Czech National Bank Boosts Stock Position in Southern Company (The) $SO

Key Points

• The Czech National Bank increased its stake in Southern Company by 6.8% in Q2, owning 268,648 shares valued at $24.67 million.
• Southern Company reported an EPS of $0.91 for Q2, missing estimates by $0.08, despite a 7.9% year-over-year revenue increase to $6.97 billion.
• Southern recently announced a quarterly dividend of $0.74 per share, representing a yield of 3.2% and a payout ratio of 76.09%.

Czech National Bank grew its stake in Southern Company (The) (NYSE:SO - Free Report) by 6.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 268,648 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 17,111 shares during the period. Czech National Bank's holdings in Southern were worth $24,670,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Investors Research Corp lifted its stake in Southern by 400.0% during the first quarter. Investors Research Corp now owns 270 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 216 shares in the last quarter. Cheviot Value Management LLC acquired a new position in Southern during the first quarter worth $28,000. Financial Connections Group Inc. acquired a new position in Southern during the first quarter worth $33,000. Accredited Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Southern during the first quarter worth $36,000. Finally, Saudi Central Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Southern in the first quarter valued at $40,000. 64.10% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Southern Stock Up 0.1%

SO opened at $92.35 on Tuesday. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $93.55 and its 200-day simple moving average is $91.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 0.74. Southern Company has a one year low of $80.46 and a one year high of $96.44. The stock has a market capitalization of $101.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.19 and a beta of 0.41.

Southern (NYSE:SO - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The utilities provider reported $0.91 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.99 by ($0.08). Southern had a return on equity of 12.09% and a net margin of 15.10%.The firm had revenue of $6.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.70 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.10 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 7.9% on a year-over-year basis. Southern has set its Q3 2025 guidance at 1.500-1.500 EPS. FY 2025 guidance at 4.200-4.300 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Southern Company will post 4.29 EPS for the current year.

Southern Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 8th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 18th were given a dividend of $0.74 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 18th. This represents a $2.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.2%. Southern's payout ratio is 76.09%.

Insider Activity at Southern

In other news, CEO Kimberly S. Greene sold 13,158 shares of Southern stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $95.00, for a total transaction of $1,250,010.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 93,661 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,897,795. The trade was a 12.32% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.16% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently issued reports on SO shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Southern from $97.00 to $98.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 21st. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on Southern from $98.00 to $102.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 22nd. Mizuho raised their price target on Southern from $93.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, August 1st. Scotiabank raised their price target on Southern from $98.00 to $99.00 and gave the company a "sector outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, August 1st. Finally, Barclays raised their price target on Southern from $90.00 to $91.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Southern presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $94.92.

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.

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