Southern is one of the largest utilities in the US. The company serves 9 million customers with vertically integrated electric utilities in three states and natural gas distribution utilities in four states. It owns 46 gigawatts of rate-regulated generating capacity, primarily for serving customers in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. Subsidiary Southern Power owns 13 gigawatts of natural gas generation and renewable energy across the US and sells the electricity primarily under long-term contracts.
The chart shows the growth of an initial investment of $10,000 in The Southern Company, comparing it to the performance of the S&P 500 index. All prices have been adjusted for splits and dividends.
Returns By Period
The Southern Company (SO) has returned 11.79% so far this year and 11.05% over the past 12 months. Looking at the last ten years, SO has achieved an annualized return of 6.54%, underperforming the Benchmark (SPY), which averaged 12.23% per year.
SO
1M-0.26%
6M3.20%
YTD11.79%
1Y11.05%
5Y9.18%
10Y6.54%
Benchmark (SPY)
1M-3.85%
6M-2.35%
YTD-4.36%
1Y34.06%
5Y9.80%
10Y12.23%
Monthly Returns
The table below presents the monthly returns of The Southern Company (SO) with color gradation from worst to best to easily spot seasonal factors.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
2026
2.45%
8.93%
-0.75%
1.42%
2025
1.30%
7.51%
2.61%
0.32%
-2.64%
2.83%
2.70%
-3.09%
2.74%
-0.93%
-2.62%
-3.77%
2024
-0.22%
-2.68%
7.03%
2.81%
9.22%
-2.77%
7.04%
2.96%
4.34%
0.63%
-2.05%
-7.91%
2023
-5.25%
-6.56%
11.17%
6.38%
-5.10%
0.37%
2.61%
-6.29%
-5.13%
4.67%
4.94%
-1.11%
2022
1.45%
-6.44%
12.02%
1.47%
2.19%
-5.92%
7.16%
0.52%
-11.97%
-5.47%
2.84%
5.11%
2021
-4.01%
-4.33%
8.54%
6.30%
-3.41%
-5.64%
5.05%
2.72%
-6.06%
-0.05%
-2.08%
11.60%
2020
10.60%
-14.59%
-10.75%
9.31%
1.58%
-9.19%
5.30%
-4.38%
4.23%
5.80%
3.15%
1.40%
2019
10.73%
2.37%
3.80%
2.98%
2.43%
3.33%
2.00%
3.57%
5.99%
1.72%
-1.40%
3.01%
2018
-6.04%
-4.54%
3.67%
3.11%
-2.39%
3.35%
4.70%
-9.58%
-0.39%
3.54%
5.08%
-6.71%
2017
0.57%
3.46%
-0.97%
0.24%
1.61%
-5.47%
-0.13%
0.48%
1.70%
6.16%
-2.29%
-6.53%
2016
-2.72%
-1.61%
8.50%
-0.47%
-3.95%
0.12%
0.70%
-9.30%
5.26%
Performance Indicators
The charts below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for The Southern Company (SO) and compare them to a Benchmark (SPY). These indicators evaluate an investment's returns against its associated risks.
Sharpe ratio
Sortino ratio
Omega ratio
Calmar ratio
Martin ratio
sharpe ratio
The Sharpe ratio helps investors understand how much return they're getting for the level of risk taken. A higher Sharpe ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance, meaning more reward for each unit of risk.
These values reflect how efficiently the investment has delivered returns relative to its volatility over different time periods. All figures are annualized and based on daily total returns.
The chart below shows the rolling Sharpe ratio of SO compared to the benchmark. This view highlights how the investment's risk-adjusted performance has changed over time.
Volatility Chart
The current The Southern Company volatility is 1.03%, representing the standart deviation of percentage change in the investments's value, either up or down over the past month. The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.
Drawdowns Chart
The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way. It shows the maximum percentage drop from a peak to a trough over a specified period, indicating the risk of significant losses. Although chart shows positive values, it represents the percentage drop from the peak, so a value of 10% means the portfolio has dropped 10% from its highest point.
Income Statement
The income statement provides a summary of a company's revenues, expenses, and profits over a specific period. It shows how much money the company earned (revenues) and how much it spent (expenses), leading to the net income or profit. This statement is crucial for understanding a company's financial performance and profitability.
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
Liabilities And Equity (USD)
155.72B
145.18B
139.33B
134.89B
127.53B
122.94B
118.70B
116.91B
111.01B
109.70B
78.32B
70.92B
64.55B
63.15B
59.27B
55.03B
52.05B
Temporary Equity Attributable To Parent (USD)
-
-
-
-
291.00M
291.00M
291.00M
291.00M
324.00M
118.00M
118.00M
375.00M
375.00M
375.00M
-
-
-
Temporary Equity (USD)
-
-
-
-
291.00M
291.00M
291.00M
291.00M
324.00M
282.00M
161.00M
414.00M
375.00M
375.00M
-
-
-
Equity Attributable To Parent (USD)
36.02B
33.21B
31.44B
30.41B
27.87B
27.97B
27.51B
24.72B
24.17B
24.76B
20.59B
19.95B
19.01B
18.30B
17.58B
16.20B
14.88B
Equity Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest (USD)
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon warns that inflation could be a "skunk in a party" if it persists longer than expected, particularly due to geopolitical risks like the Iran conflict potentially disrupting oil supplies. While Dimon expects the Iran war to have limited inflationary impact if short-lived, he cautions investors are too complacent about inflation risks. The article recommends utility stocks, particularly the Vanguard Utilities Index Fund ETF, as a hedge against potential sustained inflation and higher energy prices.
