PPL PPL Corporation

ALLENTOWN, Pa., Feb. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) on Wednesday (2/1) announced 2016 reported earnings (GAAP) of $1.9 billion, or $2.79 per share, compared with $682 million, or $1.01 per share, in 2015.

The company's results for 2015 reflect the $921 million loss from discontinued operations, or $1.36 per share, resulting primarily from the June 1 spinoff of its competitive supply business.

Adjusting for special items, earnings from ongoing operations were $1.67 billion, or $2.45 per share, compared with earnings from ongoing operations of $1.49 billion, or $2.21 per share in 2015, an increase of 11 percent on a per-share basis.

The company's results exceeded the high end of its 2016 reported earnings forecast range of $2.55 to $2.70 per share, driven by strong performance across its regulated businesses and gains on foreign currency-related economic hedges.

In addition, PPL's results were at the high end of its earnings from ongoing operations forecast range of $2.30 to $2.45 per share. This marks the seventh consecutive year PPL has exceeded the midpoint of its ongoing earnings forecast. Reflected in both reported earnings and ongoing earnings is a positive tax adjustment of $0.05 per share related to a benefit recorded for the carryforward of foreign tax credits.

"The past year demonstrated the strength of our diverse portfolio of regulated utilities as our U.S. and U.K. companies all delivered or exceeded expected results," said William H. Spence, PPL's chairman, president and Chief Executive Officer.

"In 2016, we executed more than $3 billion in infrastructure improvements to advance a smarter, cleaner, more reliable energy infrastructure for our customers. At the same time, we delivered award-winning customer service at each of our U.S. utilities and continued to excel with industry-leading performance in the United Kingdom.

"As we look ahead, we're intent on making PPL even stronger for our customers and shareowners. That includes investing an additional $16 billion in infrastructure improvements over the next five years to secure a brighter energy future for generations to come and delivering competitive earnings growth and dividend yields for shareowners."

The company reaffirmed its 2017 earnings forecast of $2.05 to $2.25 per share, which reflects additional hedging to mitigate foreign currency exposure through 2020. "Based on actions taken to date," Spence said, "we are confident in our ability to deliver our projected 5 to 6 percent compound annual earnings growth range from 2017 to 2020 even if the exchange rate declines well below current levels. Our currency hedging strategies have continued to strengthen our ability to deliver this growth as we are now significantly hedged into 2019 with room to do more."

In addition, Spence said PPL remains confident in its ability to deliver targeted annual dividend growth of about 4 percent through the end of the decade.

In keeping with that commitment, PPL announced that it is increasing its common stock dividend from $0.38 per share to $0.395 per share on a quarterly basis. The increased dividend will be payable April 3 to shareowners of record as of March 10. The increase, PPL's 15th in 16 years, raises the annualized dividend 4 percent from $1.52 per share to $1.58 per share.

PPL reported fourth-quarter earnings of $465 million, or $0.68 per share, compared with reported earnings of $399 million, or $0.59 per share, in 2015. Adjusting for special items, fourth-quarter earnings from ongoing operations were $409 million, or $0.60 per share, compared with $294 million, or $0.43 per share, in 2015.  

Fourth-Quarter and Year-to-Date Earnings Details

PPL's reported earnings for 2016 included net special-item after-tax benefits of $228 million, or $0.34 per share, due to foreign currency-related economic hedges and a reduction in the U.K. corporate income tax rate. Reported earnings for 2015 included net special-item after-tax charges of $807 million, or $1.20 per share, primarily due to a loss from discontinued operations of $921 million, or $1.36 per share. The loss resulted primarily from the June 1 spinoff of PPL's competitive supply business, partially offset by a reduction in the U.K. corporate income tax rate and foreign currency-related economic hedges.

PPL's reported earnings for the fourth quarter of 2016 included net special-item after-tax benefits of $56 million, or $0.08 per share, from foreign currency-related economic hedges. Reported earnings for the fourth quarter of 2015 included net special-item after-tax benefits of $105 million, or $0.16 per share, primarily from a reduction in the U.K. corporate income tax rate and foreign currency-related economic hedges.

As discussed in this news release, reported earnings are calculated in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). "Earnings from ongoing operations" is a non-GAAP financial measure that is adjusted for special items, including for 2015 the former Supply segment's earnings and the loss associated with the Supply segment spinoff. See the tables at the end of this news release for a reconciliation of reported earnings to earnings from ongoing operations, including an itemization of special items.

