Southern Company (The) (NYSE:SO) Receives Consensus Recommendation of “Hold” from Analysts

Shares of Southern Company (The) (NYSE:SO) have been assigned an average rating of “Hold” from the nineteen ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $94.9118.

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Evercore ISI assumed coverage on Southern in a report on Monday, October 6th. They set an “in-line” rating and a $103.00 price objective on the stock. BTIG Research assumed coverage on shares of Southern in a report on Tuesday, October 21st. They issued a “neutral” rating on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a “sector perform” rating and set a $105.00 target price on shares of Southern in a research report on Friday. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on shares of Southern from $104.00 to $93.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $102.50 price objective (up from $99.50) on shares of Southern in a research note on Friday, October 17th.

Southern Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:SO opened at $87.52 on Friday. 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 has a one year low of $82.05 and a one year high of $100.83. The company has a market capitalization of $96.37 billion, a PE ratio of 21.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.64 and a beta of 0.46. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $87.60 and a 200-day moving average of $91.75.

Southern (NYSE:SO) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 29th. The utilities provider reported $1.60 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.51 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $7.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.04 billion. Southern had a return on equity of 12.52% and a net margin of 15.42%.The business’s quarterly revenue was up 7.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.39 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Southern will post 4.29 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Southern

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in SO. Cloud Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Southern during the third quarter worth $25,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Southern by 275.0% in 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 during the last quarter. Triumph Capital Management bought a new stake in Southern in the 3rd quarter valued at $29,000. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Southern in the 3rd quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Advantage Trust Co lifted its holdings in 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 purchasing an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 64.10% of the company’s stock.

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.