Compared to Estimates, Southern Co. (SO) Q1 Earnings: A Look at Key Metrics

Southern Co. (SO) reported $8.4 billion in revenue for the quarter ended March 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 8%. EPS of $1.32 for the same period compares to $1.23 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.09 billion, representing a surprise of +3.81%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +9.09%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $1.21.

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how Southern Co. performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
  • Operating Revenues- Southern Company Natural Gas: $2.19 billion versus the two-analyst average estimate of $1.93 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +19.1%.
  • Operating Revenues- Southern Power: $681 million compared to the $661.7 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +20.1% year over year.
  • Operating Revenues- Natural Gas revenues: $2.19 billion compared to the $1.93 billion average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +19.1% year over year.
  • Net Income Available to Common- Southern Power: $4 million versus $110.28 million estimated by two analysts on average.
  • Net Income Available to Common- Southern Company Gas: $447 million versus $466.88 million estimated by two analysts on average.

View all Key Company Metrics for Southern Co. here>>>

Shares of Southern Co. have returned -3.5% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +12.2% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

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Southern Company (The) (SO) : Free Stock Analysis Report

This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Zacks Investment Research

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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