Southern Company reports first-quarter 2019 earnings
ATLANTA, May 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company today reported first-quarter 2019 earnings of $2.08 billion, or $2.01 per share, compared with earnings of $938 million, or 93 cents per share, in the first quarter of 2018.
Excluding the items described in the "Net Income - Excluding Items" table below, Southern Company earned $730 million, or 70 cents per share, during the first quarter of 2019, compared with $893 million, or 88 cents per share, during the first quarter of 2018.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures Three Months
Ended March
Net Income -Excluding Items (in
millions) 2019 2018
Net Income - As Reported $2,084 $938
Acquisition, Disposition, and
Integration Impacts (2,499) 62
Tax Impact 1,189 (5)
Estimated Loss on Plants Under
Construction 4 44
Tax Impact (1) (11)
Wholesale Gas Services (63) (139)
Tax Impact 16 35
Earnings Guidance Comparability
Items:
Adoption of Tax Reform (31)
Net Income - Excluding Items $730 $893
Average Shares Outstanding - (in
millions) 1,038 1,011
Basic Earnings Per Share - Excluding
Items $0.70 $0.88
NOTE: For more information regarding these non-GAAP adjustments, see the footnotes accompanying the Financial Highlights page of the earnings package.
Earnings drivers year-over-year for the first quarter 2019 were negatively impacted as a result of divested earnings and milder weather at the state-regulated electric utilities.
"Southern Company's major business units are off to a good start for the year," said Chairman, President and CEO Thomas A. Fanning. "I am extremely pleased with our performance year-to-date, and believe we are well-positioned to achieve our financial targets for 2019. In addition, we just completed a review of the Plant Vogtle project and I'm pleased to report that we still expect to meet our targets for cost and the regulatory-approved schedule for the completion of the new nuclear units."
First quarter 2019 operating revenues were $5.41 billion, compared with $6.37 billion for the first quarter of 2018, a decrease of 15.1 percent. This decrease was primarily related to a reduction in revenue resulting from the sale of Gulf Power and other assets that are no longer affiliated with Southern Company.
Southern Company's first quarter earnings slides with supplemental financial information are available at http://investor.southerncompany.com.
Southern Company's financial analyst call will begin at 8 a.m. Eastern Time today, during which Fanning and Chief Financial Officer Andrew W. Evans will discuss earnings and provide a general business update. Investors, media and the public may listen to a live webcast of the call and view associated slides at http://investor.southerncompany.com/webcasts. A replay of the webcast will be available on the site for 12 months.
About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy company serving 9 million customers through its subsidiaries. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers across America, a leading distributed energy infrastructure company, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices below the national average. For more than a century, we have been building the future of energy and developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including carbon-free nuclear, advanced carbon capture technologies, natural gas, renewables, energy efficiency and storage technology. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation and a low-carbon future, Southern Company and its subsidiaries develop the customized energy solutions our customers and communities require to drive growth and prosperity. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and govern our business to the benefit of our world. Our corporate culture and hiring practices have been recognized nationally by the U.S. Department of Defense, G.I. Jobs magazine, DiversityInc, Black Enterprise, Forbes and the Women's Choice Award. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
Certain information contained in this release is forward-looking information based on current expectations and plans that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements concerning expected cost and schedule for completion of Plant Vogtle units 3 and 4 and achievement of financial targets. Southern Company cautions that there are certain factors that can cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information that has been provided. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is not a guarantee of future performance and is subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Southern Company; accordingly, there can be no assurance that such suggested results will be realized. The following factors, in addition to those discussed in Southern Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and subsequent securities filings, could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations as suggested by such forward-looking information: the impact of recent and future federal and state regulatory changes, including tax and environmental laws and regulations and other laws and regulations to which Southern Company and its subsidiaries are subject, as well as changes in application of existing laws and regulations; the extent and timing of costs and legal requirements related to coal combustion residuals; current and future litigation or regulatory investigations, proceedings, or inquiries, including litigation and other disputes related to the Kemper County energy facility; the effects, extent, and timing of the entry of additional competition in the markets in which Southern Company's subsidiaries operate, including from the development and deployment of alternative energy sources; variations in demand for electricity and natural gas; available sources and costs of natural gas and other fuels; the ability to complete necessary or desirable pipeline expansion or infrastructure projects, limits on pipeline capacity, and operational interruptions to natural gas distribution and transmission activities; transmission constraints; effects of inflation; the ability to control costs and avoid cost and schedule