EQ (Equiniti Trust Company), formerly known as Wells Fargo Shareowner Services, is Southern Company's transfer agent, dividend-paying agent, investment plan administrator and registrar.

Key Takeaways. A shareholder is any person, company, or institution that owns shares in a company's stock. A company shareholder can hold as little as one share. Shareholders will make capital gains (or losses) when selling shares, and may receive dividends if the company pays them.

What if I can't find the certificates? The stock certificates will need to be replaced before a transfer can be completed. There is always a $75 processing fee to replace each certificate that is lost. Please enclose a check made payable to Shareowner Services.

The term Cost Basis refers to the original value of an asset for tax purposes (usually the purchase price), adjusted for events such as wash sales, stock splits, dividends and return of capital distributions. This value is used to determine the capital gain or loss when an asset is disposed of.