern in the 2nd quarter worth about $31,000. Institutional investors own 64.10% of the company's stock.

Southern News Summary

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

Southern Trading Down 0.2%

NYSE:SO opened at $92.16 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.55. The stock has a market capitalization of $107.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.99, a PEG ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 0.30. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $88.16 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $92.48. Southern Company has a 12 month low of $81.69 and a 12 month high of $99.58.

Southern (NYSE:SO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 5th. The utilities provider reported $1.94 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.71 by $0.23. Southern had a net margin of 16.00% and a return on equity of 13.57%. The firm had revenue of $8.84 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.38 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.54 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 13.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that Southern Company will post 4.70 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Southern Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 7th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 16th will be paid a $0.76 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 16th. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.3%. Southern's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 69.25%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

SO has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. HSBC assumed coverage on Southern in a research note on Thursday, October 22nd. They issued a "buy" rating and a $99.50 price objective on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their target price on Southern from $101.00 to $98.00 in a research note on Monday, October 26th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH lowered their target price on Southern from $96.50 to $85.50 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Monday, September 28th. Wall Street Zen lowered Southern from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Saturday. Finally, Truist Financial dropped their price target on Southern from $97.00 to $93.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 15th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Southern presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $97.24.

Southern Company Profile

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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