Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE: ATO) today reported consolidated
results for its first quarter ended December 31, 2017.
- Fiscal 2018 first quarter consolidated
net income was $314.1 million, or $2.89 per diluted share, compared
with consolidated net income of $125.0 million, or $1.19 per
diluted share in the prior-year quarter.
- Adjusted net income from continuing
operations was $152.2 million, or $1.40 per diluted share after
excluding a one-time income tax benefit of $161.9 million, or $1.49
per diluted share, related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
(the TCJA) due to the revaluation of the Company's net deferred tax
liabilities. Net income from continuing operations was $114.0
million, or $1.08 per diluted share for the same period
last year.
- Fiscal 2018 earnings guidance was
increased to $3.85 to $4.05 per diluted share from $3.75 to $3.95
per diluted share. Capital expenditures are expected to remain in
the previously announced range of $1.3 billion to $1.4 billion in
fiscal 2018.
- The company's Board of Directors has
declared a quarterly dividend of $0.485 per common share. The
indicated annual dividend for fiscal 2018 is $1.94, which
represents a 7.8 percent increase over fiscal 2017.
“Executing on our strategy of infrastructure investment
continues to deliver solid results,” said Mike Haefner, President
and Chief Executive Officer of Atmos Energy Corporation.
“Additionally, we believe that the impact of tax reform will be
good for our customers and the lower tax rate will result in over
$100 million of annual savings to customer bills. We are working
with regulators in each of our jurisdictions to return this
benefit. Our strategy remains unchanged and looking forward, we
remain well positioned to continue delivering annual earnings
growth in the 6 percent to 8 percent range,” Haefner concluded.
Results for the Three Months Ended December
31, 2017
Distribution gross profit increased $37.7 million to $397.0
million for the three months ended December 31, 2017, compared
with $359.3 million in the prior-year period. Gross profit reflects
a net $25.6 million increase in rates, primarily in our Texas,
Mississippi and Kentucky/Mid-States Divisions. In addition, net
consumption increased $5.7 million, primarily due to weather that
was 20 percent colder than the prior-year quarter.
Pipeline and storage gross profit increased $16.0 million to
$125.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017,
compared with $109.6 million in the prior-year quarter. This
increase is primarily attributable to a $13.9 million increase in
revenue from the Atmos Pipeline–Texas rate case and the Gas
Reliability Infrastructure Program (GRIP) filing approved in
December 2017.
Consolidated operation and maintenance expense for the three
months ended December 31, 2017, was $129.6 million, compared
with $124.9 million in the prior-year quarter. This increase was
primarily driven by higher maintenance activities in the company's
distribution segment and higher employee-related costs in the
current year.
Excluding the one-time income tax benefit, the effective tax
rate for the three months ended December 31, 2017 decreased to
26.8%, compared to 35.9% in the prior-year quarter. The decrease
primarily reflects the lower statutory federal income tax rate due
to enactment of the TCJA. The lower effective tax rate reduced tax
expense by approximately $16 million.
Capital expenditures increased $85.2 million to $383.2 million
for the three months ended December 31, 2017, compared with
$298.0 million in the prior-year quarter, due to a planned increase
in spending for infrastructure replacements and enhancements.
For the three months ended December 31, 2017, the company
generated operating cash flow of $173.2 million, a $56.3 million
increase compared with the three months ended December 31,
2016. The quarter-over-quarter increase primarily reflects the
positive cash effect of successful rate case outcomes achieved in
fiscal 2017, as well as higher recoveries of deferred gas cost due
to higher distribution sales volumes in the current quarter
compared to the prior-year quarter.
The equity capitalization ratio at December 31, 2017 was
57.3%, compared with 52.6% at September 30, 2017. On November
28, 2017, Atmos Energy completed the public offering of 4,558,404
shares of common stock for gross proceeds of approximately $400
million. Atmos Energy used the net proceeds of $395.1 million from
this offering to repay short-term debt under its commercial paper
program, to fund capital spending primarily to enhance the safety
and reliability of its system and for general corporate
purposes.
Outlook
The leadership of Atmos Energy remains focused on enhancing
system safety and reliability through infrastructure investment
while delivering shareholder value and consistent earnings growth.
