Southern (NYSE:SO) Shares Break Below Two Hundred Day Moving Average - Here's What Happened

Key Points

• Shares fell below their 200-day moving average of $92.48, reaching $91.09 before last trading at $92.16, down about 1.3%.
• Southern beat third-quarter estimates, reporting adjusted EPS of $1.94 versus $1.71 expected and revenue up 13% to $8.84 billion. Management cited strong data-center demand, though fourth-quarter 2026 EPS guidance of $0.30 came in below analysts’ $0.44 estimate.
• Analysts have a consensus “Hold” rating and an average price target of $97.24; the company also announced a quarterly dividend of $0.76 per share.

Shares of Southern Company (The) (NYSE:SO - Get Free Report) crossed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Friday. The stock has a 200-day moving average of $92.48 and traded as low as $91.09. Southern shares last traded at $92.1640, with a volume of 7,595,511 shares traded.

Southern News Roundup

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price target on shares of Southern from $101.00 to $98.00 in a research note on Monday, October 26th. KeyCorp lowered their price target on Southern from $79.00 to $74.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 13th. Scotiabank reduced their price target on shares of Southern from $103.00 to $93.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, September 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on Southern from $103.00 to $101.00 in a research note on Thursday, October 15th. Finally, Barclays cut their price objective on shares of Southern from $101.00 to $92.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 16th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $97.24.

Southern Trading Down 1.3%

The stock has a market capitalization of $106.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.99, a PEG ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.30. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $88.16 and its 200 day moving average price is $92.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 0.79 and a quick ratio of 0.59.

Southern (NYSE:SO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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. The business had revenue of $8.84 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.38 billion. Southern had a return on equity of 12.93% and a net margin of 15.43%. The company's revenue was up 13.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.54 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Southern Company will post 4.59 earnings per share for the current year.

Southern Dividend Announcement

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

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Southern

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Evergreen Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Southern in the first quarter worth $25,000. Scarborough Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Southern in the 1st quarter worth $25,000. Bullseye Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Southern in the 2nd quarter worth $26,000. J.Safra Asset Management Corp purchased a new position in shares of Southern in the 2nd quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Frazier Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Southern during the second quarter valued at approximately $31,000. 64.10% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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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