Have you been eager to see how Southern Company (SO - Free Report) – one of the largest utilities in the U.S. – performed in Q4 in comparison with the market expectations? Let’s quickly scan through the key facts from this Atlanta, GA-based utility’s earnings release this morning:
About Southern Company: Through its eleven electric and natural gas distribution units in nine states, Southern Company serves approximately nine million customers. It boasts of a generating capacity of 44,000 megawatts, around 200,000 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines, and more than 80,000 miles of natural gas pipelines. Southern Company’s operations include wholesale electricity generation and natural gas services, retail energy services and natural gas storage operations throughout the country.
Zacks Rank & Surprise History: Currently, Southern Company has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) but that could change following its fourth quarter 2016 earnings report which has just released. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Coming to earnings surprise history, the company has an excellent record: its beaten estimates in each of the last four quarters resulting in an average positive surprise of 7.71%.
Estimate Revision Trend: Investors should note that the earnings estimate revisions for Southern Company was unmoved prior to the earnings release. The Zacks Consensus Estimate remained the same over the last 30 days.
We have highlighted some of the key details from the just-released announcement below:
A Lower-than-Expected Profit: Earnings per share (excluding certain one-time items) came in at 24 cents, below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 31 cents.
Revenue Came in Higher than Expected: Revenues of $5,181 million were ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4,583 million.
Key Stats: Southern Company’s total retail sales rose 1.7%, with residential and commercial sales both improving. This brought about an upward movement in overall electricity sales and usage. Total electricity sales during the fourth quarter jumped 6.2% from the same period last year. However, industrial sales fell 2.4% year-over-year.
The power supplier’s operations and maintenance cost increased 48% to $1,624 million, while the utility’s total operating expense for the period – at $4,594 million – was up 54% from the prior-year level.
Share Performance: Shares have fallen around 2% year-to-date, while the Zacks categorized Utility - Electric Power industry gained 2% over the same period.
Check back later for our full write up on this Southern Company earnings report later!
Zacks’ Best Private Investment Ideas
While we are happy to share many articles like this on the website, our best recommendations and most in-depth research are not available to the public.
Starting today, for the next month, you can follow all Zacks' private buys and sells in real time. Our experts cover all kinds of trades… from value to momentum . . . from stocks under $10 to ETF and option moves . . . from stocks that corporate insiders are buying up to companies that are about to report positive earnings surprises. You can even look inside exclusive portfolios that are normally closed to new investors. Click here for Zacks' private trades >>
Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.
This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.
Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>
Have you been eager to see how Southern Company (SO - Free Report) – one of the largest utilities in the U.S. – performed in Q4 in comparison with the market expectations? Let’s quickly scan through the key facts from this Atlanta, GA-based utility’s earnings release this morning:
About Southern Company: Through its eleven electric and natural gas distribution units in nine states, Southern Company serves approximately nine million customers. It boasts of a generating capacity of 44,000 megawatts, around 200,000 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines, and more than 80,000 miles of natural gas pipelines. Southern Company’s operations include wholesale electricity generation and natural gas services, retail energy services and natural gas storage operations throughout the country.
Zacks Rank & Surprise History: Currently, Southern Company has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) but that could change following its fourth quarter 2016 earnings report which has just released. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Coming to earnings surprise history, the company has an excellent record: its beaten estimates in each of the last four quarters resulting in an average positive surprise of 7.71%.
Estimate Revision Trend: Investors should note that the earnings estimate revisions for Southern Company was unmoved prior to the earnings release. The Zacks Consensus Estimate remained the same over the last 30 days.
We have highlighted some of the key details from the just-released announcement below:
A Lower-than-Expected Profit: Earnings per share (excluding certain one-time items) came in at 24 cents, below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 31 cents.
Revenue Came in Higher than Expected: Revenues of $5,181 million were ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4,583 million.
Key Stats: Southern Company’s total retail sales rose 1.7%, with residential and commercial sales both improving. This brought about an upward movement in overall electricity sales and usage. Total electricity sales during the fourth quarter jumped 6.2% from the same period last year. However, industrial sales fell 2.4% year-over-year.
The power supplier’s operations and maintenance cost increased 48% to $1,624 million, while the utility’s total operating expense for the period – at $4,594 million – was up 54% from the prior-year level.
Share Performance: Shares have fallen around 2% year-to-date, while the Zacks categorized Utility - Electric Power industry gained 2% over the same period.
Check back later for our full write up on this Southern Company earnings report later!
Zacks’ Best Private Investment Ideas
While we are happy to share many articles like this on the website, our best recommendations and most in-depth research are not available to the public.
Starting today, for the next month, you can follow all Zacks' private buys and sells in real time. Our experts cover all kinds of trades… from value to momentum . . . from stocks under $10 to ETF and option moves . . . from stocks that corporate insiders are buying up to companies that are about to report positive earnings surprises. You can even look inside exclusive portfolios that are normally closed to new investors. Click here for Zacks' private trades >>
Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.
This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.
Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>
Get the latest research report on SO - FREE