Southern Company Q3 Earnings Preview: Another Beat in Store?

Core Viewpoint - Southern Company is expected to report third-quarter earnings of $1.50 per share on revenues of $7.6 billion, reflecting a year-over-year improvement in earnings and revenue despite potential cost pressures [1][8]. Group 1: Previous Quarter Performance - In the last reported quarter, Southern Company achieved adjusted earnings per share of 91 cents, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4 cents, with sales of $7 billion surpassing the consensus by 6.2% [2]. - The company has topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in three of the last four quarters, with an average earnings surprise of 3.2% [3]. Group 2: Third Quarter Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the third-quarter earnings has been revised 2% downward in the past week, indicating a 4.9% improvement year over year, while revenue estimates suggest a 4.1% increase from the previous year [3]. - The estimated net income for Southern Company is projected at $1.5 billion, reflecting a 0.9% decrease from the year-ago quarter [5]. Group 3: Market and Economic Factors - Southern Company serves 9 million customers in the Southeast, benefiting from strong regional economic growth and significant capital investments, with $2 billion in new projects and 6,000 jobs announced in the second quarter of 2025 [4]. - Demand from industrial and data center sectors is expected to continue driving long-term load expansion, positively impacting earnings and cash flows [4]. Group 4: Cost Pressures - The company has flagged risks related to timing and costs associated with new capacity delivery, with upward pressure on generation costs and higher operating expenses noted in the previous quarter [5]. - The increasing cost trend is anticipated to persist in the third quarter, potentially affecting overall earnings negatively [5]. Group 5: Earnings Prediction Model - The Zacks model does not predict a definitive earnings beat for Southern Company in the third quarter, with an Earnings ESP of -0.22% and a Zacks Rank of 3 [6][7].