Southern Company Tops FORTUNE's 2026 Most Admired Companies List
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 16h ago
0mins
Source: PRnewswire
- Industry Leadership: Southern Company has been recognized as the top company in the electric and gas utilities sector for 2026, highlighting its exceptional financial soundness and long-term investment value, which further solidifies its market leadership.
- Employee Recognition: CEO Chris Womack emphasized that the dedication of 28,000 employees is central to the company's success, indicating that employee engagement and commitment are crucial for customer service, thereby enhancing trust in the company.
- Continuous Innovation: Southern Company's consistent presence on FORTUNE's Most Admired Companies list since 1997 reflects its outstanding performance across nine key attributes, including innovation and social responsibility, which enhances its brand reputation and market competitiveness.
- Diverse Service Network: As a leading energy provider, Southern Company serves 9 million customers through its subsidiaries across the Southeast and beyond, showcasing its extensive influence in electricity and natural gas distribution while driving expansion into renewable energy and telecommunications services.
Analyst Views on SO
Wall Street analysts forecast SO stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for SO is 92.34 USD with a low forecast of 45.00 USD and a high forecast of 109.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
17 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
11 Hold
2 Sell
Hold
Current: 88.820
Low
45.00
Averages
92.34
High
109.00
Current: 88.820
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.
