BMO Capital Markets said Thursday it has increased its target price for Southern Co. (NYSE:SO) to $103 from $96 while retaining an Outperform rating. At the time of the note the stock traded at $95.09, leaving roughly 8% of upside to the new target for the utility, whose market capitalization stands at about $104.7 billion.
Southern Company revised several forward-looking metrics that underpinned BMO's move. The company raised its long-term earnings-per-share growth assumption for 2026-2030 to 8%, up from a previous range of 5% to 7%. It also provided initial 2028 guidance of $5.25 to $5.45 per share. That 2028 midpoint is about 1.3% higher than the Street consensus and falls squarely within BMO Capital’s own $5.25 to $5.45 forecast.
Management described the updated outlook as durable with potential upside during a call with analysts. The company said the outlook is supported by demand-driven investment opportunities, including active requests for proposals at Georgia Power and Alabama Power, investment plans at Southern Power, and activities tied to FERC-related pipelines and midstream operations. BMO Capital analyst James M. Thalacker said the firm’s mark-to-market, sum-of-the-parts valuation supports the $103 target.
InvestingPro data cited by the firm highlights some income-oriented attractions: Southern Company has increased its dividend for 24 consecutive years and currently offers a dividend yield of 3.11%. Those features appeal to income-focused investors even as the stock trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.22.
However, not all indicators point unequivocally higher. InvestingPro analysis referenced by the note suggests the shares are presently trading above their Fair Value estimate. Investors therefore face a valuation trade-off when weighing the company’s growth updates and dividend profile against current market pricing.
Recent quarterly results painted a mixed picture. For the fourth quarter of 2025, Southern Company posted revenue of $6.98 billion, beating consensus by 9.06%, but reported earnings per share of $0.55, slightly below forecasts of $0.57.
Market reaction to the company’s outlook and results has included additional analyst activity. Mizuho upgraded Southern Company to Outperform from Neutral and raised its price target to $104 from $89. Mizuho said its upgrade reflects a view that concerns surrounding the Georgia Public Service Commission are overstated and that the stock represents an attractive valuation for a utility expected to grow at roughly 8% or more.
Taken together, BMO’s target adjustment, Southern Company’s revised growth assumptions and initial 2028 guidance, and the mixed quarterly metrics frame a set of considerations for investors focused on regulated utilities, midstream energy pathways and income strategies within the broader energy sector.