Southern Company (The) (NYSE:SO) to Issue $0.74 Quarterly Dividend

Southern Company (The) (NYSE:SO) declared a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, January 28th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th will be paid a dividend of 0.74 per share by the utilities provider on Friday, March 6th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 17th.

Southern has raised its dividend by an average of 0.0%annually over the last three years and has increased its dividend every year for the last 25 years. Southern has a dividend payout ratio of 64.8% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Research analysts expect Southern to earn $4.59 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $2.96 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 64.5%.

Southern Stock Performance

Shares of SO stock traded up $0.39 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $88.72. 1,834,446 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,094,895. The company’s 50 day moving average is $87.51 and its two-hundred day moving average is $91.67. The company has a market cap of $97.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69, a current ratio of 0.75 and a quick ratio of 0.59. Southern has a 1 year low of $82.78 and a 1 year high of $100.83.

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

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Southern

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Cloud Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Southern during the third quarter worth approximately $25,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Southern by 275.0% during the second quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. now owns 300 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 220 shares during the last quarter. Advantage Trust Co grew its holdings in Southern by 1,428.6% in the 2nd quarter. Advantage Trust Co now owns 321 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 300 shares during the period. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Southern in the third quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, Triumph Capital Management purchased a new stake in shares of Southern during the 3rd quarter valued at $29,000. 64.10% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.