The Hold recommendation for Southern Co is the conclusion of a process of analysis that is proprietary which yielded results that were above average in 3 areas: an economic sector rated above average in attractiveness, an industry group ranked above average in attractiveness, and a numerical calculation of risk/reward that is better than average; and produced below average outcomes in 3 areas: a ranking in the company's sector that is in the third quarter, ranking in the company's industry group that is in the third quarter, and analytical scoring that is below average.

Southern Co (NYSE:SO) ranks in the top 10% of its industry group, Electric Utilities, and in the top decile of sector group, Utilities, with a market value of $51.2 billion. From an investment attractiveness viewpoint, SO is ranked in the third quartile of the sector with a ranking of 71 among the 113 companies in the sector; The current Portfolio Grader ranking for SO puts it 26 among the 39 companies in this industry group, which is a below-average position and number 1,522 in the 5000 company Portfolio Grader company universe.

Portfolio Grader currently ranks Southern Co (NYSE:SO) a Buy. The system for investing incorporated in this analytical tool developed by Louis Navellier assesses and ranks nearly 5,000 stocks each week from a fundamental and quantitative perspective. SO has recently seen its Portfolio Grader rating upgraded from a Hold to a Buy.

Southern Co (NYSE:SO) is a $51.6 billion in market value component of the Electric Utilities GICS industry group where the stock's current Portfolio Grader ranking places it 30 among the 39 companies in this industry group, a position that is well below-average. SO is ranked in the third quartile of the sector with a ranking of 81 among the 113 companies in the sector and number 1,988 in the 5000 company Portfolio Grader company universe.

The current recommendation of Buy for Southern Co (NYSE:SO) has been derived by using Louis Navellier's methodology for investing and his Portfolio Grader stock evaluator. The current overall Portfolio Grader recommendation on the shares has changed twice in the past month, which represents a greater level of change than is typical.

Southern Co (NYSE:SO) is a $51.5 billion in market value constituent of the Electric Utilities GICS industry group where the stock's current Portfolio Grader ranking places it 31 among the 39 companies in this industry group, a position that is well below-average. SO is ranked squarely in the bottom quartile of the sector with a ranking of 85 among the 113 companies in the sector and number 1,966 in the 5000 company Portfolio Grader company universe.

Southern Co (NYSE:SO) is one of the 113 companies in the GICS Utilities sector, and a member of the 39 company Electric Utilities GICS industry group within this sector. The market value of SO is $52.6 billion which places it in the top 10% of its industry group. The current Portfolio Grader ranking for SO puts it 27 among the 39 companies in this industry group, giving it a below-average spot; in the third quartile of the sector with a ranking of 59 among the 113 companies in the sector, and number 1,065 in the nearly 5,000 company Portfolio Grader universe.