Southern Company increases dividend for 25th consecutive year

Rhea-AI Summary

Southern Company (NYSE: SO) announced a quarterly dividend of $0.76 per share, payable June 8, 2026, to shareholders of record on May 18, 2026.

The company increased its annualized dividend by to $3.04 per share, marking the 25th consecutive year of dividend increases and continuing a 79-year streak of non-declining quarterly payouts.

Positive

• Quarterly dividend set at $0.76 per share payable June 8, 2026
• Annualized dividend increased by $0.08 to $3.04 per share
• 25 consecutive years of dividend increases for shareholders
• 79-year streak of non-declining quarterly dividend payments

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• None.

News Market Reaction – SO

-1.06%

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-1.06% News Effect

On the day this news was published, SO declined 1.06%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

The company is increasing its dividend by 8 cents per share on an annualized basis to a rate of $3.04 per share.

ATLANTA, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company today announced a regular quarterly dividend of 76 cents per share on the company's common stock, payable June 8, 2026 to shareholders of record as of May 18, 2026. In doing so, the company is increasing its dividend by 8 cents per share on an annualized basis to a rate of $3.04 per share.

"Our success across Southern Company is a credit to the dedication of nearly 30,000 teammates focused on strengthening our communities and delivering the energy our customers expect and depend on," said Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO Chris Womack. "Increasing the dividend 25 years in a row represents a historic milestone for the company and underscores our focus on total shareholder return and our goal of delivering regular, predictable and sustainable value for shareholders. We are incredibly proud of our strong dividend track record, which continues to be an integral part of Southern Company's long-term value proposition."

Every quarter for 79 consecutive years, Southern Company has paid a dividend to its shareholders that is equal to or greater than the previous quarter.

