Southern Company (NYSE: SO) director reports deferred stock and phantom units

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Southern Company director Anthony F. Earley Jr. reported routine compensation-related transactions dated 01/02/2026. He received 516.055 deferred stock units as his quarterly director equity retainer under the Southern Company 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan, deferred into the Deferred Compensation Plan for Outside Directors. Each deferred stock unit gives the right to receive one share of Southern Company common stock, generally after his Board service ends.

He also received 331.1353 phantom stock units from his quarterly director cash retainer, which are deferred and settled in cash based on the value of one Southern Company common share following his Board service. After these transactions, he beneficially owned 30,161.159 deferred stock units. The filing notes that some deferred stock units were accumulated through the plan’s dividend reinvestment feature.

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

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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 GA 30308

(City) (State) (Zip)

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)

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/02/2026

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

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

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

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)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price

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)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Deferred Stock Units Holding(1)	$0	01/02/2026		A		516.055		(2)	(2)	Southern Company Common Stock	516.055	$87.2	30,161.159(3)	D
Phantom Stock Units(4)	$0	01/02/2026		A		331.1353		(5)	(5)	Southern Company Common Stock	331.1353	$87.2	331.1353	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.

	/s/ Brittney Anderson, Attorney-in-Fact for Anthony F. Earley, Jr.	01/06/2026
	** 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).
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FAQ

What insider transaction did Southern Company (SO) report for 01/02/2026?

The report shows director Anthony F. Earley Jr. receiving 516.055 deferred stock units and 331.1353 phantom stock units as part of his quarterly director retainers, all deferred under company plans.

How many Southern Company deferred stock units does the director hold after this Form 4?

Following the reported transactions, the director beneficially owned 30,161.159 deferred stock units tied to Southern Company common stock.

What do the deferred stock units reported by Southern Company (SO) represent?

Each deferred stock unit represents the right to receive one share of Southern Company common stock, generally delivered after the director’s Board service ends under the Deferred Compensation Plan.

How are the phantom stock units for Southern Company (SO) settled?

The 331.1353 phantom stock units are settled in cash after the director’s Board service, based on the cash value of one Southern Company common share per unit.

Are the Southern Company (SO) director units part of a regular compensation program?

Yes. The filing states the deferred stock units and phantom stock units represent quarterly director equity and cash retainers under the Southern Company 2021 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan and the Deferred Compensation Plan.

Does dividend reinvestment affect the director’s Southern Company deferred stock units?

Yes. The explanation notes that the total 30,161.159 deferred stock units includes units acquired through the dividend reinvestment feature of the Deferred Compensation Plan.