News Release > Entergy reports 2023 financial results, initiates 2024 guidance

Entergy reports 2023 financial results, initiates 2024 guidance

02/22/2024

Results in top half of guidance range for 8th consecutive year

NEW ORLEANS – Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) reported fourth quarter 2023 earnings per share of $4.64 on an as-reported basis and 52 cents on an adjusted (non-GAAP) basis. For the full year, the company reported 2023 earnings per share of $11.10 on an as-reported basis and $6.77 on an adjusted basis.

“2023 was a year of successful execution to support our customers,” said Drew Marsh, Entergy Chair and Chief Executive Officer. “We delivered meaningful outcomes that included our best forced outage rates in a decade, a system that withstood record summer demand, as well as timely delivery of new service and clean energy options to support our rapidly growing customer base.” 

Business highlights included the following:

• Mississippi approved legislation to bring Amazon Web Services’ $10 billion data center complexes to the state.
• The LPSC approved two solar facilities that will add approximately 225 megawatts of renewable capacity for E-LA.
• The APSC approved E-AR’s annual FRP.
• The CCNO issued its order on E-NO’s Hurricane Ida restoration costs, determining that all costs were prudent.
• Entergy was named to a Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the 22nd consecutive year.
• Newsweek named Entergy as one of America’s most responsible companies.

Calculations may differ due to rounding

Consolidated results

For fourth quarter 2023, the company reported earnings of $988 million, or $4.64 per share, on an as-reported basis, and earnings of $111 million, or 52 cents per share, on an adjusted basis. This compared to fourth quarter 2022 earnings of $106 million, or 51 cents per share, on an as-reported basis, and earnings of $107 million, or 51 cents per share, on an adjusted basis.

For full year 2023, the company reported earnings of $2,357 million, or $11.10 per share, on an as-reported basis, and earnings of $1,438 million, or $6.77 per share, on an adjusted basis. This compared to 2022 earnings of $1,103 million, or $5.37 per share, on an as-reported basis, and earnings of $1,320 million, or $6.42 per share, on an adjusted basis.

Summary discussions for the full year results by business follow. Additional details, including information on OCF by business, are provided in Appendix A. An analysis of variances by business is provided in Appendix B.

Business segment results

Utility

For full year 2023, the Utility business reported earnings attributable to Entergy Corporation of $2,507 million, or $11.81 per share, on an as-reported basis, and earnings of $1,896 million, or $8.93 per share, on an adjusted basis. This compared to full year 2022 earnings of $1,407 million, or $6.84 per share, on an as-reported basis, and earnings of $1,686 million, or $8.20 per share, on an adjusted basis. Several drivers contributed to the year-over-year change.

In fourth quarter 2023, as a result of the 2016–2018 IRS audit resolution, the company recorded a $568 million income tax benefit as well as a $(98 million) ($(72 million) after tax) regulatory provision to share the benefits with customers (considered an adjustment and excluded from adjusted earnings).

Also in fourth quarter 2023, the company recorded the reversal of a $106 million regulatory liability associated with Hurricane Isaac securitization, initially recorded in 2017 as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (considered an adjustment and excluded from adjusted earnings).

In third quarter 2023 as a result of E-AR’s offer to forgo its opportunity to seek recovery of costs resulting from the March 2013 ANO stator incident, E-AR recorded a write-off of replacement power costs and undepreciated property, plant, and equipment totaling $(78 million) ($(59 million) after tax) (considered an adjustment and excluded from adjusted earnings).

In first quarter 2023, as a result of E-LA receiving securitization proceeds for storm cost recovery, the company recorded the following (considered adjustments and excluded from adjusted earnings):

• a $129 million reduction in income tax expense,
• $31 million of carrying costs on storm expenditures not previously recorded,
• a $(15 million) reduction in other income to account for LURC’s 1 percent beneficial interest in a trust established as part of the securitization, and
• a $(103 million) ($(76 million) after tax) reserve to share the benefits from securitization with customers.

In second quarter 2022, results included a regulatory charge of $(551 million) ($(413 million) after tax) that SERI recorded to increase a regulatory liability to reflect the effects of a partial settlement agreement and offer of settlement related to pending proceedings before the FERC (considered an adjustment and excluded from adjusted earnings).

Also in second quarter 2022, as a result of receiving approvals for storm cost recovery and issuance of securitized debt at E-LA and E-TX, the companies recorded the following:

• $59 million ($54 million after tax) carrying costs on storm expenditures not previously recorded (the equity portion of carrying costs related to prior years was considered an adjustment and excluded from adjusted earnings),
• a $(32 million) reduction in other income to account for LURC’s 1 percent beneficial interest in a trust established as part of E-LA’s securitization (considered an adjustment and excluded from adjusted earnings),
• a $283 million reduction in income tax expense (considered an adjustment and excluded from adjusted earnings), and
• $(224 million) ($(165 million) after tax) reserve to share the benefits from securitization with customers (considered an adjustment and excluded from adjusted earnings).

Other drivers for the year included:

• the net effect of regulatory actions across the operating companies,
• higher other income (deductions) primarily from affiliate preferred investments (offset at P&O and largely earnings neutral at the consolidated level) and higher allowance for equity funds used during construction, and
• lower other O&M.

The drivers were partially offset by:

• higher operating expenses including depreciation expense, taxes other than income taxes, nuclear refueling outage expense, and decommissioning expense;
• various regulatory charges (credits); and
• higher interest expense.

On a per share basis, 2023 results reflected higher diluted average number of common shares outstanding.

Appendix C contains additional details on Utility operating and financial measures.