Fourth-Quarter and Year-to-Date Earnings by Segment

Key Factors Impacting Earnings

U.K. Regulated Segment

PPL's U.K. Regulated segment primarily consists of the regulated electricity delivery operations of Western Power Distribution (WPD), serving Southwest and Central England and South Wales.

Reported earnings in 2016 increased by $0.17 per share compared with a year ago, and earnings from ongoing operations in 2016 increased by $0.05 per share. Excluding special items, positive factors driving earnings results included an April 1, 2016 price increase; lower operation and maintenance expense, including pension expense; and lower U.S. income taxes due to a benefit recorded for the carryforward of foreign tax credits. Negative factors driving earnings results included the unfavorable impact of lower British pound sterling exchange rates; an April 1, 2015 price decrease due to the beginning of the eight-year RIIO-ED1 price control period; lower sales volumes; higher interest expense; and higher depreciation expense.

Reported earnings in the fourth quarter of 2016 increased by $0.03 per share compared to a year ago, and earnings from ongoing operations in the fourth quarter of 2016 increased by $0.11 per share. Excluding special items, earnings results primarily reflect an April 1, 2016 price increase, lower U.S. income taxes due to a benefit recorded for the carryforward of foreign tax credits, and lower operation and maintenance expense, including pension expense, partially offset by the unfavorable impact of lower British pound sterling exchange rates.

Kentucky Regulated Segment

PPL's Kentucky Regulated segment primarily consists of the regulated electricity and natural gas operations of Louisville Gas and Electric Company and the regulated electricity operations of Kentucky Utilities Company.

Reported earnings in 2016 increased by $0.10 per share compared with a year ago, and earnings from ongoing operations in 2016 increased by $0.07 per share. Excluding special items, the increase was driven primarily by higher base electricity rates effective July 1, 2015, and lower operation and maintenance expense, partially offset by higher interest expense.

Reported earnings and earnings from ongoing operations in the fourth quarter of 2016 increased by $0.03 per share compared with a year ago. The increase was primarily driven by higher sales volumes due to weather and lower operation and maintenance expense.                    

Pennsylvania Regulated Segment

PPL's Pennsylvania Regulated segment consists of the regulated electricity transmission and distribution operations of PPL Electric Utilities.

Reported earnings and earnings from ongoing operations in 2016 increased by $0.13 per share compared with a year ago, driven primarily by higher base electricity rates for distribution effective Jan. 1, 2016, and higher transmission earnings from additional capital investments, partially offset by higher depreciation expense.

Reported earnings and earnings from ongoing operations in the fourth quarter of 2016 increased by $0.02 per share compared with a year ago, driven primarily by higher base electricity rates for distribution effective Jan. 1, 2016, and higher transmission earnings from additional capital investments, partially offset by higher depreciation expense and a benefit received in 2015 from the release of a gross receipts tax reserve.

Corporate and Other

PPL's Corporate and Other category primarily includes unallocated corporate-level financing and other costs.

The reported loss for 2016 decreased by $0.02 per share compared to a year ago, and the reported loss for the fourth quarter was the same as a year ago. Earnings from ongoing operations in 2016 and in the fourth quarter were relatively flat compared to a year ago.

Earnings Forecast

(See the tables at the end of this news release for a reconciliation of 2016 reported earnings to earnings from ongoing operations.)

PPL's lower earnings guidance in 2017 compared to 2016 results primarily from a lower assumed British pound sterling exchange rate in 2017, dilution from the issuance of additional equity and 2016 tax benefits that are not expected to repeat in 2017.

U.K. Regulated Segment

PPL projects lower segment earnings in 2017 compared with 2016, due to a lower assumed foreign currency rate in 2017, lower incentive revenues, higher interest expense, higher depreciation expense and higher income taxes, partially offset by lower operation and maintenance expense, including pension expense.

The remaining 2017 foreign currency exposure for this segment is 92 percent hedged at an average rate of $1.21 per pound, compared to an average rate of $1.45 per pound in 2016.

Kentucky Regulated Segment

PPL projects relatively flat segment earnings in 2017 compared with 2016, primarily driven by electricity and gas base rate increases, offset by higher operation and maintenance expense and higher depreciation expense.

Pennsylvania Regulated Segment

PPL projects relatively flat segment earnings in 2017 compared with 2016, primarily driven by higher transmission earnings and lower operation and maintenance expense, offset by higher depreciation expense, higher interest expense and higher income taxes.

Corporate and Other

PPL projects costs to be relatively flat in this category in 2017 compared with 2016.

