Fact based stock research
Southern (NYSE:SO)

US8425871071

How to read the free ranks

For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".

Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".

Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.

Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.

(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).

(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.

Southern stock research in summary

southerncompany.com

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 10 (worse than 90% compared with investment alternatives), Southern (Electric Utilities, USA) shares have lower financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Southern are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 17 (worse than 83% of alternatives), show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 47), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 40), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 10, is a sell recommendation based on Southern's financial characteristics. As the company Southern's key financial metrics all exhibit below-average performance, such as low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 17), low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 47), and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 40), it is a somewhat questionable stock investment, where the risk of paying too much for the shares is significant, unless the company has an exceptionally bright future. Such poor financial performance sometimes indicates that the company's business is all concentrated in some distant future. This is sometimes the case for high-tech or biotechnology companies. If they own properties that only provide cash flows in the future, the stock may look excessively expensive and risky today. In such cases, the Obermatt Method has limited value as it is based on facts we can observe today. If the facts are all in the future, stock investing becomes guesswork, and this should only be a driver in a limited number of investments that should only amount to a small fraction of a safe portfolio. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more

Latest Obermatt Ranks


360° View^new
Sentiment Rank^new
Value Rank	17
Growth Rank	47
Safety Rank	40
Combined Rank	10

Country	USA
Industry	Electric Utilities
Index	Low Emissions, Nuclear, S&P 500
Size class	XX-Large

This stock has achievements: Top 10 Stock.

19-Dec-2024. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.

Further information

Multiple opinions. One number.

Analysts rarely agree on a stock’s future. So, who do you believe? Obermatt translates those collective views into a single Sentiment Rank. That plus the financial ranks give you the ultimate 360° View. Sign up to access them.

Why popular stocks have low ratings

It’s easier said than done. When your stock drops, it’s easy to want to sell it and find a better performer. Think twice, or even three times, before trading. Those fees (especially the hidden ones) can eat up your gains.

Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.

Research History: Southern

RESEARCH HISTORY	2021	2022	2023	2024
VALUE
VALUE	18	51	14	17
GROWTH
GROWTH	55	37	43	47
SAFETY
SAFETY	30	44	54	40
SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT	n/a	9	44	^new
360° VIEW
360° VIEW	n/a	9	18	^new

Most recent update of the stock research: 19-Dec-2024. Financial reporting date used for calculating ranks: 30-Sep-2024. Stock research history is based on the Obermatt Method. The higher the rank, the better Southern is in the corresponding investment strategy.
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Combined financial peformance in Detail

RESEARCH HISTORY	2021	2022	2023	2024
VALUE
VALUE	18	51	14	17
GROWTH
GROWTH	55	37	43	47
SAFETY
SAFETY	30	44	54	40
COMBINED
COMBINED	18	38	18	10

Last update of combined financial performance: 19-Dec-2024. Stock analysis on combined financial performance: The higher the rank of Southern the better the performance.

Value Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 17 (worse than 83% compared with alternatives), Southern shares are significantly more expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all four indicators below average for Southern. Price-to-Sales is 20 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 80% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning Southern's sales levels. Price-to-Book Capital (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) also has a low Price-to-Book Rank of 16, which means that both reliable company size indicators, sales, and invested capital cannot explain the high stock price of Southern. In addition, the two profit-related value indicators, Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a low rank of 25 and Dividend Yield, which is lower than 57% of comparable companies, also make the stock more expensive compared with investment alternatives. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 17, is a sell recommendation based on Southern's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. How can market participants pay such a high price for Southern? One reason may be that the company is simply too popular. If enough people want a particular stock, its price can exceed reasonable levels. This is often the case for companies offering new and exciting products and everybody wants a piece of the action. Should you pay a lot for a hot stock such as Southern? It's risky, and even if the stock price continues to grow because of popular demand, it may return to more typical lower levels later. And that return can be sudden and quick, making it impossible for retail investors to exit on time. Sometimes, high prices are deserved. This is the case when it is justified to believe that the company will dominate a market with high profit margins. It has happened in the past for many technology companies and indeed for commercially successful pharmaceutical discoveries. Sometimes they last, sometimes, they get eaten alive. Southern may be such a type of stock. That would mean, retail investors should be careful, only considering investing a small part of their wealth in this exciting category and always being ready to lose more than half, if not all of the investment. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision, which is essential in this case, as the financial indicators are inconclusive. ...read more

