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Southern CoSO -0.23%84 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is -0.60 as of Jun. 2026. GuruFocus rates SO with a GF Score™ of 84/100 and a GF Value™ of $94.18 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 7 warning signs investors should review. Among 230 Utilities - Regulated companies, Southern Co ranks better than 60.87% on this metric.
Shares Outstanding (EOP) are shares that have been authorized, issued, and purchased by investors and are held by them.
3-Year Share Buyback Ratio measures the average annual proportion of a company's outstanding shares repurchased over the past three years. It is calculated as the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. A positive ratio may indicate share buybacks over the period, while a zero or negative ratio may reflect no repurchases or potential share issuance. Southern Co's current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio was -0.60%.
The historical rank and industry rank for Southern Co's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio or its related term are showing as below:
SO'
s 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -4.3 Med: -1.6 Max: 0.5
Current: -0.6
During the past 13 years, Southern Co's highest 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio was 0.50%. The lowest was -4.30%. And the median was -1.60%.
SO's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is ranked better than 60.87% of 230
companies
in the Utilities - Regulated industry
Industry Median: -1.45
vs SO: -0.60
Southern Co (NYSE:SO) 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Explanation
A negative number means the company might be issuing new shares. A positive number indicates that the company is buying back shares.
Be Aware
Investors usually like share buybacks. But as pointed by Warren Buffett, only if a company buys back shares at the prices below the stock's intrinsic value, it rewards remaining shareholders. If a company buys its overvalued stocks back, it destroys shareholder value.
Southern Co 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Related Terms
SO vs DUK, AEP, D: 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Comparison
For the Utilities - Regulated Electric subindustry, Southern Co's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio, along with its competitors' market caps and 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
Southern Co 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio vs Utilities - Regulated Industry
For the Utilities - Regulated industry and Utilities sector, Southern Co's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Southern Co's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio falls into.
Southern Co 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Calculation
This is the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. The annualized percentage change is calculated with expontential compound based on the latest four years of annual data on Shares Outstanding (EOP).
Please click Growth Rate Calculation Example (GuruFocus) to see how GuruFocus calculates Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT)'s revenue growth rate. You can apply the same method to get the average dividends per share growth rate.
What does a 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio of -0.60 mean?
Southern Co (SO) has a 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio of -0.60 as of Jun. 2026. The 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio measures the average annual proportion of a company's outstanding shares repurchased over the past three years. It is calculated as the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. View historical data for Southern Co and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Southern Co ranks #90 out of 230 companies in the Utilities - Regulated industry, placing it in the top 39.1%.
Is Southern Co's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio too high?
Southern Co's current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is -0.60. Based on the distribution chart, Southern Co ranks #90 out of 230 companies in the Utilities - Regulated industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, Southern Co has a GF Score™ of 84/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Southern Co's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio compare to DUK and AEP?
According to the Utilities - Regulated industry distribution chart, Southern Co ranks #90 out of 230 companies for 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio. This puts Southern Co in the upper half of its industry. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio for an Utilities - Regulated company?
A good 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio depends on the Utilities - Regulated industry context. However, 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio mean?
A high 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. The 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio measures the average annual proportion of a company's outstanding shares repurchased over the past three years. It is calculated as the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. View historical data for Southern Co and its competitors. Southern Co's current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is -0.60. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Southern Co stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Southern Co (SO) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is $94.18, compared to a current price of $92.69 — trading 1.6% below its estimated fair value. The current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is -0.60. Southern Co's overall GF Score™ is 84/100 with 7 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio calculated?
3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Southern Co (SO), the current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is -0.60 as of Jun. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Southern Co (SO) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Southern Co stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $92.69 is trading 1.6% below its estimated GF Value™ of $94.18.
GuruFocus considers Southern Co to be Fairly Valued.
Key valuation signals for SO:
3-Year Share Buyback Ratio: -0.60
GF Value™: $94.18 vs. price of $92.69 (1.6% below fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the SO stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Southern is one of the largest utilities in the US. The company serves 9 million customers with vertically integrated electric utilities in three states and natural gas distribution utilities in four states. It owns 46 gigawatts of rate-regulated generating capacity, primarily for serving customers in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. Subsidiary Southern Power owns 13 gigawatts of natural gas generation and renewable energy across the US and sells the electricity primarily under long-term contracts.
84GF Score
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3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
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