Southern Company (SO) fair value: what the stock is really worth
As of Oct 21, 2026: fair value (intrinsic value) of Southern Company stock $57.57, price $90.39, upside -36.3%, quality 40 out of 100. Rating: strongly overvalued. Calculated from audited financials with 26 valuation models and 37 quality factors, updated daily.
69 individual criteria per stock, every one traceableSee the method →
Price vs Fair Value
White line = price, green steps = our fair value per fiscal year, dashed = 300-day average. As of Oct 22, 2026.
How to read this chart
60‑month range $51.43 – $97.49 · fair‑value band $29.99 – $74.84 · the $90.39 price screens above the $57.57 fair value. Green steps = our fair value per fiscal year (point-in-time, no hindsight). Dashed = 300-day average. As of Oct 22, 2026.
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The Southern Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the sale of electricity. The company offers electric service to retail customers and wholesale customers; and energy-related products and services to natural gas choice markets.
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It also develops, constructs, acquires, owns, operates, and manages power generation assets, as well as battery energy storage projects; sells electricity at market-based rates in the wholesale market; and deploys microgrids for commercial, industrial, governmental, and utility customers.
In addition, the company is involved in the distribution of natural gas in Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee; distributes energy and resilience solutions; and invests in telecommunications. The Southern Company was incorporated in 1945 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Stock analysis
Southern Company (SO) currently trades at $90.39, while our model-based Fair Value estimate is $57.57, 36.3% below the price, so the stock looks overvalued today.
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Valuation
Bull case: the Growth Earnings group reads highest at a median of $57.57 per share, and 0 of the 15 models we run sit above the $90.39 price.
Bear case: the Economic Profit group reads lowest at $14.36, and 15 of the 15 models stay below the price. Data coverage for this calculation is medium.
Scenario range: $29.99 (bear) to $74.84 (bull), the price of $90.39 sits above it. Bear and bull are the same models on cautious and optimistic assumptions, a range, not a price target.
Quality & growth
The Quality Score stands at 40/100 (below-average quality), in the Utilities sector.
Expensive Growth: The company is growing, but growth may require heavy reinvestment or weak cash conversion.
Southern Company reported revenue of $29.6B in FY2025 versus $23.1B in FY2021, a compound +6.3%/yr. Reported net income was $4.3B in FY2025, compounding +15.9%/yr from FY2021.
Key figures
Market cap $103B Large · P/E ratio 21.8 · P/S ratio 3.42 · EPS (TTM) $4.15 · Dividend yield 3.3% · Net margin 15.4% · Return on equity 11.5% · Return on assets (EBIT) 4.1%.
Competitive moat
Our AI-assisted moat analysis scores the competitive advantage at 61 out of 100 (medium confidence).
What moves the price
The share trades about 7% below its 52-week high and 10% above its 52-week low, currently below its 200-day average.
For context, the median of 10 Utilities peers we cover trades at −37% fair-value upside, at −36%, SO screens cheaper than that median.
Fair Value models
Bear$29.99Fair Value $57.57Bull$74.84
Price $90.39 · Upside -36.3%
Model ⓘEach model values the company its own way (discounted cash flow, earnings, assets, dividends). The fair value above starts from their evidence-weighted blend, not from a single model. In cyclical trough or peak years, after dilution or a stock split it is adjusted afterwards, so it can sit above or below the models. Based on fiscal year 2025 figures (about 10 months old). Earnings retained since then ($0.9456 per share) are deliberately not added.Bear ⓘBear = the cautious scenario: the same model computed with conservative anchors (lower growth, margins and valuation multiples). Together with Bull it frames a plausible valuation range, not a price target.BaseBull ⓘBull = the optimistic scenario: the same model computed with favourable anchors (higher growth, margins and valuation multiples). Together with Bear it frames a plausible valuation range, not a price target. If a model's bull case is above four times its base value, the table shows that limit with a > sign (like the overall Bull above): beyond it no assumption holds.Coverage ⓘCoverage = how well-backed THIS model's estimate is for this stock (0–100): how complete and reliable its input data are, and how well the model fits the company. The final Fair Value is an evidence-weighted blend, so better-evidenced models count more. Green ≥70, amber 50–69, grey below 50.
Growth Quality ⓘGrowth is valuable only when reinvestment earns attractive returns (Aswath Damodaran): sustainable growth depends on return on capital, reinvestment and efficiency. Basis: total company revenue over the periods shown on the cards (3Y/5Y/all years), not per share, so a merger can show up as a growth jump; per-share earnings growth is in the value-creation card.42/100
The company is growing, but growth may require heavy reinvestment or weak cash conversion.
