Southern Company reports second-quarter 2025 earnings
Rhea-AI Summary
Southern Company (NYSE:SO) reported Q2 2025 earnings of $0.9 billion ($0.80 per share), down from $1.2 billion ($1.10 per share) in Q2 2024. Excluding special items, adjusted earnings were $1.0 billion ($0.92 per share) compared to $1.2 billion ($1.10 per share) last year.
Operating revenues increased 7.9% to $7.0 billion in Q2 2025, while year-to-date revenues grew 12.5% to $14.7 billion. The quarter saw higher non-fuel operations costs, prior year gains on transmission asset sales, milder weather, and increased expenses in taxes, depreciation, and interest, partially offset by higher utility revenues.
CEO Chris Womack highlighted strong financial and operational performance, emphasizing the company's focus on balancing growth, reliability, and customer affordability.
Positive
- Operating revenues increased 7.9% year-over-year to $7.0 billion in Q2 2025
- Year-to-date revenues grew 12.5% to $14.7 billion
- Higher utility revenues partially offset increased costs
- Positive regulatory outcomes achieved across service territories
Negative
- Q2 earnings declined 26.8% to $0.9 billion from $1.2 billion year-over-year
- Adjusted EPS decreased to $0.92 from $1.10 in Q2 2024
- Higher non-fuel operations and maintenance expenses impacted earnings
- Increased costs across taxes, depreciation, amortization, and interest expense
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, SO declined 0.44%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Excluding the items described under "Net Income – Excluding Items" in the table below, Southern Company earned
Non-GAAP Financial Measures | Three Months Ended June | Year-To-Date June | |||
Net Income – Excluding Items (in millions) | 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |
Net Income – As Reported | $ 880 | $ 1,203 | $ 2,214 | $ 2,332 | |
Less: | |||||
Estimated Loss on Plants Under Construction | (2) | 17 | (4) | 14 | |
Tax Impact | (4) | (18) | (3) | (17) | |
Accelerated Depreciation from Repowering | (40) | — | (65) | — | |
Tax Impact | 9 | — | 14 | — | |
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt | (129) | — | (129) | — | |
Tax Impact | 32 | — | 32 | — | |
Net Income – Excluding Items | $ 1,014 | $ 1,204 | $ 2,369 | $ 2,335 | |
Average Shares Outstanding – (in millions) | 1,101 | 1,096 | 1,100 | 1,095 | |
Basic Earnings Per Share – Excluding Items | $ 0.92 | $ 1.10 | $ 2.15 | $ 2.13 | |
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 second quarter 2025, as compared with the same period in 2024, were higher non-fuel operations and maintenance expenses, prior year gains on transmission asset sales, milder weather, and higher income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and interest expense, partially offset by higher utility revenues.
Second-quarter 2025 operating revenues were
"This is an exciting time for Southern Company. We performed well both financially and operationally through the first half of the year and remain well positioned to deliver on our 2025 goals," said Chris Womack, chairman, president and CEO. "Our focus continues to be on balancing growth, reliability and affordability for all customers. The regulatory outcomes we have reached in our service territories demonstrate our ability to work with all stakeholders to deliver on all of our objectives. Because of our team's commitment to making the right investments, running our business efficiently and effectively, and keeping customers at the center of everything we do, we've accomplished a great deal so far this year and we've positioned Southern Company for an even brighter future ahead."
Southern Company's second-quarter earnings slides with supplemental financial information are available at investor.southerncompany.com.
Southern Company's financial analyst call will begin at 1 p.m. Eastern Time today, during which Womack, new Chief Financial Officer David P. Poroch and former Chief Financial Officer Daniel S. Tucker will discuss earnings and provide a general business update. Investors, media and the public may listen to a live webcast of the call and view associated slides at investor.southerncompany.com. A replay of the webcast will be available on the site for 12 months.
