Southern Company announced today it is increasing its dividend by 8 cents per share on an annualized basis to a rate of $2.72 per share.

Southern Company (PRNewsFoto/Southern Company) (PRNewsfoto/Southern Company)

This marks the 21st consecutive year that Southern Company has raised the dividend on its common stock.

Southern Company also announced today a regular quarterly dividend – including the increase of 2 cents per share over the prior quarter – of 68 cents per share, payable June 6, 2022, to shareholders of record as of May 16, 2022. Today's action by the board ensures Southern Company will have paid a dividend to its shareholders that is equal to or greater than the previous quarter every quarter for the past 75 years.

"The excellent customer service, performance and resilience of Southern Company's superior energy businesses serves as the foundation for our overall shareholder value proposition that for decades has included dividends and dividend growth," said Southern Company chairman, president and CEO Thomas A. Fanning. "Today's action by the board reinforces our objective to provide regular, predictable, sustainable earnings-per-share and dividend growth supported by premier state-regulated utilities and energy infrastructure under long-term contracts."