Southern Company(US:SO) 智通财经网·2025-05-15 06:54Group 1 - Southern Company (SO.US) experienced a decline of 0.77% following a downgrade to "Underweight" by KeyBanc analyst Sophie Karp, with a target price set at $78, indicating a significant shift in institutional investor risk appetite [1] - Karp highlighted a valuation bubble for Southern Company, noting that its current stock price is 13% above the industry average, and there is a disconnect between optimistic growth expectations and actual performance [1] - KeyBanc also downgraded Exelon (EXC.US) and Edison International (ED.US) to "Underweight," suggesting that these utility companies, previously benefiting from safe-haven inflows, may see their defensive attributes diminish as market risk appetite improves [1] Group 2 - Ameren (AEE.US) and Entergy (ETR.US) were upgraded to "Overweight," with target prices set at $103 and $85 respectively, due to their potential for infrastructure upgrades in the Midwest, particularly driven by increased electricity demand from AI data center construction [2] - Xcel Energy (XEL.US) and Wisconsin Energy (WEC.US) also received "Overweight" ratings, supporting the trend of favoring companies involved in AI infrastructure [2] - The rating changes reflect a restructuring of the valuation framework for the utility sector, as expectations of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts are driving funds towards risk assets, leading to a structural re-evaluation of previously favored stable income securities [2]