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. Providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy with excellent service is our mission. 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. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, resilience and sustainability, we are taking action to meet customers' and communities' needs while advancing our goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 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. We are transforming energy into economic, environmental and social progress for tomorrow. Our corporate culture has been recognized by a variety of organizations, earning the company awards and recognitions that reflect Our Values and dedication to 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 the likelihood of achieving 2025 goals. 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 December 31, 2024, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2025 and June 30, 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 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, including litigation and other disputes related to the
Southern Company | |||||||||
Financial Highlights | |||||||||
(In Millions Except Earnings Per Share) | |||||||||
Three Months Ended | Year-To-Date June | ||||||||
Net Income – As Reported | 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |||||
Traditional Electric Operating Companies | $ 1,047 | $ 1,192 | $ 2,073 | $ 2,012 | |||||
Southern Power | 51 | 86 | 138 | 182 | |||||
Southern Company Gas | 106 | 108 | 524 | 517 | |||||
Total | 1,204 | 1,386 | 2,735 | 2,711 | |||||
Parent Company and Other | (324) | (183) | (521) | (379) | |||||
Net Income – As Reported | $ 880 | $ 1,203 | $ 2,214 | $ 2,332 | |||||
Basic Earnings Per Share(1) | $ 0.80 | $ 1.10 | $ 2.01 | $ 2.13 | |||||
Average Shares Outstanding | 1,101 | 1,096 | 1,100 | 1,095 | |||||
Non-GAAP Financial Measures | Three Months Ended | Year-To-Date June | |||||||
Net Income – Excluding Items | 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |||||
Net Income – As Reported | $ 880 | $ 1,203 | $ 2,214 | $ 2,332 | |||||
Less: | |||||||||
Estimated Loss on Plants Under Construction(2) | (2) | 17 | (4) | 14 | |||||
Tax Impact | (4) | (18) | (3) | (17) | |||||
Accelerated Depreciation from Repowering(3) | (40) | — | (65) | — | |||||
Tax Impact | 9 | — | 14 | — | |||||
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt(4) | (129) | — | (129) | — | |||||
Tax Impact | 32 | — | 32 | — | |||||
Net Income – Excluding Items | $ 1,014 | $ 1,204 | $ 2,369 | $ 2,335 | |||||
Basic Earnings Per Share – Excluding Items | $ 0.92 | $ 1.10 | $ 2.15 | $ 2.13 | |||||
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 income tax charges of | |
(3) | Earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 include pre-tax charges, net of noncontrolling interests impacts, of | |
(4) | Earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 include costs associated with the extinguishment of debt at Southern Company as a result of Southern Company's repurchase of certain convertible senior notes. Similar transaction costs may occur in the future at Southern Company or one of its unregulated subsidiaries; however, the amount and timing of any such costs are uncertain. | |
Southern Company | |||||||||||
Significant Factors Impacting EPS | |||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Year-To-Date June | ||||||||||
2025 | 2024 | Change | 2025 | 2024 | Change | ||||||
Earnings Per Share – | |||||||||||
As Reported(1) | |||||||||||
Significant Factors: | |||||||||||
Traditional Electric Operating Companies | $ 0.06 | ||||||||||
Southern Power | (0.03) | (0.04) | |||||||||
Southern Company Gas | — | 0.01 | |||||||||
Parent Company and Other | (0.13) | (0.14) | |||||||||
Increase in Shares | (0.01) | (0.01) | |||||||||
Total – As Reported | |||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Year-To-Date June | ||||||||||
Non-GAAP Financial Measures | 2025 | 2024 | Change | 2025 | 2024 | Change | |||||
