Акции Southern Company упали на фоне высоких ставок и регуляторных рисков

Atlanta, Georgia-based The Southern Company (SO) generates, transmits, and distributes electricity. Valued at $101.6 billion by market cap, the company also offers wireless telecommunications services, provides businesses with two-way radio, telephone, paging, and internet access services, and wholesales fiber optic solutions. Companies worth $10 billion or more are generally described as "large-cap stocks," and SO definitely fits that description, with its market cap exceeding this threshold, reflecting its substantial size, influence, and dominance in the utilities - regulated electric industry. SO has a robust foundation, with strong finances, a skilled workforce, and extensive infrastructure, including power plants and transmission lines. The company's expertise in navigating complex regulatory environments and influencing energy policy is a key asset. More News from Barchart - A Potential SpaceX Deal Could Meaningfully Accelerate Growth for Technip Stock - Fears of an Extended US-Iran Conflict Boost Crude Oil Prices - Nat-Gas Prices Rise on Hotter US Weather and Expectations of Smaller Storage - Tired of missing midday reversals? The FREE Barchart Brief newsletter keeps you in the know. Sign up now! Despite its notable strength, SO slipped 11.7% from its 52-week high of $100.84, achieved on Oct. 16, 2025. Over the past three months, SO stock has declined 2%, underperforming the Dow Jones Industrials Average's ($DOWI) 5.3% gains during the same time frame. Shares of SO rose 1.7% on a YTD basis but dipped 3.3% over the past 52 weeks, underperforming DOWI's YTD 11% gains and 17.9% returns over the last year. To confirm the recent bearish trend, SO has been trading below its 50-day moving average since late July, with slight fluctuations. The stock is trading below its 200-day moving average since early August, with slight fluctuations. SO's relative underperformance was driven by persistent high interest rates, which raised debt-servicing costs for its capital-intensive projects and squeezed dividend yields relative to risk-free bonds. Worries over equity dilution from large-scale debt financing like its multi-billion dollar convertible notes offering weighed on sentiment, while potential regulatory friction in core markets like Georgia and a broader market rotation into high-growth tech stocks capped its valuation upside. On Jul. 30, SO shares closed down by 1.8% after reporting its Q2 results. Its adjusted EPS of $1.13 topped Wall Street expectations of $1.01. The company's revenue was $7 billion, falling short of Wall Street forecasts of $7.4 billion.