VALUE METRICS	2021	2022	2023	2024
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)	18	38	21	20
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)	27	49	25	25
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)	24	31	13	16
DIVIDEND YIELD
DIVIDEND YIELD	71	65	48	43
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE	18	51	14	17

Last update of Value Rank: 19-Dec-2024. Stock analysis on value ratios: The higher the rank, the lower the value ratio of Southern; except for dividend yield where the rank is higher, the higher the yield.

Growth Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 47 (better than 47% compared with alternatives), Southern shows a below-average growth dynamic in its industry. There is limited momentum in this company. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with half of the indicators below and half above average for Southern. Profit Growth has a rank of 80, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its profits more than 80% of its competitors. This is a good sign for shareholders, which is confirmed by an above-average Stock Returns rank of 61 (above 61% of alternative investments). But Sales Growth has a below the median rank of 36, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow less than 64% of its competitors, and Capital Growth also has a lower rank of 34. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 47, is a hold recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Because revenues and invested capital are the more solid growth indicators, the positive development on the profit side is less relevant. It may have been caused by cost-cutting, which may be a negative growth indicator. Finally, the above-average stock returns recently are a thing of the past and not a good indicator of future returns. Investors should be confident that the cost-cutting initiative leading to higher profits is to benefit the company's future. If not, there is little growth momentum, and investment is only advisable if the Value Ranks suggest a good investment timing for Southern. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case, especially since the growth performance is mixed here. ...read more

GROWTH METRICS	2021	2022	2023	2024
REVENUE GROWTH
REVENUE GROWTH	55	47	38	36
PROFIT GROWTH
PROFIT GROWTH	1	32	32	80
CAPITAL GROWTH
CAPITAL GROWTH	n/a	17	35	34
STOCK RETURNS
STOCK RETURNS	47	73	89	61
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH	55	37	43	47

Last update of Growth Rank: 19-Dec-2024. Stock analysis on growth metrics: The higher the rank, the higher the growth and returns of Southern.

Safety Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 40 (better than 40% compared with alternatives), the company Southern has financing practices on the riskier side, which means that their overall debt burden is above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of Southern is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with just one indicator above average for Southern and the other two below average. Refinancing is at 68, meaning the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 68% of its competitors. But Leverage is high with a rank of 26, meaning the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 74% of its competitors. Liquidity is also on the riskier side with a rank of 37, meaning the company generates less profit to service its debt than 63% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 40 (worse than 60% compared with alternatives), Southern has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. A good Refinancing Rank means that the problems of the company may not be around the corner. But high Leverage is only good if things go well, and low Liquidity is a signal for caution. The financing signals for Southern are on the riskier side, requiring the company's future to be on the safer side. Investors may want to look at Growth and Sentiment ranks before making an investment decision. In the long-term, investors may have a debt challenge with Southern and should also compare Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks before making a decision. ...read more

SAFETY METRICS	2021	2022	2023	2024
LEVERAGE
LEVERAGE	29	26	30	26
REFINANCING
REFINANCING	35	62	58	68
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY	33	55	57	37
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY	30	44	54	40

Last update of Safety Rank: 19-Dec-2024. Stock analysis on safety metrics: The higher the rank, the lower the leverage of Southern and the more cash is available to service its debt.

Sentiment Metrics in Detail

SENTIMENT	2021	2022	2023	2024
ANALYST OPINIONS
ANALYST OPINIONS	n/a	27	61	^new
OPINIONS CHANGE
OPINIONS CHANGE	n/a	50	36	^new
PRO HOLDINGS
PRO HOLDINGS	n/a	27	80	^new
MARKET PULSE
MARKET PULSE	n/a	36	23	^new
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT	n/a	9	44	^new

Last update of Sentiment Rank: 19-Dec-2024. Stock analysis on sentiment metrics: The higher the rank, the more positive the sentiment for Southern.
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