Southern Company reports first-quarter 2024 earnings
Southern Company reported first-quarter earnings of $1.1 billion, or $1.03 per share, in 2024 compared to $862 million, or 79 cents per share, in the first quarter of 2023. Adjusted earnings drivers included higher utility revenues offset by increased expenses. Operating revenues for Q1 2024 were $6.6 billion, a 2.6% increase from Q1 2023. The company highlighted the achievement of commercial operation at Plant Vogtle Unit 4, making it the largest generator of clean energy in the US.
Southern Company reported strong first-quarter earnings of $1.1 billion in 2024, showing growth from the previous year.
Operating revenues for the first quarter of 2024 were $6.6 billion, a 2.6% increase from the same period in 2023.
The company highlighted the successful commercial operation of Plant Vogtle Unit 4, positioning it as the largest generator of clean energy in the US.
Although the first-quarter earnings showed growth, there were increased interest expense and depreciation and amortization affecting the adjusted earnings drivers.
While the achievement of commercial operation at Plant Vogtle Unit 4 is significant, the company may still face challenges in maintaining operational efficiency and meeting regulatory standards.
Excluding the items described under "Net Income – Excluding Items" in the table below, Southern Company earned
Non-GAAP Financial Measures | Three Months Ended March | |
Net Income – Excluding Items (in millions) | 2024 | 2023 |
Net Income – As Reported | $ 1,129 | $ 862 |
Less: | ||
Estimated Loss on Plants Under Construction | (4) | (2) |
Tax Impact | 1 | 1 |
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt | — | (5) |
Tax Impact | — | 1 |
Net Income – Excluding Items | $ 1,132 | $ 867 |
Average Shares Outstanding – (in millions) | 1,094 | 1,091 |
Basic Earnings Per Share - Excluding Items | $ 1.03 | $ 0.79 |
NOTE: | For more information regarding these non-GAAP adjustments, see the footnotes accompanying the Financial Highlights page of the earnings package. |
Adjusted earnings drivers for the first quarter 2024, as compared with 2023, were higher utility revenues, partially offset by increased interest expense and depreciation and amortization.
First-quarter 2024 operating revenues were
"All our businesses experienced a strong start to 2024," said Chairman, President and CEO Christopher C. Womack. "This performance was driven by a variety of factors, including investments in our state-regulated utilities, weather that was less mild than the first quarter of last year and higher weather-adjusted sales in our electric utilities' commercial customer class, a fact that speaks to strong local economies and increased usage by many existing data center customers."
"We were also pleased to announce earlier this week that Plant Vogtle Unit 4 has achieved commercial operation," added Womack. "New units 3 and 4 are now positioned to deliver more than 2,200 megawatts of reliable, carbon-free energy for decades to come. With all four units operational, Plant Vogtle is now the largest generator of clean energy in
Southern Company's first-quarter earnings slides with supplemental financial information are available at investor.southerncompany.com.
Southern Company's financial analyst call will begin at 1 p.m. Eastern Time today, during which Womack and Chief Financial Officer Daniel S. Tucker will discuss earnings and provide a general business update. Investors, media and the public may listen to a live webcast of the call and view associated slides at investor.southerncompany.com. A replay of the webcast will be available on the site for 12 months.
About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. Providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy with excellent service is our mission. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy distribution company with national capabilities, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, resilience and sustainability, we are taking action to meet customers' and communities' needs while advancing our goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success. We are transforming energy into economic, environmental and social progress for tomorrow. Our corporate culture and hiring practices have earned the company national awards and recognition from numerous organizations, including Forbes, The Military Times, DiversityInc, Black Enterprise, J.D. Power, Fortune, Human Rights Campaign and more. To learn more, visit southerncompany.com.
