June 05, 2025 a 05:00 pm
SO: Analysts Ratings - The Southern Company
The Southern Company maintains its robust position in the energy sector with stable market operations and a significant customer base. Recent analyst ratings reflect a cautious sentiment, with a prevalence of 'Hold' recommendations, indicative of a balanced outlook amidst industry transformations. The company’s diverse portfolio in renewables and traditional energy sources offers potential growth prospects but also poses exposure to regulatory changes.
Historical Stock Grades
| Recommendation | Count | Score Bar |
|---|---|---|
| Strong Buy | 3 | |
| Buy | 3 | |
| Hold | 12 | |
| Sell | 1 | |
| Strong Sell | 1 |
Sentiment Development
Over recent months, there has been a marked shift towards more conservative ratings, with a noticeable increase in 'Hold' recommendations indicating market caution. Analysts seem to prefer waiting for clearer market indicators. Strong Buy ratings have decreased, reflecting possibly increased risk perception or valuation concerns.
- The 'Hold' rating has been dominant in recent assessments, highlighting caution.
- A decrease in 'Buy' and 'Strong Buy' ratings suggests skepticism about near-term catalysts.
Percentage Trends
The analyst sentiment for The Southern Company indicates an increasing level of caution. Over time, we observe a balanced weight between Buy/Strong Buy and more conservative Hold/Sell ratings. Analysts show restraint, likely due to macroeconomic factors.
- Strong Buy ratings decreased from around 15% to 10%, reflecting growing caution.
- Hold ratings increased to approximately 60%, denoting conservatism in sentiment.
- Recent trends highlight increased restraint, possibly due to regulatory impacts on the energy sector.
Latest Analyst Recommendations
| Date | New Recommendation | Last Recommendation | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-05-14 | Underweight | Sector Weight | Keybanc |
| 2025-05-02 | Equal Weight | Equal Weight | Wells Fargo |
| 2025-05-02 | Neutral | Neutral | Guggenheim |
| 2025-05-02 | In Line | In Line | Evercore ISI Group |
| 2025-04-22 | Equal Weight | Equal Weight | Barclays |
Analyst Recommendations with Change of Opinion
| Date | New Recommendation | Last Recommendation | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-05-14 | Underweight | Sector Weight | Keybanc |
| 2025-04-08 | Neutral | Underweight | JP Morgan |
| 2024-09-16 | Neutral | Outperform | Mizuho |
| 2024-08-02 | Peer Perform | Outperform | Wolfe Research |
| 2024-04-04 | Neutral | Buy | UBS |
Interpretation
Analyst sentiments for The Southern Company suggest a careful approach amidst recent market conditions. The predominant 'Hold' recommendations indicate a period of reassessment, where analysts weigh potential gains against uncertainties in regulatory environments. The balance in ratings suggests current market confidence remains neutral, neither overtly pessimistic nor optimistically bullish. However, recent downgrades imply a cautious stance due to industry challenges.
Conclusion
The Southern Company's stock elicits a neutral outlook from analysts, balancing stable utilities operations with sector-specific uncertainties. While growth opportunities exist, particularly in renewables, potential regulatory risks remain a concern. The trend of increasing 'Hold' ratings suggests a need for clear industry direction before a strong investor recommendation. Analysts remain watchful, suggesting a stable but tentative position on the company's future trajectory.