Valued at a market cap of $98.8 billion, The Southern Company (SO) is a leading U.S. energy utility holding company with a strong presence across the southeastern United States. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the firm serves approximately 9 million electric and gas utility customers through a diversified portfolio of subsidiaries, including Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Mississippi Power, and Southern Company Gas.

Companies worth $10 billion or more are generally described as “large-cap” stocks, and SO fits right into that category, with its market cap exceeding this threshold. Its market leadership stems from its stable, regulated utility model, strong geographic presence across the high-growth Southeastern U.S., and a diversified energy portfolio that includes nuclear, natural gas, renewables, and coal. 

The stock is currently down 5.2% from its 52-week high of $94.45, which it hit on Oct. 24. Shares of SO have plunged 1.4% over the past three months, compared to the broader Dow Jones Industrial Average’s ($DOWI) 1.6% fall during the same time frame.

Moreover, SO shares have soared 8.8% in 2025 and 11.4% over the past 52 weeks. By contrast, $DOWI is down marginally on a YTD basis and has surged 10.2% over the past 52 weeks.

Despite fluctuations, SO has been hovering above its 200-day moving average since early February but has fallen below its 50-day moving average since early May. 

Southern Company delivered a better-than-expected Q1 2025 on May 1, posting adjusted EPS of $1.23 and revenue of $7.8 billion, up 19.4% and 17% year over year, respectively. The data center electricity consumption grew by 11%, reflecting the sector's expanding energy needs. Additionally, the board approved an 8-cent annual dividend increase to $2.96 per share, marking the 24th consecutive year of dividend growth.

However, its shares dipped marginally post results as the company issued a softer Q2 EPS guidance of $0.85, below prior-year levels and investor expectations. Management attributed this to weather normalization and timing issues in Georgia's transmission system.

SO’s top competitor in the utilities sector, Iberdrola, S.A. (IBDRY), has outperformed, with its shares up 31.7% in 2025 and 35.4% over the past 52 weeks.

Further, Wall Street analysts remain fairly upbeat on SO’s prospects. The stock holds a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating from the 20 analysts covering it. The mean target of $95.03 suggests a potential upside of 6.1% from the current market prices.