Southern Company | |||
Financial Highlights | |||
(In Millions Except Earnings Per Share) | |||
Three Months Ended March | |||
Net Income – As Reported | 2024 | 2023 | |
Traditional Electric Operating Companies | $ 819 | $ 610 | |
Southern Power | 96 | 102 | |
Southern Company Gas | 409 | 309 | |
Total | 1,324 | 1,021 | |
Parent Company and Other | (195) | (159) | |
Net Income – As Reported | $ 1,129 | $ 862 | |
Basic Earnings Per Share(1) | $ 1.03 | $ 0.79 | |
Average Shares Outstanding | 1,094 | 1,091 | |
Non-GAAP Financial Measures | Three Months Ended March | ||
Net Income – Excluding Items | 2024 | 2023 | |
Net Income – As Reported | $ 1,129 | $ 862 | |
Less: | |||
Estimated Loss on Plants Under Construction(2) | (4) | (2) | |
Tax Impact | 1 | 1 | |
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt(3) | — | (5) | |
Tax Impact | — | 1 | |
Net Income – Excluding Items | $ 1,132 | $ 867 | |
Basic Earnings Per Share – Excluding Items | $ 1.03 | $ 0.79 | |
See Notes on the following page. |
Southern Company | |
Notes | |
(1) | Dilution is not material in any period presented. Diluted earnings per share was |
(2) | Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 include charges (net of salvage proceeds), associated legal expenses (net of insurance recoveries), and tax impacts related to Mississippi Power Company's integrated coal gasification combined cycle facility project in |
(3) | Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2023 include costs associated with the extinguishment of debt at Southern Company. Similar transaction costs may occur in the future at Southern Company or one of its unregulated subsidiaries; however, the amount and timing of any such costs are uncertain. |
Southern Company | |||||
Significant Factors Impacting EPS | |||||
Three Months Ended March | |||||
2024 | 2023 | Change | |||
Earnings Per Share – | |||||
As Reported(1) | $ 1.03 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.24 | ||
Significant Factors: | |||||
Traditional Electric Operating Companies | $ 0.19 | ||||
Southern Power | (0.01) | ||||
Southern Company Gas | 0.09 | ||||
Parent Company and Other | (0.03) | ||||
Increase in Shares | — | ||||
Total – As Reported | $ 0.24 | ||||
Three Months Ended March | |||||
Non-GAAP Financial Measures | 2024 | 2023 | Change | ||
Earnings Per Share – | |||||
Excluding Items | $ 1.03 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.24 | ||
Total – As Reported | $ 0.24 | ||||
Less: | |||||
Estimated Loss on Plants Under Construction(2) | — | ||||
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt(3) | — | ||||
Total – Excluding Items | $ 0.24 | ||||
See Notes on the following page. |
Southern Company | |
Notes | |
(1) | Dilution is not material in any period presented. Diluted earnings per share was |
(2) | Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 include charges (net of salvage proceeds), associated legal expenses (net of insurance recoveries), and tax impacts related to Mississippi Power Company's integrated coal gasification combined cycle facility project in |
(3) | Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2023 include costs associated with the extinguishment of debt at Southern Company. Similar transaction costs may occur in the future at Southern Company or one of its unregulated subsidiaries; however, the amount and timing of any such costs are uncertain. |
Southern Company | |
EPS Earnings Analysis | |
Three Months Ended March 2024 vs. March 2023 | |
Description | Cents |
Retail Sales | 4¢ |
Retail Revenue Impacts | 16 |
Weather | 6 |
Wholesale and Other Operating Revenues | 3 |
Depreciation and Amortization | (2) |
Interest Expense and Other | (5) |
Income Taxes | (3) |
Total Traditional Electric Operating Companies | 19¢ |
Southern Power | (1) |
Southern Company Gas | 9 |
Parent Company and Other | (3) |
Total Change in EPS (Excluding Items) | 24¢ |
Estimated Loss on Plants Under Construction(1) | — |
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt(2) | — |
Total Change in EPS (As Reported) | 24¢ |
See Notes on the following page. |
Southern Company | |
Notes | |
(1) | Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 include charges (net of salvage proceeds), associated legal expenses (net of insurance recoveries), and tax impacts related to Mississippi Power Company's integrated coal gasification combined cycle facility project in |
(2) | Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2023 include costs associated with the extinguishment of debt at Southern Company. Similar transaction costs may occur in the future at Southern Company or one of its unregulated subsidiaries; however, the amount and timing of any such costs are uncertain. |
