Vanguard reports 83.15M-share stake in Southern Co (NYSE: SO)

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Southern Co/The reports that Vanguard Capital Management holds 83,145,596 shares of Common Stock, representing 7.42% of the class. The filing states Vanguard has sole dispositive power over 83,145,596 shares and sole voting power over 11,606,451 shares. The filing notes these holdings include securities held for Vanguard funds and managed accounts and identifies Vanguard Capital Management LLC and specified affiliates as the reporting entities.

Insights

Institutional Ownership Analyst

Vanguard's 7.42% stake signals steady institutional ownership in Southern Co.

Vanguard Capital Management reports beneficial ownership of 83,145,596 shares with sole dispositive control. The filing attributes holdings to Vanguard funds and managed accounts, indicating portfolio management rather than a single-party strategic stake.

Monitor future 13D/13G amendments for any shift in percent ownership or a change from passive to active reporting; timing not specified in the excerpt.

Corporate Governance Specialist

Voting vs. dispositive power is split—voting authority is a subset of economic control.

The report lists 11,606,451 shares with sole voting power and 83,145,596 shares with sole dispositive power. This pattern is common for asset managers holding shares on behalf of funds and clients.

Stakeholders may review proxy materials if Vanguard's voting share count changes; the filing contains the required Release No. 34-39538 disclosure about affiliated management of client assets.

Key Figures

Shares beneficially owned: 83,145,596 shares Percent of class: 7.42% Sole voting power: 11,606,451 shares +2 more

5 metrics

Shares beneficially owned 83,145,596 shares Amount beneficially owned reported on Schedule 13G

Percent of class 7.42% Percent of common stock class reported in Item 4(b)

Sole voting power 11,606,451 shares Number with sole power to vote reported in Item 4(c)(i)

Sole dispositive power 83,145,596 shares Number with sole power to dispose reported in Item 4(c)(iii)

Reporting date (signature) 04/30/2026 Signature date on Schedule 13G filing

Key Terms

beneficially owned, sole dispositive power, Schedule 13G, Release No. 34-39538

4 terms

beneficially owned regulatory

"This reflects the securities beneficially owned, or deemed to be beneficially owned, by Vanguard"

Beneficially owned describes securities or assets where a person has the economic rights and control—such as the right to receive dividends and to direct voting—even if legal title is held in another name. Think of it like having the keys and using a car that’s registered to someone else: you get the benefits and make decisions. Investors care because beneficial ownership reveals who truly controls value and voting power, affecting corporate decisions and takeover dynamics.

sole dispositive power regulatory

"Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 83145596"

Sole dispositive power is the exclusive legal authority to decide what happens to a security — for example, whether to sell, transfer, or retain shares — without needing anyone else’s permission. Investors care because it signals who truly controls the economic outcome of an investment: like holding the only key to a safe, the holder can realize gains or losses and may trigger regulatory reporting, insider rules, or influence over corporate ownership.

Schedule 13G regulatory

"Item 1. (a) Name of issuer: Southern Co/The"

A Schedule 13G is a formal document that investors file with the government when they acquire a large ownership stake in a company, usually for investment purposes rather than control. It helps keep the public informed about who owns significant parts of a company's shares, which can influence how the company is managed and how investors make decisions. Filing this schedule is important for transparency and understanding the ownership landscape of publicly traded companies.

Release No. 34-39538 regulatory

"In accordance with SEC Release No. 34-39538 (January 12, 1998)"

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Southern Co/The

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock

(Title of Class of Securities)

842587107

(CUSIP Number)

03/31/2026

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

Rule 13d-1(b)

Rule 13d-1(c)

Rule 13d-1(d)

schemaVersion:

SCHEDULE 13G

CUSIP Number(s): 842587107

1

Names of Reporting Persons

Vanguard Capital Management

2

Check the appropriate box if a member of a Group (see instructions)

(a)
(b)

3

Sec Use Only

4

Citizenship or Place of Organization

PENNSYLVANIA

Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With:

5	Sole Voting Power 11,606,451.00
6	Shared Voting Power 0.00
7	Sole Dispositive Power 83,145,596.00
8	Shared Dispositive Power 0.00