Revenue growth 1 year
+10.6%
Revenue growth 3 years ⓘMeasures the company's TOTAL revenue from reported annual statements: compound average growth per year (CAGR) from the fiscal year 3, 5 or N years back to the most recent comparable fiscal year. Not per share: buybacks do not change this number, and a merger can appear as a growth jump. Per-share growth (which does include buybacks) is in the value-creation card.
+0.3%
Revenue growth 5 years ⓘMeasures the company's TOTAL revenue from reported annual statements: compound average growth per year (CAGR) from the fiscal year 3, 5 or N years back to the most recent comparable fiscal year. Not per share: buybacks do not change this number, and a merger can appear as a growth jump. Per-share growth (which does include buybacks) is in the value-creation card.
+7.7%
Start year 2020 (pandemic). Over 10 years: +5.4% a year
Revenue growth 40 years ⓘMeasures the company's TOTAL revenue from reported annual statements: compound average growth per year (CAGR) from the fiscal year 3, 5 or N years back to the most recent comparable fiscal year. Not per share: buybacks do not change this number, and a merger can appear as a growth jump. Per-share growth (which does include buybacks) is in the value-creation card.
+3.7%
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What shareholders gained per year (last 5 years) ⓘWhat the business itself delivers per year: earnings growth per share plus the dividend yield. This is what you get IF the market keeps valuing the stock the same way: it contains no assumption about the market changing its mind. Computed per share, so buybacks count and a merger does not pass as growth. For a company that pays no dividend it is pure earnings growth per share. Period: earnings growth per share as CAGR over the last 5 reported fiscal years (annual statements), plus the current dividend yield. The start value is the median of the three years around the start, so a single crisis year (a pandemic or a write-down) does not distort the rate.
+9.0%
Earnings growth per share plus dividend.
Earnings per share, growth per year+5.7%
Dividend (yield on the price)3.3%
Pace: 5 vs 10 years ⓘTwo data points, not a trend model: earnings growth per share over the last 5 fiscal years against the last 10. Labelled "steady" when both rates are within 3 percentage points of each other, otherwise picking up or flattening. Shown only when ten years of history exist.5.7% vs 4.5%, steady
Profit margin 2020 to 2025 ⓘOperating margin then vs now, from reported annual statements. A falling margin after a boom year is the classic peak-earnings signal: the growth rate then leans on an inflated base.24% → 25%
News mood ⓘNews mood, the average tone of recent news (97 articles), rated against how stocks are usually covered. 🚀 Hype = unusually upbeat · 🙂 Positive = above average · 😐 Neutral = typical · 🙁 Negative = below average · 😨 Very negative = unusually downbeat. It reflects the tone of coverage, not our valuation.Positive
Recent news coverage is more positive than average.
AI conclusion: Locked-in large-load contracts with data centers form the main strength while the regulated model faces pressure to allocate rising capital costs fairly across customers as the central weakness.
Main risk: Regulatory scrutiny on fair cost allocation between new data-center loads and existing customers could constrain regulated returns on the expanded capital plan.
Southern Company has locked in over 17 gigawatts of large-load contracts, mostly data centers, with another 8 gigawatts in late-stage talks. This surge drives a sharply higher capital spending plan, yet the regulated model must still allocate costs fairly between new and existing customers. Our models currently see the stock as overvalued. Will the growth in demand generate enough regulated returns to offset the scale of new investment, or will rate pressures limit the upside?
Price, fair value, quality and upside side by side.
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Peer GroupⓘHow this stock ranks against its industry: the green marker is this stock, the band is the typical 25–75% peer range, and the tick is the median.Utilities - Regulated Electric · 157 stocks
Beats the industry median on 5/14 measures
Overall it trails its industry peers.
Valuation
Quality Score40 · Below median
Fair Value upside−36.3% · Below median
Profitability
Return on equity (12 months)11.5% · Above median
Return on assets2.8% · Below median
Net margin (12 months)15.4% · Above median
Operating margin (12 months)29.6% · Top 25%
Growth and dividend
Revenue growth (quarter YoY)0.1% · Below median
Dividend yield (12 months)3.3% · Above median
Balance sheet
Debt / equity1.80× · Highest 25%
Valuation Multiplesvs Utilities - Regulated Electric median · lower = cheaper
P/E (12 months)21.8× · Pricier than median
P/B2.86× · Priciest 25%
P/S (12 months)3.42× · Priciest 25%
EV/EBITDA11.7× · Pricier than median
PEG1.97× · Cheaper than median
Strength profile in five axes (Snowflake)
This stockSector peers
VALUE (fair-value potential)0· sector 11
FUTURE (revenue growth)1· sector 19
PAST (return on equity)46· sector 39
HEALTH (low debt)10· sector 52
DIVIDEND (yield)66· sector 65
VALUE 0: the price sits above our fair-value range.