overruns during the development, construction, and operation of facilities, including Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, which includes components based on new technology that only recently began initial operation in the global nuclear industry at this scale, and including changes in labor costs, availability and productivity; challenges with management of contractors, subcontractors or vendors; adverse weather conditions; shortages, increased costs or inconsistent quality of equipment, materials, and labor; contractor or supplier delay; nonperformance under construction, operating, or other agreements; operational readiness, including specialized operator training and required site safety programs; engineering or design problems; design and other licensing-based compliance matters, including the timely resolution of Inspections, Tests, Analyses, and Acceptance Criteria and the related approvals by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ("NRC"); challenges with start-up activities, including major equipment failure and system integration; and/or operational performance; the ability to construct facilities in accordance with the requirements of permits and licenses (including satisfaction of NRC requirements), to satisfy any environmental performance standards and the requirements of tax credits and other incentives, and to integrate facilities into the Southern Company system upon completion of construction; investment performance of the employee and retiree benefit plans and nuclear decommissioning trust funds; advances in technology; ongoing renewable energy partnerships and development agreements; state and federal rate regulations and the impact of pending and future rate cases and negotiations, including rate actions relating to return on equity, equity ratios and fuel and other cost recovery mechanisms; the ability to successfully operate the electric utilities' generating, transmission, and distribution facilities and Southern Company Gas' natural gas distribution and storage facilities and the successful performance of necessary corporate functions; legal proceedings and regulatory approvals and actions related to construction projects, such as Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 and pipeline projects, including public service commission approvals and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and NRC actions; under certain specified circumstances, a decision by holders of more than 10% of the ownership interests of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 not to proceed with construction, and the ability of other Vogtle owners to tender a portion of their ownership interests to Georgia Power following certain construction cost increases; in the event Georgia Power becomes obligated to provide funding to Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia ("MEAG") with respect to the portion of MEAG's ownership interest in Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 involving Jacksonville Electric Authority, any inability of Georgia Power to receive repayment of such funding; the inherent risks involved in operating and constructing nuclear generating facilities; the inherent risks involved in transporting and storing natural gas; the performance of projects undertaken by the non-utility businesses and the success of efforts to invest in and develop new opportunities; internal restructuring or other restructuring options that may be pursued; potential business strategies, including acquisitions or dispositions of assets or businesses, including the proposed dispositions of Plant Mankato and the Nacogdoches biomass-fueled facility, which cannot be assured to be completed or beneficial to Southern Company or its subsidiaries; the ability of counterparties of Southern Company and its subsidiaries to make payments as and when due and to perform as required; the ability to obtain new short- and long-term contracts with wholesale customers; the direct or indirect effect on the Southern Company system's business resulting from cyber intrusion or physical attack and the threat of physical attacks; interest rate fluctuations and financial market conditions and the results of financing efforts; access to capital markets and other financing sources; changes in Southern Company's and any of its subsidiaries' credit ratings; the ability of Southern Company's electric utilities to obtain additional generating capacity (or sell excess generating capacity) at competitive prices; catastrophic events such as fires, earthquakes, explosions, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes and other storms, droughts, pandemic health events or other similar occurrences; the direct or indirect effects on the Southern Company system's business resulting from incidents affecting the U.S. electric grid, natural gas pipeline infrastructure, or operation of generating or storage resources; impairments of goodwill or long-lived assets; and the effect of accounting pronouncements issued periodically by standard-setting bodies. Southern Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward?looking information.
Southern Company
Financial Highlights
(In Millions of Dollars Except Earnings Per Share)
Three Months Ended
March
Net Income-As Reported (See Notes) 2019 2018
Traditional Electric Operating Companies $
565 $
612
Southern Power 56 121
Southern Company Gas 270 279
Total 891 1,012
Parent Company and Other 1,193 (74)
Net Income-As Reported $
2,084 $
938
Basic Earnings Per Share(1) $
2.01 $
0.93
Average Shares Outstanding (in millions) 1,038 1,011
End of Period Shares Outstanding (in millions) 1,040 1,012
Non-GAAP Financial Measures Three Months Ended
March
Net Income-Excluding Items (See Notes) 2019 2018
Net Income-As Reported $
2,084 $
938
Acquisition, Disposition, and Integration Impacts(2) (2,499) 62
Tax Impact 1,189 (5)
Estimated Loss on Plants Under Construction(3) 4 44
Tax Impact (1) (11)
Wholesale Gas Services4 (63) (139)
Tax Impact 16 35
Earnings Guidance Comparability Items:
Adoption of Tax Reform5 (31)
Net Income-Excluding Items $
730 $
893
Basic Earnings Per Share-Excluding Items $
0.70 $
0.88
-See Notes on the following page.
