Southern Company results continue to be good and investors have rewarded SO and other utilities with returns typically not seen in the utility space. Southern Company, as of August 11, 2025, is up 36% over two years, 9% over the last year, and 15% year-to-date. Consistent growth in earnings and the dividend combined with the prospects of strong future growth driven by data center buildouts have turned the utility sector into the 4th highest returning business grouping so far in 2025 behind [...]

Southern Company has weathered the 2025 volatility well and is trading near the 52-week high as of May 5, 2025. For the first quarter of 2025, Southern saw a -1.8% decline in residential electricity sales that was almost entirely offset by a 0.5% growth rate in both Commercial and Industrial sales including an 11% increase from the data centers (1). Data center electricity demand is projected to continue to increase nationwide, driving the first secular period of power demand growth in almost [...]

Below is the trend that Southern Company and other utilities are facing over the next 5-15 years. Electricity consumption is, for the first time in about 20 years, expected to increase. That’s the chart on the left. In the 1960-1990’s American homes saw significant technological developments including refrigeration, HVAC units, personal computing, television, etc. Each development required a significant increase in electricity generation. Since the turn of the century, however, residential electricity demand has been flat. Same with industrial electricity consumption. That [...]

Utility investing is typically a straight forward prospect with very little surprises, good or bad. This is why utilities are commonly considered “safe haven investments” by academics and investors when the economy turns South. Revenue and earnings growth are generally predictable and the dividend is generally predictable as a result which typically results in lower stock volatility when economic growth is waning. Artificial Intelligence seems to have changed that narrative, however. Because AI requires extensive computing power, data center demand for utilities [...]

Southern Company stock, along with many other utilities, has had a rare, strong rally over the last couple of weeks. Heavy buying in the utilities sector can often be a harbinger for market volatility especially if it comes at the expense of the riskier sectors like consumer discretionary stocks (clothing, vehicles, restaurants, etc.). And that’s pretty much what we’ve seen with the rally beginning April 16. Stocks like LuluLemon, Nike, and Starbucks have sold off while utilities rally in conjunction. Ultimately, this [...]