Market Update: The Southern Company (NYSE:SO) – Southern Company announces leadership moves

[PR Newswire] – ATLANTA, Feb. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Southern Company today announced several leadership moves involving several of its subsidiaries, effective March 7. Joseph A. “Buzz” Miller, executive vice president of nuclear development for Georgia Power and president of nuclear development for Southern Nuclear, has been elected president and CEO of Southern Power. Miller replaces Oscar C. Harper IV, who will retire after 32 years with the Southern Company system. Read more on this. Southern Company (SO) , with a current value of $45.11B, started trading this morning at $49.55. A quick look at the market, the company’s stock traded between $49.42 and $49.79 and has traded between $41.40 and $51.14 over the past 12 months. Priced at 17.45x this year’s forecasted earnings, SO shares are relatively expensive compared to the industry ’s 8.46x forward p/e ratio. The company pays shareholders $2.17 per share in dividend income per year, for a current yield of 4.44%. In a review of the consensus earnings estimate this quarter, 16 sell-side analysts are looking at $0.43 per share, which would be $0.05 better than the year-ago quarter and a $0.01 sequential decrease. The full-year EPS estimate is $2.86, which would be a $0.06 better than last year. The quarterly earnings estimate is predicated on a consensus revenue forecast of $4.47 Billion. If reported, that would be a 10.37% increase over the year-ago quarter. In terms of ratings, Mizuho Initiated SO at Buy (Apr 24, 2015). Previously, Guggenheim Initiated SO at to Neutral. Investors should keep in mind is that the average price target is $46.75, which is 5.65% below where the stock opened this morning. See more in (NYSE:SO) Similar Articles: Company Update: The Southern Company (NYSE:SO) – Southern Company subsidiary announces pricing of $1 billion of Green Bonds Market Update: The Southern Company (NYSE:SO) – Southern Company honors mentorship, community service leaders Stock Update: The Southern Company (NYSE:SO) – Southern Company Buys AGL Resources—Secures Gas Infrastructure