Welch Group LLC Decreases Holdings in The Southern Company (NYSE:SO)

Welch Group LLC lessened its stake in shares of The Southern Company (NYSE:SO - Free Report) by 0.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 780,346 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 5,375 shares during the quarter. Southern accounts for about 2.9% of Welch Group LLC's holdings, making the stock its 8th biggest holding. Welch Group LLC owned approximately 0.07% of Southern worth $64,285,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC purchased a new position in Southern in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Southern by 168.1% during the 3rd quarter. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC now owns 311 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 195 shares in the last quarter. WFA Asset Management Corp boosted its holdings in Southern by 84.9% in the 4th quarter. WFA Asset Management Corp now owns 429 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 197 shares during the period. Valley National Advisers Inc. raised its position in shares of Southern by 244.4% in the 4th quarter. Valley National Advisers Inc. now owns 434 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 308 shares in the last quarter. Finally, West Branch Capital LLC grew its stake in Southern by 34.7% during the 3rd quarter. West Branch Capital LLC now owns 501 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 129 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 64.10% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other Southern news, EVP Martin Bernard Davis sold 1,170 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.90, for a total value of $100,503.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 88,393 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $7,592,958.70. This trade represents a 1.31 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.18% of the company's stock.

Southern Trading Up 1.1 %

Shares of SO traded up $0.89 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $84.09. The stock had a trading volume of 1,363,230 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,101,264. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.66. The Southern Company has a 1 year low of $65.80 and a 1 year high of $94.45. The stock's 50 day moving average is $83.70 and its 200 day moving average is $86.67. The firm has a market cap of $92.14 billion, a PE ratio of 19.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.53.

Southern Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be paid a $0.72 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $2.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.42%. Southern's dividend payout ratio is currently 66.98%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on SO shares. Guggenheim cut Southern from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Scotiabank lifted their price objective on Southern from $96.00 to $98.00 and gave the company a "sector outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on Southern from $99.00 to $97.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 1st. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Southern from $71.00 to $83.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 15th. Finally, Mizuho increased their price objective on shares of Southern from $83.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Monday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Southern presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $89.79.

Southern Profile

The Southern Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. The company also develops, constructs, acquires, owns, and manages power generation assets, including renewable energy projects and sells electricity in the wholesale market; and distributes natural gas in Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee, as well as provides gas marketing services, gas distribution operations, and gas pipeline investments operations.