Atmos Energy now expects fiscal 2018 earnings to be in the range of
$3.85 to $4.05 per diluted share, excluding the one-time, non-cash
income tax benefit recognized during the first quarter. The
increase primarily reflects the accounting effects from
implementing the TCJA. Capital expenditures for fiscal 2018 are
expected to remain in the previously announced range of $1.3
billion to $1.4 billion.
Conference Call to be Webcast
February 7, 2018
Atmos Energy will host a conference call with financial analysts
to discuss the fiscal 2018 first quarter financial results on
Wednesday, February 7, 2018, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The
domestic telephone number is 877-485-3107 and the international
telephone number is 201-689-8427. Mike Haefner, President and Chief
Executive Officer and Chris Forsythe, Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer will participate in the conference call.
The conference call will be webcast live on the Atmos Energy
website at www.atmosenergy.com. A
playback of the call will be available on the website later that
day.
This news release should be read in conjunction with the
attached unaudited financial information.
Forward-Looking Statements
The matters discussed in this news release may contain
“forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of
the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of
historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking
statements made in good faith by the company and are intended to
qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this
news release or in any of the company's other documents or oral
presentations, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,”
“expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “intend,” “objective,” “plan,”
“projection,” “seek,” “strategy” or similar words are intended to
identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking
statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those discussed in this
news release, including the risks and uncertainties relating to
regulatory trends and decisions, the company's ability to continue
to access the credit and capital markets and the other factors
discussed in the company's reports filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. These factors include the risks and
uncertainties discussed in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. Although the
company believes these forward-looking statements to be reasonable,
there can be no assurance that they will approximate actual
experience or that the expectations derived from them will be
realized. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The historical financial information in this news release
utilizes certain financial measures that are not presented in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
Specifically, the company uses gross profit, defined as operating
revenues less purchased gas cost, to discuss and analyze its
financial performance. Its operations are affected by the cost of
natural gas, which is passed through to its customers without
markup and includes commodity price, transportation, storage,
injection and withdrawal fees, along with hedging settlements.
These costs are reflected in the income statement as purchased gas
cost. Therefore, increases in the cost of gas are offset by a
corresponding increase in revenues. Accordingly, the company
believes gross profit is a more useful and relevant measure to
analyze its financial performance than operating revenues.
In addition, the enactment of the TCJA required the company to
remeasure its deferred tax assets and liabilities at its new
federal statutory income tax rate as of December 31, 2017, which
resulted in the recognition of a one-time, non-cash income tax
benefit of $161.9 million during the three months ended December
31, 2017. Due to the non-recurring nature of this benefit, the
company believes that income from continuing operations and diluted
earnings per share from continuing operations before the one-time,
non-cash income tax benefit, provides a more useful and relevant
measure to analyze its financial performance than income from
continuing operations and consolidated diluted earnings per share
from continuing operations. Accordingly, the discussion and
analysis of the company's financial performance will reference
adjusted income from continuing operations and diluted earnings per
share, which is calculated as follows:
Three Months Ended December 31 2017
2016 Change (In
thousands, except per share data) Income from continuing
operations $ 314,132 $ 114,038 $ 200,094 One-time, non-cash income
tax benefit 161,884 — 161,884 Adjusted income
from continuing operations $ 152,248 $ 114,038 $ 38,210
Consolidated diluted EPS from continuing operations $ 2.89 $ 1.08 $
1.81 Diluted EPS from one-time, non-cash income tax benefit
1.49 — 1.49 Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing
operations $ 1.40 $ 1.08 $ 0.32
About Atmos Energy
Atmos Energy Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, is the
country's largest fully-regulated, natural-gas-only distributor,
serving over three million natural gas distribution customers in
over 1,400 communities in eight states from the Blue Ridge
Mountains in the East to the Rocky Mountains in the West. Atmos
Energy also manages company-owned natural gas pipeline and storage
assets, including one of the largest intrastate natural gas
pipeline systems in Texas. For more information, visit www.atmosenergy.com.
