Trailing Dividend / Share
$2.72
The Southern Company (SO) Dividend History
Income profile from 1982 to 2026 with payout safety and yield-on-cost trend
Dividend Yield
2.8%
Payout Ratio
69.5%
Watch
Dividend Streak
25 years
SO Dividend Income Check
Safety
69.5% payout ratio with watch safety profile.
Consistency
25 straight years of dividend increases.
Income Trend
Yield on cost is 5.0% and trend is rising.
SO Dividend Scorecard
Yield & Income
Dividend Yield2.8%
Trailing DPS$2.72
FrequencySemi-Annual
Payments / 12M5
Payout Safety
Earnings Payout69.5%
Earnings SafetyWatch
FCF PayoutN/A
FCF SafetyUnknown
Piotroski F-Score5/9
Growth
Growth Streak25 years
3Y CAGR2.9%
5Y CAGR3.0%
Yield on Cost (5Y)5.0%
YOC Trendrising
Total Returns
Buyback Yield0.0%
Total Shareholder Yield2.8%
1Y Total Return8.6%
5Y Total Return67.9%
Div Contribution (5Y)21.4%
Estimated $10K growth (return + dividends):
5Y ago$16,79110Y ago$24,08120Y ago$43,745
Uses precomputed total return metrics from screening data (not lot-by-lot dividend reinvestment transactions). Different time windows can produce different outcomes depending on market regime and entry point.
SO Income Growth Story
Dividend per share and yield on cost over time (45 years of payments)
SO Dividend Safety Story
EPS is the container — dividend is what's drawn out
Dividend Analysis
Payout Safety
The Southern Company distributes 69.5% of earnings as dividends (Watch).
Piotroski F-Score: 5/9 — moderate financial health.
Growth Track Record
SO has raised its dividend for 25 consecutive years, with a 3-year CAGR of 2.9% and 5-year CAGR of 3.0%.
Total Shareholder Returns
Beyond cash dividends, SO returns capital through share repurchases. The combined picture: 2.8% dividend yield, 2.8% total shareholder yield.
Income Trend & Total Return
Yield on cost (5-year basis) has reached 5.0% and is currently rising. The 5-year total return is 67.9%, with dividends contributing 21.4% of that performance.
DRIP Growth
A $10,000 investment made 10 years ago with dividends reinvested would have grown to approximately $24,081 today.
SO Recent Dividend Payments
Last 20 payments · Semi-Annual
TTM Total$14.10
Avg/Payment$0.7050
Latest Change+2.7%
| Ex-Date | Amount | Change | Yield % | Payment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 18, 2026Latest | $0.7600 | ↑ +2.7% | 3.07% | Jun 8, 2026 |
| Feb 17, 2026 | $0.7400 | — | 3.22% | Mar 6, 2026 |
| Nov 17, 2025 | $0.7400 | — | 3.25% | Dec 8, 2025 |
| Aug 18, 2025 | $0.7400 | — | 3.14% | Sep 8, 2025 |
| May 19, 2025 | $0.7400 | ↑ +2.8% | 3.24% | Jun 6, 2025 |
| Feb 18, 2025 | $0.7200 | — | 3.35% | Mar 6, 2025 |
| Nov 18, 2024 | $0.7200 | — | 3.25% | Dec 6, 2024 |
| Aug 19, 2024 | $0.7200 | — | 3.27% | Sep 6, 2024 |
SO Dividend vs Peers
Comparable companies in the same industry
#5 yield in peer group
Div Yield
2.8%
#5 of 9
Safety
Watch
69.5% payout
Streak
25Y
3.0% 5Y CAGR
Total Shareholder
2.8%
#5 of 9
| Company | Mkt Cap | Yield | Payout | Streak | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOThe Southern Company | $108.1B | 2.8% | 69.5% | 25 | Watch |
3rd  DUKDuke Energy Corporat… | $99.3B | 3.3% | 66.4% | 1 | Watch |
1st  DDominion Energy, Inc… | $55.4B | 4.2% | 76.0% | 0 | Watch |
 AEPAmerican Electric Po… | $74.5B | 2.8% | 56.1% | 21 | Sustainable |
