Southern Company (The) $SO Position Lessened by Hantz Financial Services Inc.

Hantz Financial Services Inc. lowered its position in Southern Company (The) (NYSE:SO) by 9.1% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 79,938 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 7,980 shares during the quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc.’s holdings in Southern were worth $7,576,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Gladstone Institutional Advisory LLC grew its position in Southern by 0.5% in the third quarter. Gladstone Institutional Advisory LLC now owns 21,461 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $2,034,000 after acquiring an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Southern by 0.7% in the third quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 15,230 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,443,000 after purchasing an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC increased its position in Southern by 2.3% during the second quarter. Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC now owns 4,697 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $431,000 after buying an additional 106 shares during the last quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC raised its holdings in Southern by 0.7% during the third quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 15,667 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $1,485,000 after buying an additional 106 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sara Bay Financial lifted its position in shares of Southern by 2.7% in the third quarter. Sara Bay Financial now owns 4,133 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $392,000 after buying an additional 108 shares during the last quarter. 64.10% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Southern Trading Up 0.1%

Shares of Southern stock opened at $90.23 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $99.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.33, a PEG ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.45. Southern Company has a 1 year low of $82.90 and a 1 year high of $100.83. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $87.51 and its 200-day simple moving average is $91.54. The company has a current ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69.

Southern Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 17th will be paid a $0.74 dividend. This represents a $2.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.3%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 17th. Southern’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 73.27%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. Morgan Stanley reissued an “underweight” rating and set a $85.00 price objective on shares of Southern in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. KeyCorp lowered their price target on Southern from $87.00 to $76.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, December 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of Southern from $104.00 to $93.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, December 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of Southern from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $98.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Finally, TD Cowen reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Southern in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $94.91.

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.