LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / November 16, 2017 / Pro-Trader Daily takes a closer look at The Southern Co. (NYSE: SO) as the Company's stock will begin trading ex-dividend on November 17, 2017. In order to capture the dividend payout, investors must purchase the stock a day prior to the ex-dividend date that is by latest at the end of the trading session on November 16, 2017. Are you looking for research on dividend stocks, if so register with us now for your free membership at:

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Dividend Declared

On October 16, 2017, Southern Co. announced a regular quarterly dividend of $0.58 per share on ITs common stock, payable December 06, 2017, to shareholders of record as of November 20, 2017.

Southern Co.'s indicated dividend represents a yield of 4.48%, which is substantially above the average dividend yield of 2.34% for the Utilities sector. The dividend marks 280 consecutive quarters ? dating back to 1948 ? that Southern Co. will have paid a dividend to its shareholders.

Dividend Insights

Southern Co. has a dividend payout ratio of 78.6%, which denotes that the Company spends approximately $0.79 for dividend distribution out of every $1.00 earned. The dividend payout ratio reflects how much amount a company is returning to shareholders versus how much money it is keeping on hand to reinvest in growth, to pay off debt, and/or to add to its cash reserves.

According to analysts' estimates, Southern Co. is forecasted to report earnings of $3.03 for the next year, which is substantially above the Company's annualized dividend of $2.32 per share.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, Southern Co.'s net cash provided by operating activities totaled $5.25 billion compared to $4.30 billion for the year ago same period. As on September 30, 2017, the Company's cash and cash equivalents totaled $1.84 billion compared to $1.98 billion as on December 31, 2016. The Company's strong financial position indicates its ability to absorb any fluctuations in earnings and cash flow and to sustain the dividend distribution for a long period.

Recent Development for Southern Company

On October 16, 2017, Southern Co. and Southern Com. Gas announced that Pivotal Utility Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of Southern Co. Gas, has entered into agreements to sell the assets of its utility operating divisions Elizabethtown Gas and Elkton Gas to South Jersey Industries in an all-cash transaction with an enterprise value of approximately $1.7 billion. Southern Co. Gas is a subsidiary of Southern Co.

"This transaction, which we anticipate completing by third quarter 2018, will strengthen the balance sheets of Southern Company Gas and Southern Company by reducing existing financing requirements," said Thomas A. Fanning, Chairman, President, and CEO of Southern Co.

About Southern Company

Southern Co. is America's premier energy company, with 46,000 megawatts of generating capacity and 1,500 billion cubic feet of combined natural gas consumption and throughput volume serving 9 million customers through its subsidiaries. The Company provides clean, safe, reliable, and affordable energy through electric operating companies in four states, natural gas distribution companies in seven states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers across America and a nationally recognized provider of customized energy solutions, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications.

Stock Performance

Southern's share price finished yesterday's trading session at $51.92, marginally sliding 0.75%. A total volume of 3.59 million shares have exchanged hands. The Company's stock price advanced 8.35% in the last three months, 4.32% in the past six months, and 7.41% in the previous twelve months. Additionally, the stock gained 5.55% since the start of the year. Shares of the Company have a PE ratio of 93.55 and have a dividend yield of 4.47%. The stock currently has a market cap of $52.77 billion.

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