Vaughan David Investments LLC IL Boosts Stock Position in The Southern Company (NYSE:SO)

Vaughan David Investments LLC IL grew its holdings in shares of The Southern Company (NYSE:SO - Free Report) by 2.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 558,967 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 15,904 shares during the quarter. Vaughan David Investments LLC IL owned approximately 0.05% of Southern worth $39,195,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC bought a new stake in Southern in the second quarter worth about $27,000. Intrepid Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in Southern during the second quarter valued at $30,000. BKM Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Southern in the fourth quarter worth $34,000. Sanctuary Wealth Management L.L.C. bought a new stake in shares of Southern in the fourth quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, VitalStone Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of Southern during the 2nd quarter valued at $35,000. 64.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Stephen E. Kuczynski sold 5,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.94, for a total transaction of $334,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 129,552 shares in the company, valued at $8,672,210.88. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other Southern news, CEO Stephen E. Kuczynski sold 5,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.94, for a total value of $334,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 129,552 shares in the company, valued at $8,672,210.88. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider David P. Poroch sold 10,099 shares of Southern stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $69.96, for a total transaction of $706,526.04. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 28,691 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,007,222.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 20,998 shares of company stock valued at $1,446,113. Insiders own 0.28% of the company's stock.

Southern Stock Down 1.2 %

Shares of NYSE SO traded down $0.86 on Friday, reaching $68.73. 4,818,009 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,621,838. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $68.75 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $68.90. The Southern Company has a 12 month low of $61.56 and a 12 month high of $75.80. The company has a market cap of $75.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.36 and a beta of 0.49. The company has a quick ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62.

Southern (NYSE:SO - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 15th. The utilities provider reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.59 by $0.05. Southern had a return on equity of 11.40% and a net margin of 15.79%. The firm had revenue of $6.05 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.90 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.26 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was down 14.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that The Southern Company will post 4 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Southern Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 20th were issued a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.07%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 16th. Southern's dividend payout ratio is 77.14%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Southern from $68.00 to $67.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $80.00 price target on shares of Southern in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st. BMO Capital Markets reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a $76.00 price target (up from $72.00) on shares of Southern in a report on Monday, April 1st. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Southern from $75.00 to $72.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 16th. Finally, Mizuho lifted their price target on Southern from $73.00 to $76.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $74.14.

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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