Core Viewpoint - Southern Company is expected to report second-quarter results on July 31, with a consensus estimate of $0.93 earnings per share and $6.7 billion in revenues [1] Group 1: Previous Quarter Performance - In the last reported quarter, Southern Company exceeded consensus estimates with adjusted earnings per share of $1.23, which was $0.03 above expectations, and revenues of $7.8 billion, surpassing estimates by 11% [2] - The company has topped earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters, with an average earnings surprise of 7% [3] Group 2: Current Quarter Estimates - The consensus estimate for the second-quarter earnings has been revised downward by 5.1% in the past week, indicating a year-over-year decline of 14.7%, while revenue estimates suggest a 3.7% increase from the previous year [3][8] - The estimated total operating expenses for the second quarter are projected to be $4.9 billion, reflecting a 9.1% increase from $4.5 billion reported in the same quarter last year [5] Group 3: Market and Economic Factors - Southern Company serves nine million customers in the Southeast, benefiting from strong regional economic growth and capital investments exceeding $11 billion, which have created 4,000 new jobs in the first quarter of 2025 [4] - The demand from industrial and data centers is expected to continue driving long-term load expansion, positively impacting earnings and cash flows [4] Group 4: Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank - The Earnings ESP for Southern Company is -5.40%, indicating a lower likelihood of beating estimates, and it currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [6][7]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Utility – Electric Power industry offers attractive investment opportunities due to stable cash flows and predictable regulated business models, with most domestic utilities operating under long-term power purchase agreements [1] - The industry is transitioning towards cleaner energy sources, with significant investments in renewable infrastructure such as solar, wind, and battery storage, positioning utilities that embrace these technologies favorably in the market [2] Company Comparisons - NextEra Energy (NEE) is recognized for its clean energy investments and growth potential, with its regulated utility arm, Florida Power & Light, providing reliable cash flows, while its unregulated subsidiary leads in wind and solar energy generation [3] - The Southern Company (SO) delivers long-term value through its regulated operations and clean energy investments, benefiting from a diverse power generation portfolio and a supportive regulatory framework [4] Earnings Growth Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NEE's earnings per share remains unchanged for 2025 and 2026, with long-term earnings growth projected at 7.89% [6] - SO's earnings estimate for 2026 has increased by 0.44%, with long-term earnings growth pegged at 6.77% [8] Dividend Yield - NEE's current dividend yield is 3.15%, while SO's is slightly lower at 3.10%, indicating both companies' commitment to returning value to shareholders [9] Return on Equity (ROE) - NEE's ROE stands at 12.31%, while SO's is at 12.7%, both exceeding the industry's average ROE of 10.16% [11] Capital Investment - NEE plans to invest over $74 billion in capital through 2029 to expand its clean energy capacity, while SO plans to invest $63 billion from 2025 through 2029 [13] Debt to Capital - NEE's debt-to-capital ratio is 57.61%, compared to SO's 62.84%, with both companies utilizing higher debt levels relative to the industry's average of 54.08% [15] Valuation - NEE is trading at a lower Price/Earnings (P/E) ratio of 18.69X compared to SO's 21.44X, while the industry average stands at 14.84X [16] Price Performance - SO's shares have increased by 14.2% over the past six months, while NEE's shares have only gained 1.9%, with the industry average return at 10.9% [17] Conclusion - The Southern Company currently holds a marginal advantage over NextEra Energy due to positive earnings estimate movements, higher ROE, and better stock performance, despite both companies carrying a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [19]