For bloggers, editors and developers: paste this into your site or blog (a “Custom HTML” block in WordPress), it shows the current fair value and links back here. Free, plain HTML, and welcome. Full data streams (CSV/JSON) at /developers.
Cite: Fair Value Calculator (2026). "Southern Company Fair Value". https://www.fairvalue-calculator.com/stock/SO
Frequently asked questions
Is Southern Company (SO) overvalued or undervalued?
As of Oct 22, 2026, our model estimates a fair value of $57.57 versus a price of $90.39, about −36% upside (overvalued).
What is the fair value of SO?
Our model-based fair value for Southern Company is $57.57 (as of Oct 22, 2026), built from audited fundamentals. The current price: $90.39.
What is the quality score of SO?
Southern Company has a Quality Score of 40/100. It measures business quality (profitability, growth, cash flow, balance-sheet strength, investment discipline, share issuance). Market factors such as price momentum and volatility do not enter the number; they are shown separately in the detail view.
What is the price target for Southern Company (SO)?
Our model-based price target is the fair value of $57.57 (as of Oct 22, 2026) from 15 valuation models. Cautious scenario $29.99, optimistic scenario $74.84. It is a calculation from audited fundamentals, not an analyst target.
What is the Southern Company stock forecast for 2026?
Our models put fair value at $57.57, about −36% upside versus a price of $90.39 (overvalued). Cautious scenario $29.99, optimistic scenario $74.84. The calculation is refreshed regularly with new filings.
What is the revenue of Southern Company (SO)?
Southern Company reported trailing-twelve-month revenue of about $30.2B (latest available figure, as of Oct 22, 2026).
Does Southern Company pay a dividend?
Southern Company currently shows a dividend yield of 3.30% relative to its recent price (as of Oct 22, 2026).
What is the intrinsic value of Southern Company (SO)?
Intrinsic value and fair value mean the same thing: what the business is worth on its numbers, independent of the share price. For Southern Company it is $57.57 per share (as of Oct 22, 2026), against a price of $90.39. It is the blended result of 15 valuation models (cash flow, earnings, asset, dividend).
Is Southern Company stock overvalued or undervalued in 2026?
As of Oct 22, 2026, SO trades above its calculated fair value: price $90.39, fair value $57.57, a gap of about −36% (overvalued). The calculation is refreshed with each new quarterly report, so the verdict can change during the year.
Is fair value the same as the market price of SO?
No. The price is what the market pays today ($90.39); the fair value is what the company's own numbers justify ($57.57). For Southern Company the two are $32.82 per share apart. That gap is exactly why we show both numbers side by side.
How much is Southern Company worth?
The market values Southern Company at about $103B (market capitalisation, as of Oct 22, 2026). Per share that is $90.39; our models calculate a fair value of $57.57 per share.
What do the bullish and bearish scenarios say about SO?
Our models span a range for Southern Company: cautious scenario $29.99, base $57.57, optimistic $74.84 per share (as of Oct 22, 2026, price $90.39). The range comes from different growth and margin assumptions, not from analyst opinions.
What is the P/E ratio of SO?
Southern Company trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.8 (as of Oct 22, 2026). A P/E on its own says little: it compares the price with ONE year of profit, while our fair value of $57.57 is built from several models across several years. Other multiples: PEG 2.0, P/B 2.9, P/S 3.4, EV/EBITDA 11.7.
What is the PEG ratio of SO?
The PEG ratio of Southern Company is 1.97 (P/E divided by earnings growth, as of Oct 22, 2026). That is above 1, so the growth is already paid for in the price.
How solid is the balance sheet of Southern Company (SO)?
Balance-sheet figures for Southern Company (as of Oct 22, 2026): return on equity 11.5%, debt of 1.80 per unit of equity. They feed the Quality Score of 40/100, which measures business quality independently of the share price.
How far is SO from its 52-week high?
Southern Company trades at $90.39, about 7% below its 52-week high of $97.49 and 10% above the low of $82.06 (as of Oct 21, 2026). Distance from the high says nothing about value: that is what the fair value of $57.57 is for.
Which stocks are comparable to Southern Company?
