Electric power utility operator The Southern Company (SO) on Wednesday caught some tepid commentary from analysts at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch.

The firm downgraded SO from “Buy” to “Neutral,” noting the move was a valuation call based on its $48 price target (the stock closed at $47.70 on Tuesday).

Southern Company shares, which have risen about 3% year-to-date, fell 44 cents, or -0.9%, in premarket trading Wednesday.

The Bottom Line
Shares of Southern Company (SO) have a 4.11% dividend yield, based on last night’s closing stock price of $47.70. The stock has technical support in the $44 price area. The shares are trading right near all-time highs.

The Southern Company (SO) is not recommended at this time, holding a Dividend.com DARS™ Rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars.

Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks, as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here.