Southern Company reports third-quarter 2026 earnings
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Excluding the items described under "Net Income – Excluding Items" in the table below, Southern Company earned
|
Non-GAAP Financial Measures |
Three Months Ended |
|
Year-To-Date September |
||
|
Net Income – Excluding Items (in millions) |
2026 |
2025 |
|
2026 |
2025 |
|
Net Income – As Reported |
$ 2,046 |
$ 1,711 |
|
$ 4,577 |
$ 3,925 |
|
Less: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accelerated Depreciation from Repowering |
(118) |
(103) |
|
(414) |
(168) |
|
Tax Impact |
26 |
23 |
|
92 |
38 |
|
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt |
(43) |
— |
|
(54) |
(129) |
|
Tax Impact |
(54) |
— |
|
(52) |
32 |
|
Estimated Loss on Nicor Gas Capital Investments |
(9) |
— |
|
(19) |
— |
|
Tax Impact |
2 |
— |
|
5 |
— |
|
Estimated Loss on Plants Under Construction |
— |
32 |
|
— |
27 |
|
Tax Impact |
— |
(8) |
|
(4) |
(11) |
|
Disposition Impacts |
— |
2 |
|
(2) |
2 |
|
Tax Impact |
— |
(1) |
|
8 |
(1) |
|
Net Income – Excluding Items |
$ 2,242 |
$ 1,766 |
|
$ 5,017 |
$ 4,135 |
|
Average Shares Outstanding – (in millions) |
1,157 |
1,102 |
|
1,139 |
1,101 |
|
Basic Earnings Per Share – Excluding Items |
$ 1.94 |
$ 1.60 |
|
$ 4.40 |
$ 3.76 |
|
NOTE: For more information regarding these non-GAAP adjustments, see the footnotes accompanying the Financial Highlights page of the earnings package. |
Adjusted earnings drivers for the third quarter of 2026, as compared with the same period in 2025, were warmer weather, increased usage and customer growth, growing revenue from large commercial and industrial customers along with higher earnings from Southern Power, partially offset by higher non-fuel operating expenses and taxes other than income taxes, along with dilution impacts from additional shares outstanding.
Third-quarter 2026 operating revenues were
"The Southeast is growing at a pace that is both unprecedented and transformational, and we believe Southern Company is well positioned for today and in the future," said
Southern Company's third-quarter earnings slides with supplemental financial information are available at investor.southerncompany.com.
Southern Company's financial analyst call will begin at
About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy solutions provider with national capabilities, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success, driven by our nearly 30,000 employees dedicated to delivering exceptional service. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information contained in this release is forward-looking information based on current expectations and plans that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements concerning future business operations and results. Southern Company cautions that there are certain factors that can cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information that has been provided. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is not a guarantee of future performance and is subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Southern Company; accordingly, there can be no assurance that such suggested results will be realized. The following factors, in addition to those discussed in Southern Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
|
Southern Company |
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Financial Highlights |
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(In Millions Except Earnings Per Share) |
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Year-To-Date September |
||||
|
Net Income – As Reported |
2026 |
|
2025 |
|
2026 |
|
2025 |
|
Traditional Electric Operating Companies |
$ 2,272 |
|
$ 1,920 |
|
$ 4,654 |
|
$ 3,994 |
|
Southern Power |
52 |
|
3 |
|
30 |
|
141 |
|
Southern Company Gas |
21 |
|
25 |
|
593 |
|
549 |
|
Total |
2,345 |
|
1,948 |
|
5,277 |
|
4,684 |
|
Parent Company and Other |
(299) |
|
(237) |
|
(700) |
|
(759) |
|
Net Income – As Reported |
$ 2,046 |
|
$ 1,711 |
|
$ 4,577 |
|
$ 3,925 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic Earnings Per Share(1) |
$ 1.77 |
|
$ 1.55 |
|
$ 4.02 |
|
$ 3.56 |
|
Average Shares Outstanding |
1,157 |
|
1,102 |
|
1,139 |
|
1,101 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-GAAP Financial Measures |
Three Months Ended |
|
Year-To-Date September |
||||
|
Net Income – Excluding Items |
2026 |
|
2025 |
|
2026 |
|
2025 |
|
Net Income – As Reported |
$ 2,046 |
|
$ 1,711 |
|
$ 4,577 |
|
$ 3,925 |
