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Southern Co.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 October 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 1 lowered, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Reported EPS rose to $1.55: Reported EPS was $1.55 against $1.40. Net income attributable to Southern Company was $1,711 million against $1,535 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose to $1.60: Excluding items, EPS was $1.60 against $1.43. The release listed higher utility revenues as a driver, partly offset by higher depreciation, interest expense and milder weather. Source
  • Depreciation and amortization up $212M: Depreciation and amortization was $1,422 million against $1,210 million. The EPS analysis shows a 5-cent drag in the quarter. Source
  • Retail sales up 1.1% in quarter: Total sales were 56,627 million kWh, up 1.1%. Year to date, total sales rose 1.6% to 154,971 million kWh. Source
  • Vogtle site demobilization completed: Site demobilization at Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 finished in the third quarter. Revised cost estimates gave a $33 million pre-tax credit. Source

“Southern Company’s robust third quarter performance comes as the momentum around electric demand growth opportunities and interest in our service territories continue to build,”

Chris Womack, chairman, president and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Accelerated depreciation from wind repowering Sourceremaining 2025approximately $100 millionLowered from $215 million
Accelerated depreciation from wind repowering Source2026$320 millionKept
Accelerated depreciation from wind repowering Source2027$25 millionKept
Repowering commercial operation timing Sourcethird quarter 2026 to second quarter 2027between the third quarter 2026 and the second quarter 2027Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Projected 2025 accelerated depreciation from wind repowering fell to about $100 million from $215 million; the 2026 and 2027 projections were unchanged. Source
  • Ended: Site demobilization at Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 was completed during the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • New: Alabama Power sold a multi-use commercial facility development and recorded a $2 million pre-tax gain on the sale. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Reported EPS rose to $1.55: Reported EPS was $1.55 against $1.40. Net income attributable to Southern Company was $1,711 million against $1,535 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose to $1.60: Excluding items, EPS was $1.60 against $1.43. The release listed higher utility revenues as a driver, partly offset by higher depreciation, interest expense and milder weather. Source
  • Traditional operating companies added 28 cents: Traditional operating companies contributed $0.28 of the $0.15 reported EPS change. Southern Power, Gas, parent and share count together offset $0.13. Source
  • Operating revenues rose 7.5%: Operating revenues were $7,823 million, up 7.5%. Nine-month operating revenues were $22,572 million, up 10.7%. Source
  • Nine-month EPS rose to $3.56: Nine-month reported EPS was $3.56 against $3.53. Adjusted nine-month EPS was $3.76 against $3.56. Source

Segments and regions

  • Traditional operating companies net income up: Traditional operating companies net income was $1,920 million against $1,618 million. Nine-month net income was $3,994 million against $3,630 million. Source

“It is that disciplined approach and our unwavering commitment to put customers at the center of all that we do that positions us to finish the year strong and continues to position us to capture the opportunities ahead.”

Chris Womack, chairman, president and CEO

Sales volumes and customers

  • Residential sales fell 0.3%: Residential sales were 14,631 million kWh, down 0.3% as reported and up 2.7% weather adjusted. Source
  • Commercial sales rose 2.3%: Commercial sales were 14,607 million kWh, up 2.3% as reported and up 3.5% weather adjusted. Source
  • Industrial sales rose 1.5%: Industrial sales were 12,996 million kWh, up 1.5% both as reported and weather adjusted. Source
  • Regulated customers rose 0.8%: Traditional operating companies had 4,580 thousand customers, up 1.1%. Southern Company Gas had 4,354 thousand, up 0.4%. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Fuel and purchased power up $209M: Fuel and purchased power expense was $1,604 million against $1,395 million. Nine-month expense was up $679 million. Source
  • Depreciation and amortization up $212M: Depreciation and amortization was $1,422 million against $1,210 million. The EPS analysis shows a 5-cent drag in the quarter. Source
  • Non-fuel O&M cost 16 cents year to date: Non-fuel O&M had no EPS effect in the quarter and reduced nine-month EPS by 16 cents. Quarterly non-fuel O&M expense was $1,643 million, down $19 million. Source
  • Taxes other than income down $87M: Taxes other than income taxes were $288 million against $375 million in the quarter. Nine-month amount was $1,136 million against $1,155 million. Source
  • Retail revenue impacts added 15 cents: Retail revenue impacts added 15 cents to quarterly EPS and 53 cents year to date. Retail sales volume added 7 cents in the quarter. Source
  • Operating income up $226M: Operating income was $2,594 million against $2,368 million. Nine-month operating income was $6,368 million against $6,010 million. Source

Demand and growth opportunities

  • Retail sales up 1.1% in quarter: Total sales were 56,627 million kWh, up 1.1%. Year to date, total sales rose 1.6% to 154,971 million kWh. Source
  • Wholesale sales up 0.8%: Wholesale sales were 14,258 million kWh, up 0.8% in the quarter and 1.7% year to date. Source
  • Management cites electric demand momentum: Management described momentum around electric demand growth and interest in its service territories as the quarter's backdrop. Source

Capital and share count

  • Convertible notes repurchase cost recorded: Nine-month results include a $129 million pre-tax loss on extinguishment of debt from repurchasing convertible senior notes, excluded from adjusted earnings. Source
  • Share count rose to 1,102 million: Average shares outstanding were 1,102 million against 1,097 million. The share increase reduced EPS by 1 cent in the quarter and 2 cents year to date. Source
  • Parent company loss widened: Parent Company and Other net loss was $237 million against $203 million in the quarter, and $759 million against $582 million year to date. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Vogtle site demobilization completed: Site demobilization at Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 finished in the third quarter. Revised cost estimates gave a $33 million pre-tax credit. Source
  • More disposition impacts possible: The company said further impacts may result from future disposition activities, with amount and timing uncertain. Source
  • Earlier impairment on that development: The prior-year period included a $36 million pre-tax impairment after Alabama Power stopped developing the same multi-use commercial facility. Source

People and leadership

  • Womack and CFO on earnings call: Chairman, President and CEO Chris Womack and CFO David P. Poroch were scheduled to discuss earnings and provide a general business update on the analyst call. Source
  • CFO change reported in prior quarter: The prior-quarter release named David P. Poroch as new CFO and Daniel S. Tucker as former CFO.
  • Workforce of 28,000 system employees: The company reported 28,000 system employees, whom the CEO said remain focused on meeting growing needs. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 October 2025

  • Repowering projects reach operation: Commercial operation of the wind repowering projects is projected between the third quarter of 2026 and the second quarter of 2027. Source
  • Kemper dismantlement costs through 2025: Mississippi Power expects further pre-tax costs through the end of 2025 for gasifier asset dismantlement and site restoration, net of salvage. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Customer growth SourceRegulated utility customers 8,934 thousand, up 0.8%
Load growth SourceTotal retail sales up 2.6% weather adjusted (quarter)

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Further Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 charges or credits may occur, with amount and timing uncertain. Source
  • Financial: Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized, rose $63 million in the quarter and $293 million year to date. Source
  • Demand: Weather reduced traditional operating company EPS by 5 cents in the quarter and by 4 cents year to date. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: In the second-quarter release, management said it remained well positioned to deliver on its 2025 goals. The third-quarter release does not state status against them.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.