Full-year earnings guidance adjusted upward to $3.20-$3.40 per share

ALLETE, Inc. (NYSE: ALE) today reported second quarter 2015 earnings of 46 cents per share on net income of $22.5 million and operating revenue of $323.3 million. Earnings for the second quarter of 2014 were 40 cents per share on net income of $16.8 million and operating revenue of $260.7 million. This year’s results included acquisition transaction fees amounting to $0.9 million, or two cents per share. In last year’s quarterly results was a $2.5 million, or six cents per share, non-recurring charge associated with a settlement agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ALLETE’s Regulated Operations segment, which includes Minnesota Power, Superior Water, Light and Power and the company’s investment in the American Transmission Co., recorded net income of $23.6 million, an increase of $6.1 million over 2014 second quarter net income. This year’s results reflect increases in cost recovery rider revenue, production tax credits, and power marketing sales due to the commencement of the Minnkota Power sales agreement in June 2014, partially offset by increased depreciation and interest expense. Included in last year’s quarterly results was the previously mentioned non-recurring charge related to a settlement agreement with the EPA.

“With respect to Minnesota Power and the region it serves, we are pleased that our large power taconite customers nominated near 90% of full electricity demand levels for the fourth quarter of 2015,” said ALLETE Chairman, President and CEO Al Hodnik.

The Investments and Other segment, which includes U.S. Water Services, ALLETE Clean Energy, BNI Coal, ALLETE Properties, corporate expense and unallocated interest expense, posted a net loss of $1.1 million, compared to a second quarter 2014 net loss of $700,000 a year ago. Operating results from the companies in this segment were as expected. The net loss for the second quarter of 2015 included acquisition transaction fees of $.9 million and higher interest and income tax expenses. The increase in income tax expense included $1.2 million attributable to the first quarter of 2015, due to a higher estimated effective tax rate for the year.

An increase in common shares outstanding resulted in 7 cents of earnings per share dilution compared to the same period a year ago.

“Overall, these solid financial results are as we anticipated in the quarter and when we examine them closely we find evidence that the strategy to broaden our energy operations is taking hold,” said Hodnik. “The recent addition of U.S. Water Services and the consistent growth of ALLETE Clean Energy, combined with our strong utility base, set the stage for future growth.”

ALLETE’s 2015 full-year guidance has been adjusted upward to a range of $3.20 to $3.40 per share to include ALLETE Clean Energy’s expected development fee from the MDU transaction. On June 30, 2015, the North Dakota Public Service Commission approved the sale of a wind facility under construction by ALLETE Clean Energy, to MDU. The company estimates the development fee from the MDU transaction to be between $20 million and $25 million, pre-tax, of which most will be recognized in earnings during the second half of 2015.

The 2015 guidance excludes acquisition-related transaction fees. Additional details about earnings guidance for the year will be discussed in our conference call scheduled for today.

Interested parties may listen to the conference live by calling (877) 303-5852, or by accessing the webcast on ALLETE’s Web site, www.allete.com. A replay of the call will be available through August 6, 2015 by dialing (855) 859-2056, pass code 72675112. The webcast will be accessible for one year at www.allete.com.

ALLETE is an energy company headquartered in Duluth, Minn. In addition to its electric utilities, Minnesota Power and Superior Water, Light and Power of Wisconsin, ALLETE owns BNI Coal in Center, N.D., ALLETE Clean Energy, based in Duluth, U.S. Water Services headquartered in St. Michael, Minn. and has an eight percent equity interest in the American Transmission Co. More information about ALLETE is available at www.allete.com.

The statements contained in this release and statements that ALLETE may make orally in connection with this release that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and investors are directed to the risks discussed in documents filed by ALLETE with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

ALLETE's press releases and other communications may include certain non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) financial measures. A "non-GAAP financial measure" is defined as a numerical measure of a company's financial performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes (or includes) amounts that are included in (or excluded from) the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the company's financial statements.

Non-GAAP financial measures utilized by the Company include presentations of earnings (loss) per share. ALLETE's management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors by removing the effect of variances in GAAP reported results of operations that are not indicative of changes in the fundamental earnings power of the Company's operations. Management believes that the presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures is appropriate and enables investors and analysts to more accurately compare the company's ongoing financial performance over the periods presented.