|
Less: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accelerated Depreciation from Repowering(2) |
(118) |
|
(103) |
|
(414) |
|
(168) |
|
Tax Impact |
26 |
|
23 |
|
92 |
|
38 |
|
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt(3) |
(43) |
|
— |
|
(54) |
|
(129) |
|
Tax Impact |
(54) |
|
— |
|
(52) |
|
32 |
|
Estimated Loss on Nicor Gas Capital Investments(4) |
(9) |
|
— |
|
(19) |
|
— |
|
Tax Impact |
2 |
|
— |
|
5 |
|
— |
|
Estimated Loss on Plants Under Construction(5) |
— |
|
32 |
|
— |
|
27 |
|
Tax Impact |
— |
|
(8) |
|
(4) |
|
(11) |
|
Disposition Impacts(6) |
— |
|
2 |
|
(2) |
|
2 |
|
Tax Impact |
— |
|
(1) |
|
8 |
|
(1) |
|
Net Income – Excluding Items |
$ 2,242 |
|
$ 1,766 |
|
$ 5,017 |
|
$ 4,135 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic Earnings Per Share – Excluding Items |
$ 1.94 |
|
$ 1.60 |
|
$ 4.40 |
|
$ 3.76 |
|
See Notes on the following page. |
|
Southern Company |
|
|
Financial Highlights |
|
|
|
|
|
Notes |
|
|
(1) |
Dilution is not material in any period presented. Diluted earnings per share was |
|
(2) |
Earnings include pre-tax charges of |
|
(3) |
Earnings for the three and nine months ended |
|
(4) |
Earnings for the three and nine months ended |
|
(5) |
Earnings include income tax charges of |
|
(6) |
Earnings for the nine months ended |
|
Southern Company |
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|
Significant Factors Impacting EPS |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Year-To-Date September |
||||||||
|
|
2026 |
|
2025 |
|
Change |
|
2026 |
|
2025 |
|
Change |
|
Earnings Per Share – |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As Reported(1) |
$ 1.77 |
|
$ 1.55 |
|
$ 0.22 |
|
$ 4.02 |
|
$ 3.56 |
|
$ 0.46 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Significant Factors: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Traditional Electric Operating Companies |
|
|
|
|
$ 0.32 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ 0.60 |
|
Southern Power |
|
|
|
|
0.04 |
|
|
|
|
|
(0.10) |
|
Southern Company Gas |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
0.04 |
|
Parent Company and Other |
|
|
|
|
(0.05) |
|
|
|
|
|
0.06 |
|
Increase in Shares |
|
|
|
|
(0.09) |
|
|
|
|
|
(0.14) |
|
Total – As Reported |
|
|
|
|
$ 0.22 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ 0.46 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Year-To-Date September |
||||||||
|
Non-GAAP Financial Measures |
2026 |
|
2025 |
|
Change |
|
2026 |
|
2025 |
|
Change |
|
Earnings Per Share – |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Excluding Items |
$ 1.94 |
|
$ 1.60 |
|
$ 0.34 |
|
$ 4.40 |
|
$ 3.76 |
|
$ 0.64 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total – As Reported |
|
|
|
|
$ 0.22 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ 0.46 |
|
Less: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accelerated Depreciation from Repowering(2) |
|
|
|
|
(0.01) |
|
|
|
|
|
(0.16) |
|
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt(3) |
|
|
|
|
(0.08) |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
Estimated Loss on Nicor Gas Capital Investments(4) |
|
|
|
|
(0.01) |
|
|
|
|
|
(0.01) |
|
Estimated Loss on Plants Under Construction(5) |
|
|
|
|
(0.02) |
|
|
|
|
|
(0.01) |
|
Disposition Impacts(6) |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
Total – Excluding Items |
|
|
|
|
$ 0.34 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ 0.64 |
|
See Notes on the following page. |
|
Southern Company |
|
|
Significant Factors Impacting EPS |
|
|
|
|
|
Notes |
|
|
(1) |
Dilution is not material in any period presented. Diluted earnings per share was |
|
(2) |
Earnings include pre-tax charges of |
|
(3) |
Earnings for the three and nine months ended |
|
(4) |
Earnings for the three and nine months ended |
|
(5) |
Earnings include income tax charges of |
|
(6) |
Earnings for the nine months ended |
|
Southern Company |
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|
EPS Earnings Analysis |
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|
Description |
Three Months Ended September 2026 vs. 2025 |
|
Year-To-Date September 2026 vs. 2025 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Retail Sales |
11¢ |
|
22¢ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Retail Revenue Impacts |
21 |
|
19 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weather |
15 |
|
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wholesale and Other Operating Revenues |
— |
|