Earnings Per Share – | |||||||||||
Excluding Items | $ 0.02 | ||||||||||
Total – As Reported | |||||||||||
Less: | |||||||||||
Estimated Loss on Plants Under Construction(2) | — | — | |||||||||
Accelerated Depreciation from Repowering(3) | (0.03) | (0.05) | |||||||||
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt(4) | (0.09) | (0.09) | |||||||||
Total – Excluding Items | $ 0.02 | ||||||||||
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 income tax charges of |
(3) | Earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 include pre-tax charges, net of noncontrolling interests impacts, of |
(4) | Earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 include costs associated with the extinguishment of debt at Southern Company as a result of Southern Company's repurchase of certain convertible senior notes. Similar transaction costs may occur in the future at Southern Company or one of its unregulated subsidiaries; however, the amount and timing of any such costs are uncertain. |
Southern Company | |||
EPS Earnings Analysis | |||
Description | Three Months Ended June 2025 vs. 2024 | Year-To-Date June 2025 vs. 2024 | |
Retail Sales | 6¢ | 5¢ | |
Retail Revenue Impacts | 14 | 38 | |
Weather | (7) | 1 | |
Wholesale and Other Operating Revenues | 3 | 13 | |
Non-Fuel Operations and Maintenance Expenses(1) | (7) | (16) | |
Depreciation and Amortization | (5) | (12) | |
Interest Expense and Other | (8) | (15) | |
Income Taxes | (9) | (8) | |
Total Traditional Electric Operating Companies | (13)¢ | 6¢ | |
Southern Power | — | 1 | |
Southern Company Gas | — | 1 | |
Parent Company and Other | (4) | (5) | |
Increase in Shares | (1) | (1) | |
Total Change in EPS (Excluding Items) | (18)¢ | 2¢ | |
Estimated Loss on Plants Under Construction(2) | — | — | |
Accelerated Depreciation from Repowering(3) | (3) | (5) | |
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt(4) | (9) | (9) | |
Total Change in EPS (As Reported) | (30)¢ | (12)¢ | |
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 income tax charges of |
(3) | Earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 include pre-tax charges, net of noncontrolling interests impacts, of |
(4) | Earnings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 include costs associated with the extinguishment of debt at Southern Company as a result of Southern Company's repurchase of certain convertible senior notes. Similar transaction costs may occur in the future at Southern Company or one of its unregulated subsidiaries; however, the amount and timing of any such costs are uncertain. |
Southern Company | |||||||||||
Consolidated Earnings | |||||||||||
As Reported | |||||||||||
Three Months Ended June | Year-To-Date June | ||||||||||
2025 | 2024 | Change | 2025 | 2024 | Change | ||||||
(in millions) | (in millions) | ||||||||||
Retail electric revenues: | |||||||||||
Fuel | $ 1,139 | $ 1,061 | $ 78 | $ 2,356 | $ 2,072 | $ 284 | |||||
Non-fuel | 3,619 | 3,425 | 194 | 7,002 | 6,355 | 647 | |||||
Wholesale electric revenues | 681 | 627 | 54 | 1,425 | 1,198 | 227 | |||||
Other electric revenues | 220 | 210 | 10 | 463 | 409 | 54 | |||||
Natural gas revenues | 979 | 831 | 148 | 2,818 | 2,538 | 280 | |||||
Other revenues | 335 | 309 | 26 | 684 | 537 | 147 | |||||
Total operating revenues | 6,973 | 6,463 | 510 | 14,748 | 13,109 | 1,639 | |||||
Fuel and purchased power | 1,376 | 1,254 | 122 | 2,918 | 2,448 | 470 | |||||
Cost of natural gas | 255 | 149 | 106 | 929 | 754 | 175 | |||||
Cost of other sales | 167 | 167 | — | 366 | 298 | 68 | |||||
Non-fuel operations and maintenance | 1,685 | 1,388 | 297 | 3,305 | 2,860 | 445 | |||||
Depreciation and amortization | 1,323 | 1,182 | 141 | 2,608 | 2,327 | 281 | |||||
Taxes other than income taxes | 403 | 384 | 19 | 848 | 780 | 68 | |||||
Total operating expenses | 5,209 | 4,524 | 685 | 10,974 | 9,467 | 1,507 | |||||
Operating income | 1,764 | 1,939 | (175) | 3,774 | 3,642 | 132 | |||||
Allowance for equity funds used during | 80 | 51 | 29 | 153 | 109 | 44 | |||||
Earnings from equity method investments | 10 | 31 | (21) | 43 | 77 | (34) | |||||