Atmos Energy Corporation
Financial Highlights
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
Statements of
Income
December 31 (000s except per share) 2017
2016 Gross Profit: Distribution segment $
397,034 $ 359,310 Pipeline and storage segment 125,551 109,597
Intersegment eliminations (310 ) (44 ) Gross profit
522,275 468,863 Operation and maintenance expense 129,567 124,938
Depreciation and amortization 88,374 76,958 Taxes, other than
income 62,773 57,049 Total operating
expenses 280,714 258,945 Operating income 241,561 209,918
Miscellaneous expense (2,035 ) (994 ) Interest charges
31,509 31,030 Income from continuing
operations before income taxes 208,017 177,894 Income tax expense
(benefit) (106,115 ) 63,856 Income from
continuing operations 314,132 114,038 Income from discontinued
operations, net of tax — 10,994 Net
Income $ 314,132 $ 125,032 Basic and diluted net
income per share Income per share from continuing operations $ 2.89
$ 1.08 Income per share from discontinued operations —
0.11 Net income per share - basic and diluted
$ 2.89 $ 1.19 Cash dividends per share $ 0.485
$ 0.450 Basic and diluted weighted average shares
outstanding 108,564 105,284
Three Months Ended December 31
Summary Net Income
by Segment (000s)
2017 2016 Distribution $ 249,099 $
85,364 Pipeline and storage 65,033 28,674
Net income from continuing operations 314,132 114,038 Net
income from discontinued operations — 10,994
Net Income $ 314,132 $ 125,032
Atmos Energy Corporation
Financial Highlights, continued
(Unaudited)
Condensed Balance
Sheets
December 31, September 30, (000s) 2017
2017 Net property, plant and equipment $ 9,518,792 $ 9,259,182 Cash
and cash equivalents 54,750 26,409 Accounts receivable, net 489,217
222,263 Gas stored underground 163,959 184,653 Other current assets
70,984 106,321 Total current assets 778,910 539,646
Goodwill 730,132 730,132 Deferred charges and other assets
236,886 220,636 $ 11,264,720 $ 10,749,596
Shareholders' equity $ 4,563,620 $ 3,898,666 Long-term debt
3,067,469 3,067,045 Total capitalization 7,631,089 6,965,711
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 285,675 233,050 Other
current liabilities 336,919 332,648 Short-term debt 336,816
447,745 Total current liabilities 959,410 1,013,443 Deferred
income taxes 1,033,206 1,878,699 Regulatory excess deferred taxes
746,246 — Deferred credits and other liabilities 894,769
891,743 $ 11,264,720 $ 10,749,596
Atmos
Energy Corporation
Financial Highlights, continued
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
Condensed Statements
of Cash Flows
December 31 (000s) 2017 2016
Cash flows from operating activities Net income $
314,132 $ 125,032 Depreciation and amortization 88,374 77,143
Deferred income taxes 53,149 67,241 One-time income tax benefit
(161,884 ) — Discontinued cash flow hedging for natural gas
marketing commodity contracts — (10,579 ) Other 6,915 4,842 Changes
in assets and liabilities (127,448 ) (146,716 ) Net
cash provided by operating activities 173,238 116,963
Cash flows
from investing activities Capital expenditures (383,238 )
(297,962 ) Acquisition — (85,714 ) Available-for-sale securities
activities, net (135 ) (10,263 ) Other, net 2,001
1,802 Net cash used in investing activities (381,372
) (392,137 )
Cash flows from financing activities Net
increase (decrease) in short-term debt (110,929 ) 110,936 Proceeds
from issuance of long-term debt, net of premium/discount — 125,000
Net proceeds from equity offering 395,099 49,400 Issuance of common
stock through stock purchase and employee retirement plans 5,660
8,998 Interest rate agreements cash collateral — 25,670 Cash
dividends paid (51,837 ) (47,740 ) Other (1,518 ) —
Net cash provided by financing activities 236,475
272,264 Net increase (decrease) in cash and
cash equivalents 28,341 (2,910 ) Cash and cash equivalents at
beginning of period 26,409 47,534 Cash
and cash equivalents at end of period $ 54,750 $ 44,624
Three Months Ended December 31
Statistics
2017 2016 Consolidated distribution
throughput (MMcf as metered) 124,357 110,605 Consolidated pipeline
and storage transportation volumes (MMcf) 155,105 134,976
Distribution meters in service 3,236,524 3,202,106 Distribution
average cost of gas $ 5.37 $ 5.31
View source
version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180206006361/en/
Atmos Energy CorporationJennifer Hills,
972-855-3729
Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Atmos Energy (NYSE:ATO)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024