Southern Co director acquires deferred pay units

Deferred Stock Units are settled in shares after board service ends, while Phantom Stock Units are settled in cash.

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Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Southern Company director Anthony F. Earley Jr. reported compensation-related acquisitions on October 1, 2026: 539.1159 Deferred Stock Units representing his quarterly director equity retainer and 262.0702 Phantom Stock Units representing his quarterly director cash retainer, both deferred under the Deferred Compensation Plan. Each Deferred Stock Unit represents a right to one common share; each Phantom Stock Unit represents a right to the cash value of one share. His reported balances after the transactions were 32,408.3358 and 1,136.2169 units, respectively, including additional units credited for dividends. No Rule 10b5-1 plan is reported.

Insider Trade Summary

Grant/Award: 801.1861 shares

Grant/Award 2 txns

Insider EARLEY ANTHONY F JR

Role Director

Type	Security	Shares	Price	Value
Grant/Award	Deferred Stock Units Holding ^{F1, F2, F3}	539.1159	$83.47	$45K
Grant/Award	Phantom Stock Units ^{F4, F5, F6}	262.0702	$83.47	$22K

Holdings After Transaction: Deferred Stock Units Holding — 32,408.3358 contracts (Direct); Phantom Stock Units — 1,136.2169 contracts (Direct)

Footnotes (6)

F1. Represents quarterly director equity retainer paid under the Southern Company 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan and deferred pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan for Outside Directors of The Southern Company (Deferred Compensation Plan). Each deferred stock unit represents the right to receive one share of Southern Company common stock.
F2. Deferred stock units are settled in shares of Southern Company common stock on the date(s) following the termination of the reporting person's service on the Board as specified by the reporting person pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan. There is no exercise or expiration date.
F3. Includes additional deferred stock units acquired through the dividend reinvestment feature of the Deferred Compensation Plan.
F4. Represents quarterly director cash retainer paid under the Southern Company 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan and deferred pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan. Each phantom stock unit represents the right to receive the cash value of one share of Southern Company common stock.
F5. Phantom stock units are settled in cash on the date(s) following the termination of the reporting person's service on the Board as specified by the reporting person pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan.
F6. Includes additional phantom stock units credited to the reporting person's account to reflect dividends paid on common stock prior to settlement pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan.

Key Figures

Deferred Stock Units acquired: 539.1159 units Deferred Stock Units after transaction: 32,408.3358 units Phantom Stock Units acquired: 262.0702 units +1 more

4 metrics

Deferred Stock Units acquired 539.1159 units October 1, 2026

Deferred Stock Units after transaction 32,408.3358 units Reported after the October 1, 2026 transaction

Phantom Stock Units acquired 262.0702 units October 1, 2026

Phantom Stock Units after transaction 1,136.2169 units Reported after the October 1, 2026 transaction

Key Terms

deferred stock unit, phantom stock unit, Deferred Compensation Plan

3 terms

deferred stock unit financial

"represents the right to receive one share"

A deferred stock unit (DSU) is a promise from a company to give an employee or director the value of a share at a future date, paid in actual shares or cash when certain conditions are met (such as retirement or a set date). Think of it like a gift card that converts to company stock later; it aligns pay with long‑term performance and can affect future share count, compensation expense and potential cash needs, so investors watch DSUs for their impact on dilution and company finances.

phantom stock unit financial

"represents the right to receive the cash value of one share"

Deferred Compensation Plan financial

"pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan"

A deferred compensation plan is an arrangement where an employer agrees to pay part of an employee’s pay or bonus at a later date instead of immediately, often to reduce current tax bills or to tie rewards to long-term performance. For investors it matters because these promises create future cash obligations and influence executive incentives and retention; they can affect a company’s reported liabilities, cash flow planning and the risk profile if the business faces financial trouble.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What SO director compensation units did Anthony F. Earley Jr. acquire?

On October 1, 2026, Anthony F. Earley Jr. acquired 539.1159 Deferred Stock Units and 262.0702 Phantom Stock Units as quarterly director retainers deferred under the Deferred Compensation Plan. The first represents a right to one common share; the second represents a right to the cash value of one share. No Rule 10b5-1 plan is reported.

How are Anthony F. Earley's SO deferred and phantom units settled?

The Deferred Stock Units are settled in Southern Company common stock on dates after his Board service ends, as he specified under the Deferred Compensation Plan. The Phantom Stock Units are settled in cash on dates after his Board service ends under that plan.

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Available on EDGAR 10/05/2026 - 02:12 PM Accepted by SEC EDGAR 10/05/2026 - 02:12 PM

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:			0.5

Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

EARLEY ANTHONY F JR

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

30 IVAN ALLEN JR. BLVD., NW

(Street)

ATLANTA

GEORGIA

30308

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

UNITED STATES

(Country)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
SOUTHERN CO [ SO ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

X	Director	10% Owner
	Officer (give title below)	Other (specify below)

2a. Foreign Trading Symbol

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
10/01/2026

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)		10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Deferred Stock Units Holding⁽¹⁾	$0	10/01/2026		A		539.1159		⁽²⁾	⁽²⁾	Southern Company Common Stock	539.1159	$83.47	32,408.3358⁽³⁾	D
Phantom Stock Units⁽⁴⁾	$0	10/01/2026		A		262.0702		⁽⁵⁾	⁽⁵⁾	Southern Company Common Stock	262.0702	$83.47	1,136.2169⁽⁶⁾	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Represents quarterly director equity retainer paid under the Southern Company 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan and deferred pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan for Outside Directors of The Southern Company (Deferred Compensation Plan). Each deferred stock unit represents the right to receive one share of Southern Company common stock.

2. Deferred stock units are settled in shares of Southern Company common stock on the date(s) following the termination of the reporting person's service on the Board as specified by the reporting person pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan. There is no exercise or expiration date.

3. Includes additional deferred stock units acquired through the dividend reinvestment feature of the Deferred Compensation Plan.

4. Represents quarterly director cash retainer paid under the Southern Company 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan and deferred pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan. Each phantom stock unit represents the right to receive the cash value of one share of Southern Company common stock.

5. Phantom stock units are settled in cash on the date(s) following the termination of the reporting person's service on the Board as specified by the reporting person pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan.

6. Includes additional phantom stock units credited to the reporting person's account to reflect dividends paid on common stock prior to settlement pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan.

	/s/ Brittney Anderson, Attorney-in-Fact for Anthony F. Earley, Jr.	10/05/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.
* Form 4: SEC 1474 (03-26)

Source: View Original Filing on SEC EDGAR