Southern Company Stock Upgraded by Evercore and KeyBanc
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 17 2026
0mins
Should l Buy SO?
Source: Yahoo Finance
- Rating Upgrade: On March 5, Evercore ISI upgraded Southern Company (NYSE:SO) from In Line to Outperform, raising its price target from $103 to $111, reflecting confidence in its core utility status and the potential for the stock to break historical highs.
- Fundamental Improvement: KeyBanc upgraded Southern Company from Underweight to Sector Weight on March 4, indicating recognition of its valuation compression relative to peers, alongside revised earnings growth guidance and positive operational news flow suggesting a stabilizing outlook.
- Capital Plan Potential: Evercore believes Southern Company is poised for stock price increases driven by potential additions to its capital plan, supported by a favorable regulatory environment and strategic economic development initiatives, reinforcing its position as a foundational utility holding business.
- Integrated Energy Services: Operating as a comprehensive energy holding firm, Southern Company manages a massive vertically integrated infrastructure, providing retail and wholesale electric services along with natural gas distribution, ensuring reliable power supply across residential, industrial, and governmental sectors nationwide.
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Analyst Views on SO
Wall Street analysts forecast SO stock price to fall
17 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
11 Hold
2 Sell
Hold
Current: 95.550
Low
45.00
Averages
92.34
High
109.00
Current: 95.550
Low
45.00
Averages
92.34
High
109.00
About SO
The Southern Company is an energy provider. The Company owns three traditional electric operating companies, Southern Power Company and Southern Company Gas. The traditional electric operating companies-Alabama Power, Georgia Power and Mississippi Power-are operating public utility companies providing electric service to retail customers in three Southeastern states in addition to wholesale customers in the Southeast. The Southern Power Company develops, constructs, acquires, owns, and manages power generation assets, including renewable energy projects, and sells electricity at market-based rates in the wholesale market. The Southern Company Gas is an energy services holding company whose primary business is the distribution of natural gas in four states - Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee, through the natural gas distribution utilities. Southern Company Gas is also involved in several other businesses that are complementary to the distribution of natural gas.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Renewable Energy Growth: The signing of these contracts follows the approval of the 2022 Integrated Resource Plan and builds on 41 megawatts completed in 2024, resulting in over 110 megawatts of new solar capacity to meet Georgia's increasing electricity demand.
- Long-Term Strategic Planning: Georgia Power plans to seek an additional 100+ megawatts of distributed solar generation over the next two years, supporting its goal to expand its renewable resource portfolio to 10,000 megawatts by 2032, further solidifying its leadership in the clean energy market.
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- Webcast Availability: Investors, media, and the public can listen to the live webcast of the conference call via the company’s website, indicating Southern Company’s dedication to improving information accessibility and transparency.
- Company Background: As a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers, Southern Company operates electric and natural gas distribution businesses, showcasing its extensive influence and diversified operations in the energy market.
See More
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Renewable Energy Commitment: This initiative is part of the company's broader commitment to increase renewable energy sources and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
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