What is Southern Company (The)'s average annual return?

Since 1982, Southern Company (The) (SO) has returned about 11.1% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 11.8%.

What were Southern Company (The)'s best and worst years?

Over 1982–2026, the best year was 2019 (+51.6%) and the worst was 1999 (-15.0%).

How often is Southern Company (The) up in a year?

33 of the 44 full years since 1982 were positive — about 75% of the time.

Southern Company (The)Stock · Utilities

$97.98+$2.86 (+3.01%)as of market close, Jul 2, 2026

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SO returns by year

Southern Company (The) has returned +11.1% annually (CAGR) since 1982. Calendar-year, monthly and weekly total returns for Southern Company (The) (SO) below, through July 2, 2026 — the most recent year is year-to-date.

Annualized (CAGR)

+11.1%

1982–2026

Average year

+11.8%

44 full years

Best year

+51.6%

2019

Worst year

-15.0%

1999

Positive years

33/44

75% up

Southern Company (The) returns by year (1982–2026)#

Calendar-year returns with each year's path and its dividend contribution (dividend return = total minus price return).

Southern Company (The) annual returns by year
Year	Start price	End price	Dividend	Total return
2026YTD	$87.20	$97.98	+1.8%	+14.2%
2025	$82.32	$87.20	+3.5%	+9.4%
2024	$70.12	$82.32	+4.3%	+21.7%
2023	$71.41	$70.12	+4.0%	+2.2%
2022	$68.58	$71.41	+4.1%	+8.2%
2021	$61.43	$68.58	+4.6%	+16.3%
2020	$63.70	$61.43	+4.1%	+0.6%
2019	$43.92	$63.70	+6.5%	+51.6%
2018	$48.09	$43.92	+4.9%	-3.8%
2017	$49.19	$48.09	+4.6%	+2.4%
2016	$46.79	$49.19	+4.7%	+9.9%
2015	$49.11	$46.79	+4.6%	-0.2%
2014	$41.11	$49.11	+5.7%	+25.2%
2013	$42.81	$41.11	+4.4%	+0.4%
2012	$46.29	$42.81	+2.9%	-4.6%
2011	$38.23	$46.29	+5.8%	+26.9%
2010	$33.32	$38.23	+5.9%	+20.6%
2009	$37.00	$33.32	+5.0%	-5.0%
2008	$38.75	$37.00	+3.4%	-1.2%
2007	$36.86	$38.75	+4.7%	+9.8%
2006	$34.53	$36.86	+3.7%	+10.4%
2005	$33.52	$34.53	+4.5%	+7.5%
2004	$30.25	$33.52	+5.3%	+16.1%
2003	$28.39	$30.25	+5.1%	+11.7%
2002	$25.35	$28.39	+5.6%	+17.5%
2001	$20.31	$25.35	+6.9%	+31.7%
2000	$14.36	$20.31	+7.1%	+48.6%
1999	$17.75	$14.36	+4.1%	-15.0%
1998	$15.81	$17.75	+5.8%	+18.1%
1997	$13.82	$15.81	+6.9%	+21.3%
1996	$15.04	$13.82	+5.1%	-3.0%
1995	$12.22	$15.04	+5.2%	+28.3%
1994	$13.48	$12.22	+0.0%	-9.3%
1993	$11.76	$13.48	+0.0%	+14.6%
1992	$10.50	$11.76	+0.0%	+12.0%
1991	$8.51	$10.50	+0.0%	+23.3%
1990	$8.90	$8.51	+0.0%	-4.3%
1989	$6.83	$8.90	+0.0%	+30.2%
1988	$6.83	$6.83	+0.0%	+0.0%
1987	$7.75	$6.83	+0.0%	-11.8%
1986	$6.80	$7.75	+0.0%	+14.0%
1985	$5.77	$6.80	+0.0%	+17.9%
1984	$5.00	$5.77	+0.0%	+15.3%
1983	$4.77	$5.00	+0.0%	+4.8%
1982	$3.67	$4.77	+0.0%	+30.2%

Total return by period

-40%-20%+0%+20%+40%

'82'86'90'94'98'02'06'10'14'18'22'26

Methodology#

Returns are total returns (dividends reinvested), computed from SO's split- and dividend-adjusted closes. The bar chart switches between annual and monthly periods. Annualized return is the compound annual growth rate over the full period. The current year is year-to-date. See also the periodic table of returns. Past performance does not predict future returns; not investment advice.

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FAQ

What is Southern Company (The)'s average annual return?: Since 1982, Southern Company (The) (SO) has returned about 11.1% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 11.8%.
What were Southern Company (The)'s best and worst years?: Over 1982–2026, the best year was 2019 (+51.6%) and the worst was 1999 (-15.0%).
How often is Southern Company (The) up in a year?: 33 of the 44 full years since 1982 were positive — about 75% of the time.