UPDATE: Southern Q3 Profit Drops 12%

Southern Co

reported a 12% drop in its third-quarter earnings. Southern's quarterly profit fell to $869 million, from $993 million, in the year-ago period. On a per-share basis, its earnings declined to $0.97 from $1.11. Excluding special items, it earned $1.08 per share. Southern earlier expected earnings of $1.13 per share. Its revenue came in at $5.02 billion, versus analysts' estimates of $5.34 billion. Southern shares fell 0.42% to $42.21 in pre-market trading.