(SO) Southern - Overview

Sector: Utilities | Industry: Utilities - Regulated Electric | Exchange: NYSE (USA) | Market Cap: 104.332m USD | Total Return: 8.2% in 12m

Electricity, Natural Gas, Energy Storage, Telecommunications
Total Rating 46
Safety 55
Buy Signal -0.23
Utilities - Regulated Electric
Industry Rotation: +3.7
Market Cap: 104B
Avg Turnover: 438M
Risk 3d forecast
Volatility18.9%
VaR 5th Pctl3.37%
VaR vs Median8.29%
Reward TTM
Sharpe Ratio0.41
Rel. Str. IBD44
Rel. Str. Peer Group43.3
Character TTM
Beta-0.281
Beta Downside-0.353
Hurst Exponent0.493
Drawdowns 3y
Max DD14.99%
CAGR/Max DD0.92
CAGR/Mean DD3.20
EPS (Earnings per Share) EPS (Earnings per Share) of SO over the last years for every Quarter: "2021-03": 0.98, "2021-06": 0.84, "2021-09": 1.23, "2021-12": 0.36, "2022-03": 0.97, "2022-06": 1.07, "2022-09": 1.31, "2022-12": 0.26, "2023-03": 0.79, "2023-06": 0.79, "2023-09": 1.42, "2023-12": 0.64, "2024-03": 1.03, "2024-06": 1.1, "2024-09": 1.39, "2024-12": 0.5, "2025-03": 1.23, "2025-06": 0.92, "2025-09": 1.6, "2025-12": 0.55, "2026-03": 1.32,
EPS CAGR: 5.76%
EPS Trend: 19.6%
Last SUE: 1.60
Qual. Beats: 1
Revenue Revenue of SO over the last years for every Quarter: 2021-03: 5910, 2021-06: 5198, 2021-09: 6238, 2021-12: 5767, 2022-03: 6648, 2022-06: 7206, 2022-09: 8378, 2022-12: 7047, 2023-03: 6480, 2023-06: 5748, 2023-09: 6980, 2023-12: 6045, 2024-03: 6646, 2024-06: 6463, 2024-09: 7274, 2024-12: 6341, 2025-03: 7775, 2025-06: 6973, 2025-09: 7823, 2025-12: 6981, 2026-03: 8397,
Rev. CAGR: 4.16%
Rev. Trend: 25.2%
Last SUE: 0.85
Qual. Beats: 0

Warnings

High Debt while negative Cash Flow

Altman Z'' 0.65 < 1.0 - financial distress zone

Choppy

Tailwinds

No distinct edge detected

Description: SO Southern

The Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a major energy holding company based in Atlanta, Georgia, providing electric and natural gas services across multiple states. Its operations include electricity generation and retail distribution, wholesale energy sales, and the management of natural gas infrastructure in Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee. The company also develops renewable energy assets, battery storage projects, and microgrid solutions for diverse customer segments.

Operating as a regulated utility, the company benefits from a business model where state commissions approve rates to ensure a return on infrastructure investments. This sector is characterized by high capital intensity and significant barriers to entry due to the extensive physical networks required for energy transmission. For a deeper look at the companys valuation metrics, consider reviewing the data on ValueRay.

In addition to its core utility operations, the Southern Company maintains interests in telecommunications and resilience solutions. The firm manages a diverse power generation portfolio that includes nuclear, coal, natural gas, and solar assets to meet regional energy demands.