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Fuel Operations and Maintenance Expenses(1) |
(9) |
|
(6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and Amortization |
— |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction |
4 |
|
13 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest Expense and Other |
(11) |
|
(12) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income Taxes |
3 |
|
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Traditional Electric Operating Companies |
34¢ |
|
62¢ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Southern Power |
5 |
|
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Southern Company Gas |
— |
|
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Parent Company and Other |
4 |
|
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Increase in Shares |
(9) |
|
(16) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Change in EPS (Excluding Items) |
34¢ |
|
64¢ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accelerated Depreciation from Repowering(2) |
(1) |
|
(16) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt(3) |
(8) |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated Loss on Nicor Gas Capital Investments(4) |
(1) |
|
(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated Loss on Plants Under Construction(5) |
(2) |
|
(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Disposition Impacts(6) |
— |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Change in EPS (As Reported) |
22¢ |
|
46¢ |
|
See Notes on the following page. |
|
Southern Company |
|
|
EPS Earnings Analysis |
|
|
|
|
|
Notes |
|
|
(1) |
Excludes gains/losses on asset sales, which are included in "Interest Expense and Other." Includes non-service cost-related benefits income. |
|
(2) |
Earnings include pre-tax charges of |
|
(3) |
Earnings for the three and nine months ended |
|
(4) |
Earnings for the three and nine months ended |
|
(5) |
Earnings include income tax charges of |
|
(6) |
Earnings for the nine months ended |
|
Southern Company |
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|
Consolidated Earnings |
|||||||||||
|
As Reported |
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Year-To-Date September |
||||||||
|
|
2026 |
|
2025 |
|
Change |
|
2026 |
|
2025 |
|
Change |
|
|
(in millions) |
|
(in millions) |
||||||||
|
Retail electric revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fuel |
$ 1,491 |
|
$ 1,265 |
|
$ 226 |
|
$ 3,811 |
|
$ 3,622 |
|
$ 189 |
|
Non-fuel |
5,132 |
|
4,442 |
|
690 |
|
12,198 |
|
11,443 |
|
755 |
|
Wholesale electric revenues |
873 |
|
832 |
|
41 |
|
2,537 |
|
2,257 |
|
280 |
|
Other electric revenues |
229 |
|
262 |
|
(33) |
|
736 |
|
724 |
|
12 |
|
Natural gas revenues |
773 |
|
734 |
|
39 |
|
3,930 |
|
3,552 |
|
378 |
|
Other revenues |
345 |
|
288 |
|
57 |
|
1,006 |
|
974 |
|
32 |
|
Total operating revenues |
8,843 |
|
7,823 |
|
1,020 |
|
24,218 |
|
22,572 |
|
1,646 |
|
Fuel and purchased power |
1,827 |
|
1,604 |
|
223 |
|
4,903 |
|
4,522 |
|
381 |
|
Cost of natural gas |
99 |
|
116 |
|
(17) |
|
1,201 |
|
1,046 |
|
155 |
|
Cost of other sales |
191 |
|
156 |
|
35 |
|
548 |
|
522 |
|
26 |
|
Non-fuel operations and maintenance |
1,848 |
|
1,643 |
|
205 |
|
5,209 |
|
4,948 |
|
261 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
1,444 |
|
1,422 |
|
22 |
|
4,298 |
|
4,030 |
|
268 |
|
Taxes other than income taxes |
434 |
|
288 |
|
146 |
|
1,265 |
|
1,136 |
|
129 |
|
Total operating expenses |
5,843 |
|
5,229 |
|
614 |
|
17,424 |
|
16,204 |
|
1,220 |
|
Operating income |
3,000 |
|
2,594 |
|
406 |
|
6,794 |
|
6,368 |
|
426 |
|
Allowance for equity funds used during |
140 |
|
90 |
|
50 |
|
388 |
|
243 |
|
145 |
|
Earnings from equity method investments |
77 |
|
33 |
|
44 |
|
213 |
|
76 |
|
137 |
|
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized |
842 |
|
755 |
|
87 |
|
2,415 |
|
2,343 |
|
72 |
|
Other income (expense), net |
171 |
|
149 |
|
22 |
|
508 |
|
459 |
|
49 |
|
Income taxes |
472 |
|
404 |
|
68 |
|
887 |
|
973 |
|
(86) |
|
Net income |
2,074 |
|
1,707 |
|
367 |
|
4,601 |
|
3,830 |
|
771 |
|
Net income (loss) attributable to |
28 |
|
(4) |
|
32 |
|
24 |
|
(95) |
|
119 |
|
Net income attributable to Southern Company |
$ 2,046 |
|
$ 1,711 |
|
$ 335 |
|
$ 4,577 |
|
$ 3,925 |
|
$ 652 |
|
Certain prior year data may have been reclassified to conform with current year presentation. |
|
Southern Company |
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Kilowatt-Hour Sales and Customers |