9

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

83,145,596.00

10

Check box if the aggregate amount in row (9) excludes certain shares (See Instructions)

11

Percent of class represented by amount in row (9)

7.42 %

12

Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

IA

Comment for Type of Reporting Person: In accordance with SEC Release No. 34-39538 (January 12, 1998), this Schedule 13G reflects the securities beneficially owned, or deemed to be beneficially owned, by Vanguard Capital Management LLC and the following affiliates of Vanguard Capital Management LLC or business divisions of such affiliates: Vanguard Asset Management Limited, Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company, Vanguard Global Advisers, LLC and Vanguard Investments Australia Ltd. This Schedule 13G includes securities held by Vanguard funds, or sleeves thereof, over which Vanguard Capital Management LLC exercises dispositive power, in addition to securities held by clients over which the affiliates or business divisions of such affiliates indicated above exercise dispositive and/or voting power. This Schedule 13G does not include securities, if any, beneficially owned by other subsidiaries or affiliates of Vanguard Capital Management LLC, or business divisions of such subsidiaries, whose ownership of securities is disaggregated from that of the reporting business unit in accordance with such release.

SCHEDULE 13G

Item 1.
(a)	Name of issuer: Southern Co/The
(b)	Address of issuer's principal executive offices: 30 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd, Northwest, Atlanta, GA, 30308
Item 2.
(a)	Name of person filing: Vanguard Capital Management
(b)	Address or principal business office or, if none, residence: 100 Vanguard Blvd,, Malvern, PA, 19355
(c)	Citizenship: PA
(d)	Title of class of securities: Common Stock
(e)	CUSIP Number(s): 842587107
Item 3.	If this statement is filed pursuant to §§ 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:
(a)	Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o);
(b)	Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c);
(c)	Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c);
(d)	Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8);
(e)	An investment adviser in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
(f)	An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
(g)	A parent holding company or control person in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
(h)	A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);
(i)	A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);
(j)	A non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution:
(k)	Group, in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K).
Item 4.	Ownership
(a)	Amount beneficially owned: 83145596
(b)	Percent of class: 7.42 %
(c)	Number of shares as to which the person has:
	(i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 11606451
	(ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 0
	(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 83145596
	(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0
Item 5.	Ownership of 5 Percent or Less of a Class.
	Not Applicable
Item 6.	Ownership of more than 5 Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
	If any other person is known to have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, such securities, a statement to that effect should be included in response to this item and, if such interest relates to more than 5 percent of the class, such person should be identified. A listing of the shareholders of an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or the beneficiaries of employee benefit plan, pension fund or endowment fund is not required. Vanguard Capital Management, including investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and other managed accounts, have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the securities reported herein.No one other person's interest in the securities reported herein is more than 5%.
Item 7.	Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or Control Person.
	Not Applicable
Item 8.	Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
	Not Applicable
Item 9.	Notice of Dissolution of Group.
	Not Applicable

Item 10.

Certifications:

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect, other than activities solely in connection with a nomination under § 240.14a-11.

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Vanguard Capital Management

Signature:	Ashley Grim
Name/Title:	Head of Global Fund Administration
Date:	04/30/2026

FAQ

What stake does Vanguard Capital Management report in Southern Co (SO)?

Vanguard Capital Management reports 83,145,596 shares, equal to 7.42% of Southern Co's common stock. The filing shows sole dispositive power for those shares and sole voting power for 11,606,451 shares.

Does Vanguard control how to vote all the shares it reports for SO?

No. The filing states Vanguard has sole voting power over 11,606,451 shares and sole dispositive power over 83,145,596 shares, indicating voting authority is limited relative to economic control.

Are Vanguard's reported shares held for its funds or clients for SO?

Yes. The disclosure says holdings include securities held by Vanguard funds and managed accounts over which Vanguard exercises dispositive power, and by affiliates exercising voting/dispositive power on client accounts.

Is Vanguard the only party with more than 5% of SO reported here?

According to the filing, no other single person's interest exceeds 5%. The statement notes no one other person's interest in the reported securities is more than 5% of the class.