Southern Company | |||||
Consolidated Earnings | |||||
As Reported | |||||
Three Months Ended March | |||||
2024 | 2023 | Change | |||
(in millions) | |||||
Retail electric revenues: | |||||
Fuel | $ 1,011 | $ 1,050 | $ (39) | ||
Non-fuel | 2,930 | 2,549 | 381 | ||
Wholesale electric revenues | 571 | 599 | (28) | ||
Other electric revenues | 199 | 190 | 9 | ||
Natural gas revenues | 1,707 | 1,875 | (168) | ||
Other revenues | 228 | 217 | 11 | ||
Total operating revenues | 6,646 | 6,480 | 166 | ||
Fuel and purchased power | 1,194 | 1,292 | (98) | ||
Cost of natural gas | 605 | 898 | (293) | ||
Cost of other sales | 131 | 127 | 4 | ||
Non-fuel operations and maintenance | 1,472 | 1,440 | 32 | ||
Depreciation and amortization | 1,145 | 1,111 | 34 | ||
Taxes other than income taxes | 396 | 394 | 2 | ||
Total operating expenses | 4,943 | 5,262 | (319) | ||
Operating income | 1,703 | 1,218 | 485 | ||
Allowance for equity funds used during construction | 58 | 65 | (7) | ||
Earnings from equity method investments | 45 | 48 | (3) | ||
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized | 665 | 582 | 83 | ||
Other income (expense), net | 153 | 147 | 6 | ||
Income taxes | 223 | 97 | 126 | ||
Net income | 1,071 | 799 | 272 | ||
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | (58) | (63) | 5 | ||
Net income attributable to Southern Company | $ 1,129 | $ 862 | $ 267 | ||
Certain prior year data may have been reclassified to conform with current year presentation. |
Southern Company | |||||||
Kilowatt-Hour Sales and Customers | |||||||
Three Months Ended March | |||||||
2024 | 2023 | % Change | Weather | ||||
(in millions) | |||||||
Kilowatt-Hour Sales | |||||||
Total Sales | 46,529 | 46,725 | (0.4) % | ||||
Total Retail Sales | 35,254 | 33,382 | 5.6 % | 1.7 % | |||
Residential | 11,876 | 10,630 | 11.7 % | 1.0 % | |||
Commercial | 11,474 | 10,883 | 5.4 % | 3.8 % | |||
Industrial | 11,768 | 11,724 | 0.4 % | 0.4 % | |||
Other | 136 | 145 | (6.5) % | (7.2) % | |||
Total Wholesale Sales | 11,275 | 13,343 | (15.5) % | N/A | |||
Period Ended March | |||||||
2024 | 2023 | % Change | |||||
(in thousands) | |||||||
Regulated Utility Customers | |||||||
Total Regulated Utility Customers | 8,900 | 8,824 | 0.9 % | ||||
Traditional Electric Operating Companies | 4,502 | 4,449 | 1.2 % | ||||
Southern Company Gas | 4,398 | 4,375 | 0.5 % | ||||
Southern Company | |||||
Financial Overview | |||||
As Reported | |||||
Three Months Ended March | |||||
2024 | 2023 | % Change | |||
(in millions) | |||||
Southern Company – | |||||
Operating Revenues | $ 6,646 | $ 6,480 | 2.6 % | ||
Earnings Before Income Taxes | 1,294 | 896 | 44.4 % | ||
Net Income Available to Common | 1,129 | 862 | 31.0 % | ||
Alabama Power – | |||||
Operating Revenues | $ 1,791 | $ 1,647 | 8.7 % | ||
Earnings Before Income Taxes | 418 | 253 | 65.2 % | ||
Net Income Available to Common | 333 | 255 | 30.6 % | ||
Georgia Power – | |||||
Operating Revenues | $ 2,398 | $ 2,176 | 10.2 % | ||
Earnings Before Income Taxes | 516 | 349 | 47.9 % | ||
Net Income Available to Common | 437 | 296 | 47.6 % | ||
Mississippi Power – | |||||
Operating Revenues | $ 342 | $ 390 | (12.3) % | ||
Earnings Before Income Taxes | 60 | 71 | (15.5) % | ||
Net Income Available to Common | 50 | 58 | (13.8) % | ||
Southern Power – | |||||
Operating Revenues | $ 473 | $ 508 | (6.9) % | ||
Earnings Before Income Taxes | 24 | 32 | (25.0) % | ||
Net Income Available to Common | 96 | 102 | (5.9) % | ||
Southern Company Gas – | |||||
Operating Revenues | $ 1,707 | $ 1,875 | (9.0) % | ||
Earnings Before Income Taxes | 547 | 412 | 32.8 % | ||
Net Income Available to Common | 409 | 309 | 32.4 % | ||
See Financial Highlights pages for discussion of certain significant items occurring during the periods. |
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SOURCE Southern Company
FAQ
<p>What were Southern Company's first-quarter earnings in 2024?</p>
Southern Company reported first-quarter earnings of $1.1 billion, or $1.03 per share, in 2024.
<p>What was the operating revenue for Southern Company in the first quarter of 2024?</p>
The operating revenues for the first quarter of 2024 were $6.6 billion, a 2.6% increase from the same period in 2023.
<p>What achievement did Southern Company announce in the first quarter of 2024?</p>
Southern Company announced the successful commercial operation of Plant Vogtle Unit 4, making it the largest generator of clean energy in the US.