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized | 874 | 694 | 180 | 1,588 | 1,358 | 230 | |||||
Other income (expense), net | 162 | 151 | 11 | 310 | 302 | 8 | |||||
Income taxes | 289 | 290 | (1) | 569 | 513 | 56 | |||||
Net income | 853 | 1,188 | (335) | 2,123 | 2,259 | (136) | |||||
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | (27) | (15) | (12) | (91) | (73) | (18) | |||||
Net income attributable to Southern | $ 880 | $ 1,203 | $ (323) | $ 2,214 | $ 2,332 | $ (118) | |||||
Certain prior year data may have been reclassified to conform with current year presentation. |
Southern Company | |||||||||||||||
Kilowatt-Hour Sales and Customers | |||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended June | Year-To-Date June | ||||||||||||||
2025 | 2024 | % Change | Weather | 2025 | 2024 | % Change | Weather | ||||||||
(in millions) | (in millions) | ||||||||||||||
Kilowatt-Hour Sales | |||||||||||||||
Total Sales | 49,858 | 49,897 | (0.1) % | 98,344 | 96,426 | 2.0 % | |||||||||
Total Retail Sales | 37,194 | 37,007 | 0.5 % | 3.0 % | 73,636 | 72,261 | 1.9 % | 1.3 % | |||||||
Residential | 11,565 | 11,889 | (2.7) % | 2.8 % | 24,198 | 23,765 | 1.8 % | 0.3 % | |||||||
Commercial | 12,836 | 12,666 | 1.3 % | 3.5 % | 24,688 | 24,140 | 2.3 % | 2.0 % | |||||||
Industrial | 12,668 | 12,318 | 2.8 % | 2.8 % | 24,492 | 24,086 | 1.7 % | 1.7 % | |||||||
Other | 125 | 134 | (6.9) % | (6.6) % | 258 | 270 | (4.3) % | (4.6) % | |||||||
Total Wholesale Sales | 12,664 | 12,890 | (1.8) % | N/A | 24,708 | 24,165 | 2.2 % | N/A | |||||||
Period Ended June | |||||||||||||||
2025 | 2024 | % Change | |||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
Regulated Utility Customers | |||||||||||||||
Total Regulated Utility Customers | 8,941 | 8,873 | 0.8 % | ||||||||||||
Traditional Electric Operating Companies | 4,568 | 4,518 | 1.1 % | ||||||||||||
Southern Company Gas | 4,373 | 4,355 | 0.4 % | ||||||||||||
Southern Company | |||||||||||
Financial Overview | |||||||||||
As Reported | |||||||||||
Three Months Ended June | Year-To-Date June | ||||||||||
2025 | 2024 | % Change | 2025 | 2024 | % Change | ||||||
(in millions) | (in millions) | ||||||||||
Southern Company – | |||||||||||
Operating Revenues | $ 6,973 | $ 6,463 | 7.9 % | $ 14,748 | $ 13,109 | 12.5 % | |||||
Earnings Before Income Taxes | 1,142 | 1,478 | (22.7) % | 2,692 | 2,772 | (2.9) % | |||||
Net Income Available to Common | 880 | 1,203 | (26.8) % | 2,214 | 2,332 | (5.1) % | |||||
Alabama Power – | |||||||||||
Operating Revenues | $ 1,968 | $ 1,873 | 5.1 % | $ 3,980 | $ 3,664 | 8.6 % | |||||
Earnings Before Income Taxes | 496 | 471 | 5.3 % | 981 | 889 | 10.3 % | |||||
Net Income Available to Common | 381 | 369 | 3.3 % | 755 | 702 | 7.5 % | |||||
Georgia Power – | |||||||||||
Operating Revenues | $ 3,110 | $ 2,875 | 8.2 % | $ 6,148 | $ 5,273 | 16.6 % | |||||
Earnings Before Income Taxes | 843 | 954 | (11.6) % | 1,538 | 1,470 | 4.6 % | |||||
Net Income Available to Common | 607 | 762 | (20.3) % | 1,204 | 1,199 | 0.4 % | |||||
Mississippi Power – | |||||||||||
Operating Revenues | $ 400 | $ 364 | 9.9 % | $ 821 | $ 706 | 16.3 % | |||||
Earnings Before Income Taxes | 76 | 76 | — % | 148 | 136 | 8.8 % | |||||
Net Income Available to Common | 59 | 61 | (3.3) % | 114 | 111 | 2.7 % | |||||
Southern Power – | |||||||||||
Operating Revenues | $ 546 | $ 524 | 4.2 % | $ 1,113 | $ 997 | 11.6 % | |||||
Earnings Before Income Taxes | 22 | 84 | (73.8) % | 44 | 108 | (59.3) % | |||||
Net Income Available to Common | 51 | 86 | (40.7) % | 138 | 182 | (24.2) % | |||||
Southern Company Gas – | |||||||||||
Operating Revenues | $ 979 | $ 831 | 17.8 % | $ 2,818 | $ 2,538 | 11.0 % | |||||
Earnings Before Income Taxes | 139 | 144 | (3.5) % | 686 | 691 | (0.7) % | |||||
Net Income Available to Common | 106 | 108 | (1.9) % | 524 | 517 | 1.4 % | |||||
See Financial Highlights pages for discussion of certain significant items occurring during the periods. |
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SOURCE Southern Company