Power supplier The Southern Company SO reported first-quarter 2017 earnings per share (excluding certain one-time items) of 66 cents, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 58 cents and the year-ago adjusted profit of 58 cents. Increase in revenues improved earnings.The Atlanta-based utility’s quarterly revenues of $5,771 million was 45.5% higher than the first-quarter 2016 level of $3,965 million and also ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5,144 million, driven by robust performance by its wholesale unit. Sales ReportWhile wholesale revenues jumped 37%, Southern Company’s total retail sales declined 6.7%, residential and commercial sales were down by 13.4% and 4.5%, respectively. Demand from industrial customers also fell 2.2% from the year-ago period.Total electricity sales during the first quarter were up 0.5% from the same period last year.Expenses Break UpSouthern Company’s operations and maintenance cost increased 20% to $1,329 million, while the utility’s total operating expense for the period was $4,465 million, up 46.3% from the prior-year level.Southern Company (The) Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Southern Company (The) Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Southern Company (The) QuoteZacks Rank and Key PickSouthern Company under the Zacks categorized Utility - ElectricPower industry is one of the largest generators of electricity in the nation along with the likes of Exelon Corp. EXC and Duke Energy Corp. DUK. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #4(Sell).A better-ranked player from the same industry is TransAtlanta Corporation TAC, sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.Will You Make a Fortune on the Shift to Electric Cars?Here's another stock idea to consider. Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium power may soon shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge.With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research. It's not the one you think. See This Ticker Free >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Exelon Corporation (EXC): Free Stock Analysis Report Southern Company (The) (SO): Free Stock Analysis Report Duke Energy Corporation (DUK): Free Stock Analysis Report TransAlta Corporation (TAC): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research