The Southern Company (SO) Balance Sheet

A balance sheet shows a company's financial position at a specific point in time. It lists total assets (what the company owns), total liabilities (what it owes), and stockholders' equity (the difference). The fundamental equation: Assets = Liabilities + Equity.

Stockholders' equity represents the net value belonging to shareholders — total assets minus total liabilities. It includes retained earnings, common stock, and additional paid-in capital. Growing equity over time typically indicates a healthy, profitable business.

Working capital is current assets minus current liabilities. It measures a company's ability to pay short-term obligations with short-term assets. Positive working capital indicates the company can cover its near-term debts; negative may signal liquidity risk.

Review The Southern Company's total long-term debt and short-term borrowings in the balance sheet table above. Compare debt to equity and total assets to assess leverage and financial risk.

Book value per share is total stockholders' equity divided by shares outstanding. It represents the accounting value per share if the company were liquidated. Comparing market price to book value gives the price-to-book (P/B) ratio — a key valuation metric.