Headlines to Watch Out For
  • Vogtle nuclear expansion completion stabilizes long-term capital expenditure and cash flow
  • Regulatory rate case outcomes in Georgia and Alabama dictate utility revenue growth
  • Decarbonization shift toward natural gas and renewables increases infrastructure investment requirements
  • Interest rate fluctuations impact financing costs for capital-intensive utility operations projects
  • Customer base expansion in Southeastern United States drives residential and industrial demand
Piotroski VR‑10 (Strict) 4.0
Net Income: 4.36b TTM > 0 and > 6% of Revenue
FCF/TA: -0.02 > 0.02 and ΔFCF/TA -2.40 > 1.0
NWC/Revenue: -17.75% < 20% (prev -7.01%; Δ -10.74% < -1%)
CFO/TA 0.06 > 3% & CFO 9.78b > Net Income 4.36b
Net Debt (75.02b) to EBITDA (14.44b): 5.20 < 3
Current Ratio: 0.65 > 1.5 & < 3
Outstanding Shares: last quarter (1.13b) vs 12m ago 2.08% < -2%
Gross Margin: 43.11% > 18% (prev 0.50%; Δ 4.26k% > 0.5%)
Asset Turnover: 19.78% > 50% (prev 18.81%; Δ 0.97% > 0%)
Interest Coverage Ratio: 2.49 > 6 (EBITDA TTM 14.44b / Interest Expense TTM 3.37b)
Altman Z'' 0.65
A: -0.03 (Total Current Assets 9.96b - Total Current Liabilities 15.32b) / Total Assets 157.03b
B: 0.10 (Retained Earnings 15.38b / Total Assets 157.03b)
C: 0.05 (EBIT TTM 8.38b / Avg Total Assets 152.57b)
D: 0.18 (Book Value of Equity 20.90b / Total Liabilities 117.12b)
Altman-Z'' Score: 0.65 = B
Beneish M -3.01
DSRI: 0.84 (Receivables 3.87b/4.27b, Revenue 30.17b/27.85b)
GMI: 1.15 (GM 43.11% / 49.69%)
AQI: 0.98 (AQ_t 0.18 / AQ_t-1 0.19)
SGI: 1.08 (Revenue 30.17b / 27.85b)
TATA: -0.03 (NI 4.36b - CFO 9.78b) / TA 157.03b)
Beneish M-Score: -3.01 (Cap -4..+1) = AA
What is the price of SO shares? As of May 20, 2026, the stock is trading at USD 93.71 with a total of 6,656,959 shares traded.
Over the past week, the price has changed by +1.49%, over one month by +1.04%, over three months by +3.79% and over the past year by +8.15%.
Is SO a buy, sell or hold? Southern has received a consensus analysts rating of 3.52. Therefor, it is recommend to hold SO.
  • StrongBuy: 5
  • Buy: 4
  • Hold: 10
  • Sell: 1
  • StrongSell: 1
What are the forecasts/targets for the SO price?
Analysts Target Price 101.8 8.6%
Southern (SO) - Fundamental Data Overview as of 17 May 2026
P/E Trailing = 23.6701
P/E Forward = 20.0803
P/S = 3.4576
P/B = 2.7877
P/EG = 2.6088
Revenue TTM = 30.17b USD
EBIT TTM = 8.38b USD
EBITDA TTM = 14.44b USD
Long Term Debt = 67.15b USD (from longTermDebt, last quarter)
Short Term Debt = 7.58b USD (from shortTermDebt, last quarter)
Debt = 76.00b USD (from shortLongTermDebtTotal, last quarter)
Net Debt = 75.02b USD (from netDebt column, last quarter)
Enterprise Value = 179.36b USD (104.33b + Debt 76.00b - CCE 981.0m)
Interest Coverage Ratio = 2.49 (Ebit TTM 8.38b / Interest Expense TTM 3.37b)
EV/FCF = -46.99x (Enterprise Value 179.36b / FCF TTM -3.82b)
FCF Yield = -2.13% (FCF TTM -3.82b / Enterprise Value 179.36b)
FCF Margin = -12.65% (FCF TTM -3.82b / Revenue TTM 30.17b)
Net Margin = 14.46% (Net Income TTM 4.36b / Revenue TTM 30.17b)
Gross Margin = 43.11% ((Revenue TTM 30.17b - Cost of Revenue TTM 17.16b) / Revenue TTM)
Gross Margin QoQ = 46.47% (prev 18.81%)
Tobins Q-Ratio = 1.14 (Enterprise Value 179.36b / Total Assets 157.03b)
Interest Expense / Debt = 1.02% (Interest Expense 778.0m / Debt 76.00b)
Taxrate = 14.56% (228.0m / 1.57b)
NOPAT = 7.16b (EBIT 8.38b * (1 - 14.56%))
Current Ratio = 0.65 (Total Current Assets 9.96b / Total Current Liabilities 15.32b)
Debt / Equity = 2.05 (Debt 76.00b / totalStockholderEquity, last quarter 37.12b)
Debt / EBITDA = 5.20 (Net Debt 75.02b / EBITDA 14.44b)
 Debt / FCF = -19.66 (negative FCF - burning cash) (Net Debt 75.02b / FCF TTM -3.82b)
 Total Stockholder Equity = 35.54b (last 4 quarters mean from totalStockholderEquity)
RoA = 2.86% (Net Income 4.36b / Total Assets 157.03b)
RoE = 12.28% (Net Income TTM 4.36b / Total Stockholder Equity 35.54b)
RoCE = 8.16% (EBIT 8.38b / Capital Employed (Equity 35.54b + L.T.Debt 67.15b))
RoIC = 6.65% (NOPAT 7.16b / Invested Capital 107.73b)
WACC = 3.26% (E(104.33b)/V(180.34b) * Re(4.99%) + D(76.00b)/V(180.34b) * Rd(1.02%) * (1-Tc(0.15)))
Discount Rate = 4.99% (= CAPM, Blume Beta Adj.) -> floored to rf + 0.7*ERP = 7.92%
Shares (quarterly) Correlation: 71.91 | Cagr: 1.18%
 [DCF] Fair Price = unknown (Cash Flow -3.82b)
 EPS Correlation: 19.62 | EPS CAGR: 5.76% | SUE: 1.60 | # QB: 1
Revenue Correlation: 25.18 | Revenue CAGR: 4.16% | SUE: 0.85 | # QB: 0
EPS current Quarter (2026-06-30): EPS=1.02 | Chg30d=-3.20% | Revisions=-33% | Analysts=8
EPS next Quarter (2026-09-30): EPS=1.69 | Chg30d=-0.16% | Revisions=-33% | Analysts=7
EPS current Year (2026-12-31): EPS=4.57 | Chg30d=+0.00% | Revisions=+33% | GrowthEPS=+6.2% | GrowthRev=+5.3%
EPS next Year (2027-12-31): EPS=4.92 | Chg30d=+0.02% | Revisions=-33% | GrowthEPS=+7.7% | GrowthRev=+5.1%
[Analyst] Revisions Ratio: -33%