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 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 shareholder value and total shareholder return. 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 and its subsidiaries; 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 December 31, 2025 and subsequent securities filings, could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations as suggested by such forward-looking information: the impact of recent and future federal and state legal and regulatory changes, including tax, environmental and other laws and regulations to which Southern Company and its subsidiaries are subject, as well as changes in application of existing laws, regulations and guidance; the extent and timing of costs and legal requirements related to coal combustion residuals; current and future litigation or regulatory investigations, proceedings, or inquiries; the effects, extent, and timing of the entry of additional competition in the markets in which Southern Company's subsidiaries operate, including from the development and deployment of alternative energy sources; variations in demand for electricity and natural gas, including uncertainties related to projected significant growth in electricity demand driven primarily by data centers and other large load customers, and the related requirement for substantial new generation and transmission investments, creating capital access and revenue recovery risks for the traditional electric operating companies; customer affordability matters; available sources and costs of natural gas and other fuels and commodities; the ability to complete necessary or desirable pipeline expansion or infrastructure projects, limits on pipeline capacity, public and policymaker support for such projects, and operational interruptions to natural gas distribution and transmission activities; transmission constraints; the ability to control costs and avoid cost and schedule overruns during the development, construction, and operation of facilities or other projects due to challenges which include, but are not limited to, changes in labor costs, availability, and productivity, challenges with the management of contractors or vendors, subcontractor performance, adverse weather conditions, shortages, delays, increased costs, or inconsistent quality of equipment, materials, and labor, contractor or supplier delay, the impacts of inflation and trade policies (including tariffs and other trade measures) of the United States and other countries, delays due to judicial or regulatory action, nonperformance under construction, operating, or other agreements, operational readiness, including specialized operator training and required site safety programs, engineering or design problems or any remediation related thereto, design and other licensing-based compliance matters, challenges with start-up activities, including major equipment failure or system integration, and/or operational performance, challenges related to future epidemic or pandemic health events, continued public and policymaker support for projects, environmental and geological conditions, delays or increased costs to interconnect facilities to transmission grids, and increased financing costs as a result of changes in interest rates or as a result of project delays; legal proceedings and regulatory approvals and actions related to past, ongoing, and proposed construction projects, including state public service commission or other applicable state regulatory agency approvals and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission actions; the ability to construct facilities in accordance with the requirements of permits and licenses, to satisfy any environmental performance standards and the requirements of tax credits and other incentives, and to integrate facilities into the Southern Company system upon completion of construction; investment performance of the employee and retiree benefit plans and nuclear decommissioning trust funds and, with respect to retiree benefit plans, changes in actuarial assumptions and differences between the assumptions and actual values, any of the foregoing of which could cause additional funding requirements; advances in technology, including the pace and extent of development of low- to no-carbon energy and battery energy storage technologies and the impact of advancing technology on data center and other large load customer demand; performance of counterparties under ongoing renewable energy partnerships and development agreements; state and federal rate regulations and the impact of pending and future rate cases and negotiations, including rate actions relating to return on equity, equity ratios, additional generating capacity and transmission facilities, extension of retirement dates for fossil fuel plants, and fuel and other cost recovery mechanisms; the ability to successfully operate Southern Company's electric utilities' generation, transmission, distribution, and battery energy storage facilities, as applicable, and Southern Company Gas' natural gas distribution and storage facilities and the successful performance of necessary corporate functions; the inherent risks involved in operating nuclear generating facilities; the inherent risks involved in generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity and transportation and storage of natural gas, including accidents, explosions, fires, mechanical problems, discharges or releases of toxic or hazardous substances or gases, and other environmental risks; the performance of projects undertaken by the non-utility businesses and the success of efforts to invest in and develop new opportunities; internal restructuring or other restructuring options that may be pursued; potential business strategies, including acquisitions or dispositions of assets or businesses, or interests therein, which cannot be assured to be completed or beneficial to Southern Company or its subsidiaries; the ability of counterparties of Southern Company and its subsidiaries to make payments as and when due and to perform as required; the ability to obtain new short- and long-term contracts with wholesale customers; the direct or indirect effect on the Southern Company system's business resulting from cyber intrusion or physical attack and the threat of cyber and physical attacks; global and U.S. economic conditions, including impacts from geopolitical conflicts, recession, inflation, changes in trade policies (including tariffs and other trade measures) of the United States and other countries, interest rate fluctuations, and financial market conditions, and the results of financing efforts; prolonged or recurring U.S. federal government shutdowns; access to capital markets and other financing sources; changes in Southern Company's and any of its subsidiaries' credit ratings; the ability of Southern Company's electric utilities to obtain additional generating capacity (or sell excess generating capacity) at competitive prices; catastrophic events such as fires, including wildfires, land movement, earthquakes, explosions, floods, high winds, tornadoes, hurricanes and other storms, solar flares, droughts, future epidemic or pandemic health events, wars, political unrest, or other similar occurrences; the direct or indirect effects on the Southern Company system's business resulting from incidents affecting the U.S. electric grid, natural gas pipeline infrastructure, or operation of generating or storage resources; impairments of goodwill or long-lived assets; and the effect of accounting pronouncements issued periodically by standard-setting bodies. Southern Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information.

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SOURCE Southern Company

FAQ

When will Southern Company (SO) pay the announced dividend and who is eligible?

The dividend of $0.76 per share will be paid on June 8, 2026. According to the company, shareholders of record as of May 18, 2026 are eligible to receive this payment.

How much did Southern Company (SO) increase its annualized dividend on April 20, 2026?

Southern Company increased its annualized dividend by $0.08 to $3.04 per share. According to the company, this raises the regular payout rate used to calculate shareholder distributions.

What milestone did Southern Company (SO) reach with the April 20, 2026 dividend announcement?

The company marked its 25th consecutive year of dividend increases. According to the company, this underscores a long-term commitment to predictable shareholder returns.

Does Southern Company (SO) have a long history of steady dividends?

Yes. Southern Company has paid a quarterly dividend equal to or greater than the prior quarter for 79 consecutive years, according to the company, reflecting a long dividend track record.

What does the April 20, 2026 dividend mean for SO shareholders' income?

Shareholders will receive a quarterly payment of $0.76 per share on June 8, 2026. According to the company, the increase supports regular, predictable dividend income for investors focused on yield.