From the same area (Utilities) we also value NextEra Energy, Inc, Duke Energy Corporation, American Electric Power Company, Dominion Energy, Inc, among others. Each of them has its own fair-value calculation on this site using the same models, so the comparison is like for like.
Is Southern Company stock attractive at the current price?
The data as of Oct 22, 2026: price $90.39, calculated fair value $57.57 (−36%), Quality Score 40/100, from 15 models. Whether that fits your horizon and risk tolerance is your call. We provide the calculation, not investment advice.
How is the fair value of SO calculated?
We run Southern Company through 15 models from four families: discounted cash flow, earnings models, asset and balance-sheet models, and dividend models. Every model gets the same audited fundamentals; the result is the weighted average of $57.57, with the spread shown as a cautious and an optimistic scenario.
Is it still worth investing in stocks now?
The global stock market currently sits 13.6 % above its aggregate fair value. Southern Company itself currently trades above fair value. An expensive market is no reason to stay out and no reason to buy everything at once: keep a broad savings plan running, buy single stocks only with money you can do without, and hold part of your money liquid while the market is high. The full picture including sectors is on is it worth investing now.
What is the share price of Southern Company (SO)?
The closing price on Oct 21, 2026 was $90.39. Our model-based fair value is $57.57, about −36% upside (overvalued). We carry closing prices from our data provider, not a live tick.
What should I pay attention to with Southern Company right now?
The price sits above even our optimistic bull case ($74.84). The favourable scenario is already priced in. Weak quality (40/100) and above fair value at the same time, the margin of safety is missing on both counts. A fairly wide model range ($29.99 to $74.84) leaves room in how you read the outcome.
Where does the earnings growth of Southern Company (SO) come from?
Earnings per share at Southern Company grew +5.0 % a year from 2014 to 2025. Broken into its drivers: revenue per share +2.4 %, EBIT margin +1.2 %, tax rate +2.3 %, residual (interest, one-offs) −1.0 %. The four rates multiply to the earnings growth rate, they do not add up. Start and end are three-year averages so a single exceptional year does not distort the result.
Key figures of Southern Company
How large is the market capitalisation of Southern Company (SO)?
The market capitalisation of Southern Company is $103B. The stock-market value of the whole company: share price times number of shares. It is what the market asks for the entire business today.
What is the P/S ratio of Southern Company (SO)?
The price-to-sales ratio of Southern Company is 3.42 (last twelve months). Price to sales: market value relative to yearly revenue. Useful when profit is thin or distorted.
What are the earnings per share of Southern Company (SO)?
Earnings per share at Southern Company are $4.15 (price ÷ EPS = P/E 21.8). Earnings per share over the last twelve months: total profit spread across every single share.
What is the dividend yield of Southern Company (SO)?
The dividend yield of Southern Company is 3.3% (payout 71.8%). Yearly dividend relative to the share price. 3% pays 3 per 100 invested. Below: how much of profit is used for it.
What is the net margin of Southern Company (SO)?
The net margin of Southern Company is 15.4% (last twelve months). How much of every unit of revenue ends up as profit. 10% means 10 cents of profit per dollar of sales.
What is the return on equity of Southern Company (SO)?
The return on equity (ROE) of Southern Company is 11.5% (last twelve months). Profit relative to shareholders' equity, how efficiently the company works with its owners' money.
What is the EBIT return on assets of Southern Company (SO)?
On an EBIT basis the return on assets of Southern Company is 4.1% (avg 5y). Operating profit (EBIT) relative to everything the company owns, as a multi-year average. It describes the business model rather than one good or bad year.
What is the operating margin of Southern Company (SO)?
The operating margin of Southern Company is 29.6% (last twelve months). Profit from the core business (before interest and taxes) relative to revenue.
How fast is revenue growing at Southern Company (SO)?
Revenue at Southern Company is growing +0.1% versus a year earlier (3y avg +0.3%). How much revenue grew versus a year earlier (YoY). The 3-year average next to it puts the single year in context.
How fast are earnings growing at Southern Company (SO)?
Earnings per share at Southern Company are growing +30.4% versus a year earlier. How much earnings per share grew versus a year earlier.
How much free cash flow does Southern Company (SO) generate?
The free cash flow of Southern Company is −$3.6B (fiscal year 2025). The cash truly left after running and investing in the business, this is what pays dividends and buybacks.
How much net debt does Southern Company (SO) carry?
The net debt of Southern Company is $64.2B (fiscal year 2025). Debt minus cash on hand. The note shows how many years of free cash flow could in theory pay it off.
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Oct 22, 2026