8-KEarnings & Results

SOUTHERN CO 8-K Report, Financial Results (Jan 26, 2011)

Filed January 26, 2011For Securities:SOSOJESOJFSOJCSOJDSOMN

Summary

Southern Company (SO) filed an 8-K on January 26, 2011, to report its financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2010. The filing primarily consists of a press release and accompanying financial exhibits detailing earnings, earnings per share (EPS), and operational data. A key aspect of the report is the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures, specifically EPS excluding a significant charge related to a settlement with MC Asset Recovery, LLC (MCAR) arising from the 2003 Mirant Corporation bankruptcy. Southern Company explains that this adjusted EPS provides investors with a clearer view of the company's ongoing business performance, as the Mirant-related charge was a one-time event unlikely to recur. The report also furnishes information on the performance of its various business segments, including Alabama Power Company, Georgia Power Company, Gulf Power Company, Mississippi Power Company, and Southern Power Company. Investors are encouraged to review the provided exhibits for detailed financial and operational insights, including kilowatt-hour sales and consolidated earnings, which offer a comprehensive understanding of the company's financial condition and operational results for the period.

Key Highlights

  • 1Southern Company reported its financial results for the year and quarter ended December 31, 2010.
  • 2The company utilized non-GAAP financial measures, presenting EPS excluding a significant charge from the MCAR settlement.
  • 3The MCAR settlement charge is attributed to litigation from the 2003 Mirant Corporation bankruptcy.
  • 4Management believes excluding the MCAR charge provides a better view of ongoing business performance.
  • 5The report includes financial information for Southern Company's key operating subsidiaries: Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, Mississippi Power, and Southern Power.
  • 6Various exhibits provide detailed financial data, including consolidated earnings, kilowatt-hour sales, and financial overviews.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary purpose of this 8-K filing is to announce and provide details on Southern Company's financial results for the quarter and full year ended December 31, 2010, including earnings and operational performance. It also includes information on the use of non-GAAP financial measures.

Southern Company is presenting Earnings Per Share (EPS) excluding the charge related to the MCAR settlement to provide investors with a clearer picture of the company's ongoing operational performance. The charge stemmed from a one-time litigation settlement related to the Mirant Corporation bankruptcy and is not expected to recur, making the adjusted EPS a more useful metric for evaluating the company's core business activities.

The exhibits include a press release detailing the earnings, financial highlights, significant factors impacting EPS, a detailed EPS earnings analysis, consolidated earnings statements, kilowatt-hour sales data, and a general financial overview. This information covers both the consolidated company and its major operating subsidiaries.

While the core financial results were released via a press release (Exhibit 99.01), the additional exhibits (99.02-99.07) offer supplementary detailed financial and operational information and analysis. The filing also clarifies the company's rationale for using non-GAAP financial measures to explain its performance.