2nd  EXCExelon Corporation | $46.6B | 3.5% | — | 1 | Unknown |
 XELXcel Energy Inc. | $50.8B | 2.7% | 63.5% | 17 | Watch |
 PPLPPL Corporation | $27.8B | 2.9% | 67.2% | 2 | Watch |
 ETREntergy Corporation | $53.7B | 2.0% | 60.6% | 11 | Watch |
 NEENextEra Energy, Inc. | $200.8B | 2.3% | 68.5% | 30 | Watch |
SO Annual Dividend History (1982–2026)
45 years of dividend data
GrowthDecline
| Year | DPS | YoY | Pmts | EPS | Payout | Coverage | YOC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $1.50 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 2.5% |
| 2025 | $2.94 | 2.8% | 4 | $3.92 | 75.0% | 1.33x | 5.0% |
| 2024 | $2.86 | 2.9% | 4 | $3.99 | 71.7% | 1.40x | 4.8% |
| 2023 | $2.78 | 3.0% | 4 | $3.62 | 76.8% | 1.30x | 4.7% |
| 2022 | $2.70 | 3.1% | 4 | $3.26 | 82.8% | 1.21x | 4.5% |
| 2021 | $2.62 | 3.1% | 4 | $2.26 | 115.9% | 0.86x | 4.4% |
| 2020 | $2.54 | 3.3% | 4 | $2.95 | 86.1% | 1.16x | 4.3% |
| 2019 | $2.46 | 3.4% | 4 | $4.50 | 54.7% | 1.83x | 4.1% |
| 2018 | $2.38 | 3.5% | 4 | $2.15 | 110.7% | 0.90x | 4.0% |
| 2017 | $2.30 | 3.5% | 4 | $0.84 | 273.8% | 0.37x | 3.9% |
Full SO Stock Analysis
Analyst consensus, bull case, AI-generated risk factors, and peer comparison — all in one place.
See SO's True Return
Price is only half the story. See total return with reinvested dividends.
Launch CalculatorIs SO Undervalued?
DCF intrinsic value, peer multiples, and analyst estimates — see what the stock is really worth.
View ValuationCompare SO vs GEV
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Start ComparisonSO — Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying SO stock.
How much dividend does SO pay per share?
The Southern Company (SO) pays a trailing 12-month dividend of $2.72 per share, with a current dividend yield of +2.8%. Payments are made Semi-Annual.
When is SO's next ex-dividend date?
SO's most recent ex-dividend date is N/A. You must own shares before the ex-dividend date to receive the next payment. SO typically pays dividends Semi-Annual.
Is SO's dividend safe?
SO's dividend safety is rated "Watch" based on an earnings payout ratio of +69.5% and FCF payout ratio of N/A. With 25 consecutive years of dividend growth, the track record supports sustainability.
Is SO a Dividend Aristocrat?
Yes, The Southern Company is classified as a Dividend Aristocrat with 25 consecutive years of dividend increases. The 5-year dividend CAGR is +3.0%, demonstrating modest dividend growth.
How often does SO pay dividends?
The Southern Company pays dividends Semi-Annual. The trailing 12-month total is $2.72 per share. Dividend data on this page covers 44+ years from 1982 to 2026.
How much would $10,000 invested in SO grow with dividend reinvestment?
With dividends reinvested (DRIP), $10,000 invested in SO five years ago would be worth approximately $16,791 today. This includes both price appreciation and compounded dividend reinvestment. Use the DRIP calculator above for other time periods.
What is SO's yield on cost for long-term holders?
SO's yield on cost — the current dividend divided by the original purchase price — is +5.0% for a 5-year holding period. This means long-term holders earn a higher effective yield than today's +2.8% market yield, thanks to consistent dividend growth.