Headquartered in Allentown, Pa., PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) is one of the largest companies in the U.S. utility sector. PPL's seven high-performing, award-winning utilities serve 10 million customers in the U.S. and United Kingdom. With about 13,000 employees, the company is dedicated to providing exceptional customer service and reliability and delivering superior value for shareowners. To learn more, visit www.pplweb.com.

(Note: All references to earnings per share in the text and tables of this news release are stated in terms of diluted earnings per share unless otherwise noted.)

Conference Call and Webcast

PPL invites interested parties to listen to a live Internet webcast of management's teleconference with financial analysts about 2016 financial results at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on Wednesday, Feb. 1. The call will be webcast live, in audio format, along with slides of the presentation. For those who are unable to listen to the live webcast, a replay with slides will be accessible at www.pplweb.com/investors for 90 days after the call. Interested individuals can access the live conference call via telephone at 1-888-346-8683. International participants should call 1-412-902-4270. Participants will need to enter the following "Elite Entry" number in order to join the conference: 3826126. Callers can access the webcast link at http://www.pplweb.com/investors under Events and Presentations.

Management utilizes "Earnings from Ongoing Operations" as a non-GAAP financial measure that should not be considered as an alternative to reported earnings, or net income, an indicator of operating performance determined in accordance with GAAP. PPL believes that Earnings from Ongoing Operations is useful and meaningful to investors because it provides management's view of PPL's earnings performance as another criterion in making investment decisions. In addition, PPL's management uses Earnings from Ongoing Operations in measuring achievement of certain corporate performance goals, including targets for certain executive incentive compensation. Other companies may use different measures to present financial performance.

Earnings from Ongoing Operations is adjusted for the impact of special items. Special items are presented in the financial tables on an after-tax basis with the related income taxes on special items separately disclosed. Income taxes on special items, when applicable, are calculated based on the effective tax rate of the entity where the activity is recorded. Special items include:

• Unrealized gains or losses on foreign currency-related economic hedges (as discussed below).
• Supply segment discontinued operations.
• Gains and losses on sales of assets not in the ordinary course of business.
• Impairment charges.
• Workforce reduction and other restructuring effects.
• Acquisition and divestiture-related adjustments.
• Other charges or credits that are, in management's view, non-recurring or otherwise not reflective of the company's ongoing operations.

Unrealized gains or losses on foreign currency economic hedges include the changes in fair value of foreign currency contracts used to hedge British-pound-sterling-denominated anticipated earnings. The changes in fair value of these contracts are recognized immediately within GAAP earnings. Management believes that excluding these amounts from Earnings from Ongoing Operations until settlement of the contracts provides a better matching of the financial impacts of those contracts with the economic value of PPL's underlying hedged earnings.

Statements contained in this news release, including statements with respect to future earnings, cash flows, dividends, financing, regulation and corporate strategy, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Although PPL Corporation believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the statements. The following are among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements: market demand for energy in our U.S. service territories; weather conditions affecting customer energy usage and operating costs; the effect of any business or industry restructuring; the profitability and liquidity of PPL Corporation and its subsidiaries; new accounting requirements or new interpretations or applications of existing requirements; operating performance of our facilities; the length of scheduled and unscheduled outages at our generating plants; environmental conditions and requirements and the related costs of compliance; system conditions and operating costs; development of new projects, markets and technologies; performance of new ventures; asset or business acquisitions and dispositions; any impact of severe weather on our business; receipt of necessary government permits, approvals, rate relief and regulatory cost recovery; capital market conditions and decisions regarding capital structure; the impact of state, federal or foreign investigations applicable to PPL Corporation and its subsidiaries; the outcome of litigation against PPL Corporation and its subsidiaries; stock price performance; the market prices of equity securities and the impact on pension income and resultant cash funding requirements for defined benefit pension plans; the securities and credit ratings of PPL Corporation and its subsidiaries; political, regulatory or economic conditions in states, regions or countries where PPL Corporation or its subsidiaries conduct business, including any potential effects of threatened or actual terrorism or war or other hostilities; British pound sterling to U.S. dollar exchange rates; new state, federal or foreign legislation, including new tax legislation; and the commitments and liabilities of PPL Corporation and its subsidiaries. Any such forward-looking statements should be considered in light of such important factors and in conjunction with factors and other matters discussed in PPL Corporation's Form 10-K and other reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Note to Editors: Visit our media website at www.pplnewsroom.com for additional news and background about PPL Corporation.