AGP Franklin LLC lifted its position in shares of Southern Company (The) (NYSE:SO - Free Report) by 289.9% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 16,725 shares of the utilities provider's stock after buying an additional 12,435 shares during the quarter. AGP Franklin LLC's holdings in Southern were worth $1,536,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in SO. Investors Research Corp boosted its position in Southern by 400.0% during the first quarter. Investors Research Corp now owns 270 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 216 shares in the last quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. boosted its position in Southern by 275.0% during the second quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. now owns 300 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 220 shares in the last quarter. Cheviot Value Management LLC bought a new stake in Southern during the first quarter valued at about $28,000. Advantage Trust Co boosted its position in Southern by 1,428.6% during the second quarter. Advantage Trust Co now owns 321 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Financial Connections Group Inc. bought a new stake in Southern during the first quarter valued at about $33,000. Institutional investors own 64.10% of the company's stock.
Southern Stock Performance
Shares of NYSE:SO traded up $0.57 during trading on Monday, hitting $92.37. The stock had a trading volume of 5,569,546 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,935,855. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $93.48 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $91.23. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69. The stock has a market capitalization of $101.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.17 and a beta of 0.41. Southern Company has a 12-month low of $80.46 and a 12-month high of $96.44.
Southern (NYSE:SO - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The utilities provider reported $0.91 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.99 by ($0.08). The company had revenue of $6.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.70 billion. Southern had a net margin of 15.10% and a return on equity of 12.09%. The firm's revenue was up 7.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.10 earnings per share. Southern has set its Q3 2025 guidance at 1.500-1.500 EPS. FY 2025 guidance at 4.200-4.300 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Southern Company will post 4.29 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Southern Dividend Announcement
The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 8th. Investors of record on Monday, August 18th were given a dividend of $0.74 per share. This represents a $2.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 18th. Southern's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 76.09%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
Several brokerages have weighed in on SO. Raymond James Financial began coverage on Southern in a report on Friday, June 13th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $98.00 price target for the company. Scotiabank raised their price target on Southern from $98.00 to $99.00 and gave the stock a "sector outperform" rating in a report on Friday, August 1st. Wall Street Zen downgraded Southern from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Saturday, August 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group raised Southern from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $102.00 to $100.00 in a report on Thursday, June 5th. Finally, Barclays raised their price target on Southern from $90.00 to $91.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Southern has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $94.92.
Get Our Latest Stock Report on SO
Insiders Place Their Bets
In related news, CEO Kimberly S. Greene sold 13,158 shares of Southern stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 93,661 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,897,795. This trade represents a 12.32% 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. Corporate insiders own 0.16% of the company's stock.
Southern Profile
(
Free Report)
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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