   

ALLETE, Inc.Consolidated Statement of IncomeMillions Except Per Share Amounts - Unaudited

  Quarter Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30,     2015   2014   2015   2014     Operating Revenue   $ 323.3     $ 260.7     $ 643.3     $ 557.2   Operating Expenses Fuel and Purchased Power 80.1 83.6 166.1 179.8 Transmission Services 11.3 10.5 26.2 21.3 Cost of Sales 52.3 18.9 83.5 42.4 Operating and Maintenance 85.4 74.3 165.1 148.6 Depreciation and Amortization 41.3 33.9 80.3 66.1 Taxes Other than Income Taxes     13.4       11.3       26.2       22.5   Total Operating Expenses 283.8 232.5 547.4 480.7 Operating Income     39.5       28.2       95.9       76.5   Other Income (Expense) Interest Expense (16.2 ) (13.5 ) (31.3 ) (26.3 ) Equity Earnings in ATC 4.7 5.2 8.6 10.3 Other     0.7       1.9       1.8       3.9   Total Other Expense     (10.8 )     (6.4 )     (20.9 )     (12.1 ) Income Before Non-Controlling Interest and Income Taxes 28.7 21.8 75.0 64.4 Income Tax Expense     6.4       4.9       12.6       13.7   Net Income     22.3       16.9       62.4       50.7   Less: Non-Controlling Interest in Subsidiaries     (0.2 )     0.1       —       0.4   Net Income Attributable to ALLETE   $ 22.5     $ 16.8     $ 62.4     $ 50.3   Average Shares of Common Stock Basic 48.6 42.1 47.7 41.7 Diluted     48.7       42.3       47.8       41.9   Basic Earnings Per Share of Common Stock $ 0.46 $ 0.40 $ 1.31 $ 1.21 Diluted Earnings Per Share of Common Stock $ 0.46 $ 0.40 $ 1.30 $ 1.20 Dividends Per Share of Common Stock   $ 0.505     $ 0.49     $ 1.01     $ 0.98                

Consolidated Balance SheetMillions - Unaudited

  Jun. 30, Dec. 31, Jun. 30, Dec. 31,     2015   2014         2015   2014 Assets Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity Cash and Cash Equivalents $ 60.6 $ 145.8 Current Liabilities $ 401.0 $ 416.0 Other Current Assets 270.0 273.0 Long-Term Debt 1,272.4 1,272.8 Property, Plant and Equipment - Net 3,451.5 3,284.8 Deferred Income Taxes 572.5 510.7 Regulatory Assets 359.6 357.3 Regulatory Liabilities 104.8 94.2 Investment in ATC 124.2 121.1 Defined Benefit Pension & Other 190.0 190.9 Other Investments 115.0 114.4 Other Non-Current Liabilities 353.9 265.0 Goodwill and Intangibles - Net 213.4 4.8 Shareholders’ Equity 1,778.4 1,611.2 Other Non-Current Assets     78.7     59.6               Total Assets   $ 4,673.0   $ 4,360.8     Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity   $ 4,673.0   $ 4,360.8       Quarter Ended Six Months Ended ALLETE, Inc. June 30, June 30, Income (Loss)   2015   2014   2015   2014 Millions     Regulated Operations $ 23.6 $ 17.5 $ 65.0 $ 51.4 Investments and Other     (1.1 )     (0.7 )     (2.6 )     (1.1 ) Net Income Attributable to ALLETE   $ 22.5     $ 16.8     $ 62.4     $ 50.3   Diluted Earnings Per Share   $ 0.46     $ 0.40     $ 1.30     $ 1.20       Statistical Data Corporate Common Stock High $ 52.98 $ 52.54 $ 59.73 $ 52.73 Low $ 47.51 $ 47.51 $ 47.51 $ 47.51 Close $ 51.35 $ 51.35 $ 51.35 $ 51.35 Book Value $ 36.37 $ 33.22 $ 36.37 $ 33.22     Kilowatt-hours Sold Millions Regulated Utility Retail and Municipals Residential 227 249 583 647 Commercial 331 333 715 728 Municipals 187 198 420 440 Industrial     1,575       1,788       3,525       3,604   Total Retail and Municipal 2,320 2,568 5,243 5,419 Other Power Suppliers     1,113       631       2,004       1,331   Total Regulated Utility 3,433 3,199 7,247 6,750 Non-regulated Energy Operations     30       30       60       64   Total Kilowatt-hours Sold     3,463       3,229       7,307       6,814       Regulated Utility Revenue Millions Regulated Utility Revenue Retail and Municipals Residential $ 24.1 $ 25.7 $ 59.1 $ 65.8 Commercial 31.5 30.9 65.1 66.0 Municipals 14.5 14.5 30.5 31.0 Industrial     104.2       108.7       218.9       220.1   Total Retail and Municipals 174.3 179.8 373.6 382.9 Other Power Suppliers 37.6 24.1 71.3 53.7 Other     18.1       25.7       47.9       57.2   Total Regulated Utility Revenue   $ 230.0     $ 229.6     $ 492.8     $ 493.8    

ALLETE, Inc.Investor Contacts:Tim Thorp, 218-723-3953tthorp@allete.comorVince Meyer, 218-723-3952vmeyer@allete.com

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