Southern Company
Financial Highlights
Notes
---
(1) For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, dilution does not change basic earnings
per share by
more than 2 cents and is not material.
(2) Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2019 primarily include a $2.5 billion pre-tax
gain ($1.3 billion
after tax) on the sale of Gulf Power Company. Earnings for the three months ended March 31,
2018 include:
(i) a $42 million (pre tax and after tax) goodwill impairment charge associated with the sale
of Pivotal Home
Solutions and (ii) $20 million pre tax ($15 million after tax) of other acquisition,
disposition, and integration
costs. Further impacts are expected to be recorded in 2019 in connection with the sale of
Gulf Power
Company, as well as impacts related to Southern Power Company's announced sales of Plants
Mankato and
Nacogdoches. Further costs are also expected to continue to occur in connection with the
integration of
Southern Company Gas; however, the amount and duration of such expenditures are uncertain.
(3) Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 include charges and associated
legal expenses
related to Mississippi Power Company's integrated coal gasification combined cycle facility
project in Kemper
County, Mississippi (Kemper IGCC). Additional pre-tax closure costs, including mine
reclamation, of up to
$25 million for Mississippi Power Company's Kemper IGCC may occur through 2020. Mississippi Power
Company is also currently evaluating its options regarding the final disposition of the
carbon dioxide pipeline
and is in discussions with the Department of Energy regarding property closeout and
disposition, for which the
related costs could be material.
(4) Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 include the Wholesale Gas
Services business of
Southern Company Gas. Presenting earnings and earnings per share excluding Wholesale Gas
Services
provides investors with an additional measure of operating performance that excludes the
volatility resulting
from mark-to-market and lower of weighted average cost or current market price accounting
adjustments.
(5) Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2018 include additional net tax benefits as a
result of
implementing federal tax reform legislation, which was signed into law in December 2017.
During 2018,
Southern Company obtained and analyzed additional information that was not initially
available or reported as
provisional amounts at December 31, 2017. Additional adjustments are not expected. Management
also used
such measures to evaluate Southern Company's performance.
Southern Company
Significant Factors Impacting EPS
Three Months Ended
March
2019 2018 Change
Earnings Per Share-
As Reported1 (See Notes) $
2.01 $
0.93 $
1.08
Significant Factors:
Traditional Electric Operating Companies $
(0.05)
Southern Power (0.06)
Southern Company Gas (0.01)
Parent Company and Other 1.25
Increase in Shares (0.05)
Total-As Reported $
1.08
Three Months Ended
March
Non-GAAP Financial Measures 2019 2018 Change
Earnings Per Share-
Excluding Items (See Notes) $
0.70 $
0.88 $
(0.18)
Total-As Reported $
1.08
Acquisition, Disposition, and Integration Impacts(2) (1.31)
Estimated Loss on Plants Under Construction(3) (0.03)
Wholesale Gas Services4 0.05
Adoption of Tax Reform5 0.03
Total-Excluding Items $
(0.18)
- See Notes on the following page.
Southern Company
Significant Factors Impacting EPS
Notes
---
(1) For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, dilution does not change basic earnings
per share by
more than 2 cents and is not material.
(2) Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2019 primarily include a $2.5 billion pre-tax
gain ($1.3 billion
after tax) on the sale of Gulf Power Company. Earnings for the three months ended March 31,
2018 include:
(i) a $42 million (pre tax and after tax) goodwill impairment charge associated with the sale
of Pivotal Home
Solutions and (ii) $20 million pre tax ($15 million after tax) of other acquisition,
disposition, and integration
costs. Further impacts are expected to be recorded in 2019 in connection with the sale of
Gulf Power
Company, as well as impacts related to Southern Power Company's announced sales of Plants
Mankato and
Nacogdoches. Further costs are also expected to continue to occur in connection with the
integration of
Southern Company Gas; however, the amount and duration of such expenditures are uncertain.
(3) Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 include charges and associated
legal expenses
related to Mississippi Power Company's integrated coal gasification combined cycle facility
project in Kemper
County, Mississippi (Kemper IGCC). Additional pre-tax closure costs, including mine
reclamation, of up to
$25 million for Mississippi Power Company's Kemper IGCC may occur through 2020. Mississippi Power
Company is also currently evaluating its options regarding the final disposition of the
carbon dioxide pipeline
and is in discussions with the Department of Energy regarding property closeout and
disposition, for which the
related costs could be material.
(4) Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 include the Wholesale Gas
Services business of
Southern Company Gas. Presenting earnings and earnings per share excluding Wholesale Gas
Services
provides investors with an additional measure of operating performance that excludes the
volatility resulting
from mark-to-market and lower of weighted average cost or current market price accounting
adjustments.
