Power supplier The Southern Company (SO) reported first-quarter 2024 earnings per share (excluding certain one-time items) of $1.03, ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 90 cents and significantly above the year-ago adjusted profit of 79 cents. The outperformance reflects lower-than-expected operating expenses to go with the positive effects of weather, rates, usage and pricing changes.Meanwhile, the utility reported revenues of $6.6 billion. The top line came in 2.6% higher than first-quarter 2023 sale ...