The Motley Fool•Ben Gran
AI Insight
Major holding (6.4%) in the recommended utility ETF, positioned to benefit from increased energy demand in an inflationary environment.
The U.S. Energy Department announced a record $26.5 billion loan to Southern Company subsidiaries to upgrade power infrastructure in Georgia and Alabama, targeting over $7 billion in electricity cost savings. The funding will support gas power plants, nuclear upgrades, battery storage, and power lines to supply 15 million homes. The announcement comes amid rising electricity prices driven by AI data center expansion and coal revival efforts.
Benzinga•Namrata Sen
AI Insight
Receiving record $26.5 billion in federal loans to upgrade infrastructure, with Georgia Power getting $22.5 billion and Alabama Power $4.1 billion. This substantial investment supports grid modernization and positions the company to meet growing electricity demand.
Southern Company reported strong Q4 2025 results with operating revenue of $6.98 billion, beating consensus estimates of $6.49 billion. The company saw 4.9% year-over-year growth in kilowatt-hour sales, though adjusted EPS of 55 cents missed the consensus of 57 cents. Southern projects 2026 adjusted EPS of $4.50-$4.60, slightly below analyst consensus of $4.56. The stock rose 3.49% following the earnings announcement.
Benzinga•Lekha Gupta
AI Insight
Strong revenue beat of $6.98B vs. $6.49B consensus, solid 4.9% YoY kilowatt-hour sales growth across all segments, and customer base expansion. Despite EPS miss and slightly below-consensus 2026 guidance, the stock gained 3.49% reflecting investor confidence in the company's operational performance and growth trajectory.
The article recommends the Vanguard Utilities Index Fund ETF (VPU) as a low-risk investment option for 2026. With a 2.7% yield, 0.09% expense ratio, and a beta under 0.7, the fund offers stability and consistent dividend income through 67 utility stocks, making it suitable for risk-averse investors concerned about potential market slowdowns.
The Motley Fool•David Jagielski, Cpa
AI Insight
Listed as a top holding in VPU, representing a major utility company with low risk characteristics.
Dominion Energy is undergoing a strategic transformation, divesting gas distribution businesses and focusing on Virginia's regulated electric utility operations. The company benefits from substantial data center-driven electricity demand growth and is executing a multi-year offshore wind project. With an 8% projected rate base CAGR through 2029, the company offers a 5% dividend yield and potential 6-8% EPS growth, supported by Virginia's favorable regulatory framework that enables timely cost recovery.
Investing.com•Gurufocus
AI Insight
Peer utility with lower dividend yield (3.9%) and higher execution risk due to significant generation projects including the Vogtle nuclear build. While completed operationally, historical cost/schedule overruns create investor caution for future mega-projects.
Historical data suggests three stocks with strong December performance: RTX, Unilever, and Southern Company. These stocks have consistently gained in December over the past decades, with average returns ranging from 3.54% to 4.16%.
Investing.com•Chris Markoch
AI Insight
Benefits from AI data center growth, trades 11% below price target, is a dividend aristocrat, and has gained in 23 of the last 27 December periods with an average return of 3.54%
The utilities sector, particularly the XLU ETF, is emerging as an unexpected beneficiary of the AI boom due to massive projected increases in data center electricity demand and favorable interest rate trends.
The Motley Fool•David Dierking
AI Insight
Utility company with potential growth but facing significant capital expenditure requirements
Southern Company reported strong Q3 financial results with operating revenue growth of 7.5% to $7.82 billion and adjusted EPS of $1.60, exceeding analyst expectations. The company saw growth in kilowatt-hour sales and increased customer base across electric and gas segments.
Benzinga•Lekha Gupta
AI Insight
Beat earnings forecasts, reported revenue growth of 7.5%, increased kilowatt-hour sales in commercial and industrial sectors, and expanded total regulated utility customer base
The article recommends the Vanguard Utilities ETF as a strategic investment, highlighting its defensive characteristics, attractive yield, and potential growth driven by AI data center electricity demands.
The Motley Fool•Keith Speights
AI Insight
Experienced 13% increase in data center usage in recent quarter
Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund (UTF) is offering a rare investment opportunity with a 7.6% dividend yield, trading at a discount due to a transferable rights offering. The fund is positioned to benefit from AI-driven infrastructure and utility sector growth.
Investing.com•Brett Owens
AI Insight
Included as a notable utility stock with infrastructure investment potential