(5) Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2018 include additional net tax benefits as a
result of
implementing federal tax reform legislation, which was signed into law in December 2017.
During 2018,
Southern Company obtained and analyzed additional information that was not initially
available or reported as
provisional amounts at December 31, 2017. Additional adjustments are not expected. Management
also used
such measures to evaluate Southern Company's performance.
Southern Company
EPS Earnings Analysis
Description Three Months Ended
March
2019 vs. 2018
---
Retail Sales $(0.01)
Retail Revenue Impacts 0.05
Weather (0.07)
Wholesale Operations (0.01)
Other Operating Revenues 0.03
Non-Fuel O&M (0.02)
Depreciation and Amortization (0.02)
Interest Expense 0.01
Other Income and Deductions 0.01
Income Taxes 0.02
Gulf Power Earnings (0.04)
Total Traditional Electric Operating Companies $(0.05)
---
Southern Power (0.06)
Southern Company Gas (0.01)
Parent and Other (0.04)
Increase in Shares (0.02)
Total Change in EPS (Excluding Items) $(0.18)
---
Acquisition, Disposition, and Integration Impacts(1) 1.31
Estimated Loss on Plants Under Construction(2) 0.03
Wholesale Gas Services(3) (0.05)
Adoption of Tax Reform4 (0.03)
Total Change in EPS (As Reported) $1.08
---
- See Notes on the following page.
Southern Company
EPS Earnings Analysis
Three Months Ended March 2019 vs. March 2018
Notes
---
(1)
Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2019 primarily include a $2.5 billion pre-tax gain ($1.3 billion
after tax) on the sale of Gulf Power Company. Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2018 include:
(i) a $42 million (pre tax and after tax) goodwill impairment charge associated with the sale of Pivotal Home
Solutions and (ii) $20 million pre tax ($15 million after tax) of other acquisition, disposition, and integration
costs. Further impacts are expected to be recorded in 2019 in connection with the sale of Gulf Power
Company, as well as impacts related to Southern Power Company's announced sales of Plants Mankato
and
Nacogdoches. Further costs are also expected to continue to occur in connection with the integration of
Southern Company Gas; however, the amount and duration of such expenditures are uncertain.
(2)
Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 include charges and associated legal expenses
related to Mississippi Power Company's integrated coal gasification combined cycle facility project in Kemper
County, Mississippi (Kemper IGCC). Additional pre-tax closure costs, including mine reclamation, of up to
$25 million for Mississippi Power Company's Kemper IGCC may occur through 2020. Mississippi Power
Company is also currently evaluating its options regarding the final disposition of the carbon dioxide pipeline
and is in discussions with the Department of Energy regarding property closeout and disposition, for which the
related costs could be material.
(3)
Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 include the Wholesale Gas Services business of
Southern Company Gas. Presenting earnings and earnings per share excluding Wholesale Gas Services
provides investors with an additional measure of operating performance that excludes the volatility resulting
from mark-to-market and lower of weighted average cost or current market price accounting adjustments.
(4)
Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2018 include additional net tax benefits as a result of
implementing federal tax reform legislation, which was signed into law in December 2017. During 2018,
Southern Company obtained and analyzed additional information that was not initially available or reported as
provisional amounts at December 31, 2017. Additional adjustments are not expected. Management also used
such measures to evaluate Southern Company's performance.
Southern Company
Consolidated Earnings
As Reported
(In Millions of Dollars)
Three Months Ended
March
2019 2018 Change
Income Account-
Retail Electric Revenues-
Fuel $
804 $
1,027 $
(223)
Non-Fuel 2,280 2,541 (261)
Wholesale Electric Revenues 499 623 (124)
Other Electric Revenues 168 161 7
Natural Gas Revenues 1,474 1,607 (133)
Other Revenues 187 413 (226)
Total Revenues 5,412 6,372 (960)
Fuel and Purchased Power 1,020 1,368 (348)
Cost of Natural Gas 686 720 (34)
Cost of Other Sales 118 289 (171)
Non-Fuel O & M 1,312 1,451 (139)
Depreciation and Amortization 751 769 (18)
Taxes Other Than Income Taxes 329 355 (26)
Estimated Loss on Plants Under Construction 2 44 (42)
Gain on Dispositions, net (2,497) (2,497)
Total Operating Expenses 1,721 4,996 (3,275)
Operating Income 3,691 1,376 2,315
Allowance for Equity Funds Used During Construction 32 30 2
Earnings from Equity Method Investments 48 41 7
Interest Expense, Net of Amounts Capitalized 430 458 (28)
Other Income (Expense), net 78 60 18
Income Taxes 1,360 113 1,247
Net Income 2,059 936 1,123
Less:
Dividends on Preferred Stock of Subsidiaries 4 4
Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests (29) (6) (23)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SOUTHERN COMPANY $
2,084 $
938 $
1,146
Notes
---
- Certain prior year data may have been reclassified to conform with current year presentation.