Core Insights - Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd has reported significant drilling results from the Christina prospect, extending mineralization to a depth of 600 meters with multiple high-grade intersections, including 2.9 m at 16.3 g/t Au and 2.5 m at 17.6 g/t Au [2][4][7]. Group 1: High-Grade Intersections - Drill hole SDDSC173 intersected visible gold in four separate locations, with grades reaching up to 58.0 g/t gold over 0.6 m, and multiple high-grade intervals including 2.9 m at 14.4 g/t gold equivalent [7][11]. - The gold-bearing corridor now extends 1.5 km from Apollo East to Christina West, with intersections including 7.1 m at 5.2 g/t gold equivalent, containing higher grades up to 74.8 g/t gold [7][14]. - The deepest high-grade gold intersections at Christina reached 926 meters depth, proving mineralization extends much deeper and further west than previously defined [7][11]. Group 2: Geological Continuity and Expansion - The results validate the geological model and confirm the robust vertical extent of the Sunday Creek system, with systematic infill drilling discovering additional vein sets beyond original interpretations [4][5]. - Multiple high-grade gold zones have been discovered well outside the current exploration area, indicating the deposit continues to grow beyond original geological interpretations [7][11]. - The drilling program is advancing with 33 holes currently pending assay results, indicating ongoing exploration potential [15]. Group 3: Strategic Importance of Antimony - Sunday Creek is positioned as one of the Western world's significant gold-antimony discoveries, with antimony contributing approximately 21% to 24% of the in situ recoverable value [26][32]. - The recent Chinese government announcement to place export limits on antimony products could positively impact Southern Cross Gold, as it may become one of the few large, high-quality antimony projects in the Western world [28][32]. - The dual-metal profile of Sunday Creek enhances its strategic value, especially in light of increasing demand for antimony in defense and semiconductor applications [32][33].

Company Performance - Southern Co. (SO) ended the recent trading session at $95.85, demonstrating a +1.12% change from the preceding day's closing price, outperforming the S&P 500 which gained 0.06% [1] - Over the past month, shares of Southern Co. gained 4.54%, surpassing the Utilities sector's gain of 1.55% but lagging behind the S&P 500's gain of 5.88% [1] Upcoming Earnings - Southern Co. is set to release its earnings on July 31, 2025, with projected EPS of $0.98, indicating a 10.09% drop compared to the same quarter of the previous year [2] - The consensus estimate for revenue is $6.77 billion, reflecting a 4.8% increase from the prior-year quarter [2] Full Year Estimates - For the full year, analysts expect earnings of $4.28 per share and revenue of $28.46 billion, marking changes of +5.68% and +6.51% respectively from last year [3] - Recent changes to analyst estimates for Southern Co. may indicate optimism about the business outlook [3] Valuation Metrics - Southern Co. currently has a Forward P/E ratio of 22.17, indicating a premium compared to its industry's Forward P/E of 18.52 [5] - The company has a PEG ratio of 3.28, higher than the average PEG ratio of 2.67 for Utility - Electric Power stocks [6] Industry Context - The Utility - Electric Power industry is part of the Utilities sector, holding a Zacks Industry Rank of 81, placing it in the top 33% of all 250+ industries [7] - The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the strength of industry groups, with the top 50% rated industries outperforming the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [7]

Core Points - Georgia Power has appointed Tyler Cook as senior vice president, chief financial officer, and treasurer, effective July 31, 2025, succeeding Aaron Abramovitz who will move to Southern Company as senior vice president of finance and treasurer [2][3] - Tyler Cook brings nearly 25 years of experience within the Southern Company system and has played a significant role in shaping long-term financial strategies and driving enterprise-wide transformation [2][3] - The leadership transition reflects the depth of talent within the organization and emphasizes the company's commitment to serving customers and communities [2] Company Overview - Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company, serving 2.8 million customers across Georgia [4] - The company is dedicated to delivering clean, safe, reliable, and affordable energy, utilizing a diverse generation mix that includes nuclear, coal, natural gas, and renewables [4] - Georgia Power is recognized for its customer satisfaction, being an industry leader according to J.D. Power [4]

ATLANTA, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company today announced two key leadership moves in its Accounting, Finance, and Treasury organization. Matt Kim, senior vice president of finance and treasurer of Southern Company, has been named senior vice president, comptroller, and chief accounting officer, and Aaron Abramovitz, executive vice president, CFO, and treasurer of Georgia Power Company, will become senior vice president of finance and treasurer for Southern Company, both effective July 31. ...

