The Southern Company
SOUtilitiesNASDAQUtilities - Regulated Electric
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Daily timeframeHeadquartered within the utilities sector, The Southern Company focuses on Utilities - Regulated Electric services and products. The Southern Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the sale of electricity. The $107.43B market capitalization puts SO squarely in large-cap range for its industry. The company offers electric service to retail customers and wholesale customers; and energy-related products and services to natural gas choice markets.
Market Cap
$107.43B
Beta
0.33
P/E (TTM)
24.56
P/E (Fwd)
19.38
EPS (TTM)
$3.88
EPS (Fwd)
$4.92
ROE
11.0%
ROA
3.2%
Cash
$981.0M
Total Debt
$76.00B
Free CF
-$3.95B
52W Change
1.3%
Annual Financials
Cash vs Debt
The company holds $981.0M in cash, though total debt stands at $76.00B. This level of leverage is common in the industry but worth monitoring as interest rate conditions evolve. Free cash flow is running at -$3.95B, which bears watching. Negative free cash flow can be acceptable during heavy investment periods but needs to improve over time. ROE of 11.0% points to decent capital efficiency, indicating how much profit the company produces per dollar of shareholder equity. ROA of 3.2% is on the lower side, which is common in asset-heavy industries. Revenue has been relatively flat, moving from $29.28B (2022) to $29.55B (2025).
The relatively low beta of 0.33 suggests SO is a less volatile holding compared to the broader index. Debt significantly exceeds cash reserves, which means the company's financial flexibility could be constrained during economic downturns. The company is burning cash at the operating level, which is not unusual for growth-phase companies but adds risk if it persists. It is important to consider these factors alongside broader market conditions and individual financial goals when reviewing SO.