CWA Asset Management Group LLC Acquires 13,555 Shares of Southern Company (The) $SO

CWA Asset Management Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Southern Company (The) (NYSE:SO) by 7.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 202,013 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 13,555 shares during the quarter. Southern makes up about 0.7% of CWA Asset Management Group LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 26th biggest position. CWA Asset Management Group LLC’s holdings in Southern were worth $19,145,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of SO. Ameriflex Group Inc. raised its holdings 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 buying an additional 220 shares in the last quarter. Advantage Trust Co increased its holdings in shares of Southern by 1,428.6% during the 2nd quarter. Advantage Trust Co now owns 321 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. IMG Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Southern in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Anfield Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Southern by 309.5% in the 2nd quarter. Anfield Capital Management LLC now owns 430 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 325 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Access Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Southern during the second quarter worth approximately $40,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.10% of the company’s stock.

Southern Stock Performance

NYSE:SO opened at $87.06 on Monday. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $89.02 and its 200-day moving average is $92.08. The company has a market cap of $95.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.55, a PEG ratio of 2.63 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 0.75. Southern Company has a 52-week low of $80.46 and a 52-week high of $100.83.

Southern (NYSE:SO) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The utilities provider reported $1.60 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.51 by $0.09. Southern had a return on equity of 12.52% and a net margin of 15.42%.The business had revenue of $7.82 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.04 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.39 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Southern Company will post 4.29 earnings per share for the current year.

Southern Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 8th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 17th were given a dividend of $0.74 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 17th. This represents a $2.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.4%. Southern’s payout ratio is currently 73.27%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on SO shares. Evercore ISI started coverage on shares of Southern in a research report on Monday, October 6th. They issued an “in-line” rating and a $103.00 price target on the stock. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Southern in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH restated a “neutral” rating and set a $102.50 price target (up from $99.50) on shares of Southern in a report on Friday, October 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Southern from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $98.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Finally, Mizuho cut their price objective on Southern from $97.00 to $88.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating, thirteen have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Southern presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $96.21.

About Southern

Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is an Atlanta-based energy holding company that provides electric and gas utility services and owns power generation assets across the United States. Founded in 1945, the company operates a portfolio of regulated electric utilities and affiliated businesses that generate, transmit and distribute electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers.

Southern’s principal regulated electric subsidiaries include Georgia Power, Alabama Power and Mississippi Power, which serve large portions of the southeastern United States.