Advisors Management Group Inc. ADV Has $12.26 Million Stock Position in Southern Company (The) $SO

Advisors Management Group Inc. ADV grew its position in Southern Company (The) (NYSE:SO) by 44.7% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 140,629 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 43,461 shares during the period. Southern makes up approximately 2.2% of Advisors Management Group Inc. ADV’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th largest holding. Advisors Management Group Inc. ADV’s holdings in Southern were worth $12,263,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its stake in shares of Southern by 17.5% during the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 34,003 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $3,127,000 after buying an additional 5,067 shares during the last quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. increased its position in shares of Southern by 0.7% in the second quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 59,217 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $5,438,000 after acquiring an additional 393 shares during the last quarter. Vinva Investment Management Ltd raised its holdings in Southern by 22.9% during the second quarter. Vinva Investment Management Ltd now owns 26,340 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $2,394,000 after acquiring an additional 4,915 shares in the last quarter. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in Southern during the second quarter valued at approximately $56,000. Finally, Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC boosted its position in Southern by 5.4% during the second quarter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC now owns 13,234 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $1,215,000 after purchasing an additional 676 shares during the last quarter. 64.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Southern news, EVP Christopher Cummiskey sold 6,669 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $96.55, for a total transaction of $643,891.95. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 30,800 shares in the company, valued at $2,973,740. This trade represents a 17.80% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.16% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Southern Stock Up 0.1%

SO opened at $95.51 on Friday. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $93.42 and its 200 day simple moving average is $91.84. Southern Company has a 1-year low of $83.09 and a 1-year high of $100.83. The stock has a market cap of $105.17 billion, a PE ratio of 24.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.88 and a beta of 0.44. The company has a current ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69.

Southern (NYSE:SO) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 18th. The utilities provider reported $0.55 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.56 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $6.98 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.41 billion. Southern had a net margin of 14.69% and a return on equity of 12.52%. Southern’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.50 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Southern Company will post 4.29 earnings per share for the current year.

Southern Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 17th were paid a $0.74 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 17th. This represents a $2.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.1%. Southern’s payout ratio is 75.32%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

SO has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Scotiabank boosted their price target on Southern from $101.00 to $103.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Friday, February 20th. UBS Group decreased their target price on shares of Southern from $98.00 to $94.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Truist Financial set a $103.00 target price on shares of Southern in a report on Friday, February 20th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “underweight” rating on shares of Southern in a research report on Friday, February 20th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of Southern from $104.00 to $93.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Southern has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $98.08.

Southern Company Profile

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.