Southern Company
Kilowatt-Hour Sales and Customers
(In Millions of KWHs)
Three Months Ended March
As Reported
Adjusted(1)
2019 2018
Change
Weather 2018
Change
Weather
Adjusted
Adjusted
Change
Change
Kilowatt-Hour Sales-
Total Sales 45,167 50,844 (11.2)% 48,222 (6.3)%
Total Retail Sales- 34,365 38,390 (10.5)% (7.2)% 35,922 (4.3)% (1.2)%
Residential 10,902 12,967 (15.9)% (8.4)% 11,751 (7.2)% 0.4%
Commercial 10,986 12,287 (10.6)% (8.4)% 11,441 (4.0)% (1.9)%
Industrial 12,289 12,931 (5.0)% (5.0)% 12,533 (2.0)% (2.0)%
Other 188 205 (8.3)% (7.9)% 197 (4.6)% (4.2)%
Total Wholesale Sales 10,802 12,454 (13.3)% N/A 12,300 (12.2)% N/A
Notes
---
(1) Kilowatt-hour sales comparisons to the prior year were significantly impacted by the disposition of
Gulf Power Company on January 1, 2019. These 2018 kilowatt-hour sales and changes exclude Gulf Power
Company.
(In Thousands of Customers)
Period Ended March
2019 2018
Change
Regulated Utility Customers-
Total Utility Customers- 8,510 9,306 (8.6)%
Total Traditional Electric(2) 4,234 4,652 (9.0)%
Southern Company Gas(3) 4,276 4,654 (8.1)%
Notes
---
(2) Includes approximately 463,000 customers at March 31, 2018 related to Gulf Power Company, which
was sold on January 1, 2019.
(3) Includes approximately 407,000 total customers at March 31, 2018 related to Elizabethtown Gas,
Elkton Gas, and Florida City Gas, which were sold in July 2018.
Southern Company
Financial Overview
As Reported
(In Millions of Dollars)
Three Months Ended
March
2019 2018 % Change
Southern Company(1) -
Operating Revenues $
5,412 $
6,372 (15.1)
%
Earnings Before Income 3,419 1,049 225.9
Taxes
%
Net Income Available to 2,084 938 122.2
Common
%
Alabama Power -
Operating Revenues $
1,408 $
1,473 (4.4)
%
Earnings Before Income 283 311 (9.0)
Taxes
%
Net Income Available to 217 225 (3.6)
Common
%
Georgia Power -
Operating Revenues $
1,833 $
1,961 (6.5)
%
Earnings Before Income 392 445 (11.9)
Taxes %
Net Income Available to 311 352 (11.6)
Common %
Mississippi Power -
Operating Revenues $
287 $
302 (5.0)
%
Earnings (Loss) Before
Income Taxes 44 (11) N/M
Net Income (Loss) Available
to Common 37 (7) N/M
Southern Power(1) -
Operating Revenues $
443 $
509 (13.0)
%
Earnings Before Income 18 16 12.5
Taxes %
Net Income Available to 56 121 (53.7)
Common %
Southern Company Gas(1) -
Operating Revenues $
1,474 $
1,639 (10.1)
%
Earnings Before Income 347 383 (9.4)
Taxes
%
Net Income Available to 270 279 (3.2)
Common
%
N/M -not meaningful
Notes
---
- See Financial Highlights pages for discussion of certain significant items occurring during the periods presented.
(1) Financial
comparisons
to the prior
year were
impacted by
(i) Southern
Company Gas'
disposition
of: (a)
Pivotal Home
Solutions on
June 4, 2018,
(b)
Elizabethtown
Gas and
Elkton Gas on
July 1, 2018,
and (c)
Florida City
Gas on July
29, 2018;
(ii) the
disposition
of Southern
Power
Company's
ownership
interest in
Plants
Oleander and
Stanton on
December 4,
2018; (iii)
Southern
Power
Company's
sale of (a) a
33% equity
interest in a
limited
partnership
indirectly
owning
substantially
all of its
solar
facilities on
May 22, 2018
and (b) a
noncontrolling
interest in
its
subsidiary
owning eight
operating
wind
facilities on
December 11,
2018; and
(iv) the
disposition
of Gulf Power
Company on
January 1,
2019.
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SOURCE Southern Company