Core Viewpoint - DLP Resources Inc. has commenced drilling on the Aurora porphyry copper-molybdenum-silver project in southern Peru, marking a significant step in the exploration and potential economic evaluation of the project [1][9]. Group 1: Aurora Project Overview - The Aurora Project is an advanced stage porphyry copper-molybdenum exploration project located in the Province of Calca, southeastern Peru [9]. - A National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report was released on February 27, 2025, detailing the maiden Mineral Resources effective January 31, 2025, prepared by independent AMC Consultants Pty Ltd [2][11]. Group 2: Mineral Resource Highlights - The Aurora Project contains an Inferred Resource of over 1 billion tonnes, with 4,650 million pounds of copper, 1,110 million pounds of molybdenum, and 80 million ounces of silver [5]. - The Inferred Resource is pit-constrained, with a total of 1,050 million tonnes grading 0.20% copper, 0.05% molybdenum, and 2.4 g/t silver, equating to 0.44% CuEq [4][5]. Group 3: Drilling Program and Economic Assessment - The 2025 drilling program will involve 6,000 to 7,000 meters across seven drill holes, focusing on both extension and infill drilling [7]. - A preliminary economic assessment (PEA) is scheduled to begin in August 2025, with an expected completion date in December 2025 [8][9]. Group 4: Historical Context - Historical drilling at the Aurora Project included thirteen holes drilled between 2001 and 2005, totaling 3,900 meters, which encountered significant copper and molybdenum mineralization [9][10]. - The current mineral resource is based on 24 diamond drill holes conducted by DLP, with a total drill meterage of 18,400 meters [11].

Core Insights - Southern Company has appointed Hans Brown as Executive Vice President & Chief Information Technology Officer (CITO), effective July 31, 2025, to lead its technology strategy and digital transformation efforts [1][2]. Group 1: Leadership and Experience - Hans Brown brings a distinguished career in platform operating models, technology transformation, digital innovation, and strategic fintech investments, having held key leadership roles at BNY [3]. - At BNY, Brown was responsible for overseeing a team of over 1,200 professionals across 10 international locations and led significant global technology transformations [4]. Group 2: Strategic Vision - Southern Company's chairman, president & CEO Chris Womack emphasized that Brown's expertise in integrating emerging technologies with traditional business models aligns with the company's vision for the future [4]. - The company aims to leverage Brown's proven track record in technology and digital innovation to enhance customer service and operational efficiency [4]. Group 3: Company Overview - Southern Company is a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers across the Southeast and beyond, with a mission to provide clean, safe, reliable, and affordable energy [6]. - The company is committed to innovation, resilience, and sustainability, with a goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 [6].

Core Insights - Southern Company has elected John M. Turner, Jr. as an independent director, effective September 1, 2025 [1] - Turner's extensive experience in the financial services industry and his customer-centric approach align with Southern Company's core values [2] Company Overview - Southern Company is a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers across the Southeast and beyond, with a mission to provide clean, safe, reliable, and affordable energy [6] - The company operates electric and natural gas distribution companies in multiple states and is committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 [6] Leadership Background - John M. Turner, Jr. is currently the chairman, president, and CEO of Regions Financial Corporation, which has $159 billion in assets [2] - Turner has over four decades of experience in the financial services sector, having held various leadership positions at Regions and Whitney National Bank [3][4] Community Engagement - Turner is actively involved in various boards and foundations, including the University of Georgia Foundation and the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama [5] - His leadership roles in community organizations reflect a commitment to fostering community engagement and economic development [5]

Core Viewpoint - Southern Silver Exploration Corp. has increased its previously announced "bought deal" private placement from approximately C$8 million to C$13 million due to strong investor demand [1] Group 1: Offering Details - The upsized offering will consist of 48,148,149 units priced at C$0.27 per unit, each unit comprising one common share and one-half of a common share purchase warrant [1][2] - Each whole warrant allows the holder to purchase one common share at a price of C$0.40 within 36 months after the closing date [2] - An over-allotment option allows Red Cloud to purchase an additional 7,407,408 units for gross proceeds of up to approximately C$2 million [3] Group 2: Use of Proceeds - The net proceeds from the offering will be used for advancing the Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango, Mexico, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes [4] Group 3: Regulatory Compliance - The offering will comply with National Instrument 45-106 and will be available to purchasers in specific Canadian provinces and potentially in offshore jurisdictions [5] - The common shares and warrant shares are expected to be freely tradable under applicable Canadian securities legislation [5] Group 4: Company Overview - Southern Silver Exploration Corp. focuses on discovering world-class mineral deposits, particularly through its Cerro Las Minitas silver-lead-zinc project in Mexico [10] - The company also holds other properties, including the Nazas property and projects in New Mexico [10]