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended September |
|
Year-To-Date September |
||||||||||||
|
|
2026 |
|
2025 |
|
% Change |
|
Weather |
|
2026 |
|
2025 |
|
% Change |
|
Weather |
|
|
(in millions) |
|
|
|
|
|
(in millions) |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Kilowatt-Hour Sales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Sales |
60,790 |
|
56,627 |
|
7.3 % |
|
|
|
162,775 |
|
154,971 |
|
5.0 % |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Retail Sales |
45,653 |
|
42,369 |
|
7.7 % |
|
3.5 % |
|
120,221 |
|
116,006 |
|
3.6 % |
|
2.7 % |
|
Residential |
16,116 |
|
14,631 |
|
10.2 % |
|
1.3 % |
|
39,626 |
|
38,829 |
|
2.1 % |
|
0.6 % |
|
Commercial |
16,087 |
|
14,607 |
|
10.1 % |
|
7.3 % |
|
42,201 |
|
39,295 |
|
7.4 % |
|
6.5 % |
|
Industrial |
13,323 |
|
12,996 |
|
2.5 % |
|
1.8 % |
|
38,009 |
|
37,488 |
|
1.4 % |
|
1.1 % |
|
Other |
127 |
|
135 |
|
(6.9) % |
|
(6.9) % |
|
385 |
|
394 |
|
(2.3) % |
|
(2.3) % |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Wholesale Sales |
15,137 |
|
14,258 |
|
6.2 % |
|
N/A |
|
42,554 |
|
38,965 |
|
9.2 % |
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Period Ended September |
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2026 |
|
2025 |
|
% Change |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
||
|
Regulated Utility Customers |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Regulated Utility Customers |
|
|
|
|
|
8,996 |
|
8,934 |
|
0.7 % |
|
|
|||
|
Traditional Electric Operating Companies |
|
|
|
4,628 |
|
4,580 |
|
1.1 % |
|
|
|||||
|
Southern Company Gas |
|
|
|
|
|
4,368 |
|
4,354 |
|
0.3 % |
|
|
|||
|
Southern Company |
|||||||||||
|
Financial Overview |
|||||||||||
|
As Reported |
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Year-To-Date September |
||||||||
|
|
2026 |
|
2025 |
|
% Change |
|
2026 |
|
2025 |
|
% Change |
|
|
(in millions) |
|
|
|
(in millions) |
|
|
||||
|
Southern Company – |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating Revenues |
$ 8,843 |
|
$ 7,823 |
|
13.0 % |
|
$ 24,218 |
|
$ 22,572 |
|
7.3 % |
|
Earnings Before Income Taxes |
2,546 |
|
2,111 |
|
20.6 % |
|
5,488 |
|
4,803 |
|
14.3 % |
|
Net Income Available to Common |
2,046 |
|
1,711 |
|
19.6 % |
|
4,577 |
|
3,925 |
|
16.6 % |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alabama Power – |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating Revenues |
$ 2,509 |
|
$ 2,318 |
|
8.2 % |
|
$ 6,564 |
|
$ 6,298 |
|
4.2 % |
|
Earnings Before Income Taxes |
871 |
|
763 |
|
14.2 % |
|
1,996 |
|
1,744 |
|
14.4 % |
|
Net Income Available to Common |
661 |
|
588 |
|
12.4 % |
|
1,523 |
|
1,343 |
|
13.4 % |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Georgia Power – |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating Revenues |
$ 4,471 |
|
$ 3,770 |
|
18.6 % |
|
$ 10,746 |
|
$ 9,918 |
|
8.3 % |
|
Earnings Before Income Taxes |
1,816 |
|
1,526 |
|
19.0 % |
|
3,460 |
|
3,064 |
|
12.9 % |
|
Net Income Available to Common |
1,523 |
|
1,248 |
|
22.0 % |
|
2,931 |
|
2,452 |
|
19.5 % |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mississippi Power – |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating Revenues |
$ 497 |
|
$ 480 |
|
3.5 % |
|
$ 1,372 |
|
$ 1,301 |
|
5.5 % |
|
Earnings Before Income Taxes |
116 |
|
108 |
|
7.4 % |
|
262 |
|
256 |
|
2.3 % |
|
Net Income Available to Common |
89 |
|
84 |
|
6.0 % |
|
201 |
|
198 |
|
1.5 % |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Southern Power – |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating Revenues |
$ 699 |
|
$ 613 |
|
14.0 % |
|
$ 1,914 |
|
$ 1,726 |
|
10.9 % |
|
Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes |
35 |
|
5 |
|
N/M |
|
(138) |
|
49 |
|
N/M |
|
Net Income Available to Common |
52 |
|
3 |
|
N/M |
|
30 |
|
141 |
|
(78.7) % |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Southern Company Gas – |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating Revenues |
$ 773 |
|
$ 734 |
|
5.3 % |
|
$ 3,930 |
|
$ 3,552 |
|
10.6 % |
|
Earnings Before Income Taxes |
29 |
|
31 |
|
(6.5) % |
|
777 |
|
718 |
|
8.2 % |
|
Net Income Available to Common |
21 |
|
25 |
|
(16.0) % |
|
593 |
|
549 |
|
8.0 % |
|
See Financial Highlights pages for discussion of certain significant items occurring during the periods. |
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southern-company-reports-third-quarter-2026-earnings-302930021.html
SOURCE Southern Company
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