Parent & Other

For full year 2023, Parent & Other reported a loss attributable to Entergy Corporation of $(151 million), or (71) cents per share, on an as-reported basis, and a loss of $(458 million) or $(2.16) per share on an adjusted basis. This compared to a full year 2022 loss of $(303 million), or $(1.48) per share, on an as-reported basis, and a loss of $(366 million), or $(1.78) per share on an adjusted basis.

In 2022, the wind down of EWC was completed and that business is no longer a reportable segment. Starting in 2023, the remaining activity from EWC is included in Parent & Other. For comparability, EWC 2022 results are also included in Parent & Other.  For the full year 2022, EWC reported earnings of $63 million, or 31 cents per share, on an as-reported basis, which included revenue and operating expenses from Palisades until the plant was shut down in May 2022, and decommissioning expense and earnings on the decommissioning trust until the plant was sold in June 2022. EWC’s 2022 results also included a gain of $166 million ($130 million after tax) that resulted from the sale of Palisades and an accrual for an uncertain tax position that resulted from a state tax audit.

Other drivers for the full year Parent & Other variance included:

• a reduction in income tax expense in fourth quarter 2023 as a result of the 2016–2018 IRS audit resolution (considered an adjustment and excluded from adjusted earnings);
• the effects of the third quarter 2023 DOE spent fuel litigation settlement on asset write-offs and impairments (considered an adjustment and excluded from adjusted earnings);
• lower other income (deductions) due primarily to higher dividends associated with affiliate preferred investments (offset at Utility and largely earnings neutral at the consolidated level), partially offset by the timing of charitable contributions and higher non-service pension income;
• higher interest expense due primarily to higher short-term borrowing rates; and
• higher other O&M for non-nuclear generation assets (previously included in EWC segment, partially offset by revenue from those assets).

On a per share basis, 2023 results reflected higher diluted average number of common shares outstanding.

Earnings per share guidance

Entergy initiated its 2024 adjusted EPS guidance range of $7.05 to $7.35. See webcast presentation for additional details.

The company has provided 2024 earnings guidance with regard to the non-GAAP measure of adjusted earnings per share. This measure excludes from the corresponding GAAP financial measure the effect of adjustments as described below under “Non-GAAP financial measures.” The company has not provided a reconciliation of such non-GAAP guidance to guidance presented on a GAAP basis because it cannot predict and quantify with a reasonable degree of confidence all of the adjustments that may occur during the period. Potential adjustments include the exclusion of regulatory charges related to outstanding regulatory complaints and significant income tax items.

Earnings teleconference

A teleconference will be held at 10:00 a.m. Central Time on Thursday, February 22, 2024, to discuss Entergy’s quarterly earnings announcement and the company’s financial performance. The teleconference may be accessed by visiting Entergy’s website at www.entergy.com or by dialing 888-440-4149, conference ID 9024832, no more than 15 minutes prior to the start of the call. The webcast presentation is also being posted to Entergy’s website concurrent with this news release. A replay of the teleconference will be available on Entergy’s website at www.entergy.com and by telephone. The telephone replay will be available through February 29, 2024, by dialing 800-770-2030, conference ID 9024832.

Entergy is a Fortune 500 company that powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. We’re investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism, and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees.

Entergy Corporation’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and NYSE Chicago under the symbol “ETR”.

Details regarding Entergy’s results of operations, regulatory proceedings, and other matters are available in this earnings release, a copy of which will be filed with the SEC, and the webcast presentation. Both documents are available on Entergy’s Investor Relations website at www.entergy.com/investors.

Entergy maintains a web page as part of its Investor Relations website, entitled Regulatory and other information, which provides investors with key updates on certain regulatory proceedings and important milestones on the execution of its strategy. While some of this information may be considered material information, investors should not rely exclusively on this page for all relevant company information.

For definitions of certain operating measures, as well as GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures and abbreviations and acronyms used in the earnings release materials, see Appendix E.

Non-GAAP financial measures

This news release contains non-GAAP financial measures, which are generally numerical measures of a company’s performance, financial position, or cash flows that either exclude or include amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Entergy has provided quantitative reconciliations within this news release of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

Entergy reports earnings using the non-GAAP measure of Entergy adjusted earnings, which excludes the effect of certain “adjustments.” Adjustments are unusual or non-recurring items or events or other items or events that management believes do not reflect the ongoing business of Entergy, such as significant tax items, and other items such as certain costs, expenses, or other specified items. In addition to reporting GAAP consolidated earnings on a per share basis, Entergy reports its adjusted earnings on a per share basis. These per share measures represent the applicable earnings amount divided by the diluted average number of common shares outstanding for the period.

Management uses the non-GAAP financial measures of adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per share for, among other things, financial planning and analysis; reporting financial results to the board of directors, employees, stockholders, analysts, and investors; and internal evaluation of financial performance. Entergy believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors in evaluating the ongoing results of Entergy’s business, comparing period to period results, and comparing Entergy’s financial performance to the financial performance of other companies in the utility sector.

Other non-GAAP measures, including adjusted ROE; adjusted ROE, excluding affiliate preferred; gross liquidity; net liquidity; net liquidity, including storm escrows; debt to capital, excluding securitization debt; net debt to net capital, excluding securitization debt; parent debt to total debt, excluding securitization debt; and FFO to debt, excluding securitization debt, are measures Entergy uses internally for management and board discussions and to gauge the overall strength of its business. Entergy believes the above data provides useful information to investors in evaluating Entergy’s ongoing financial results and flexibility and assists investors in comparing Entergy’s credit and liquidity to the credit and liquidity of others in the utility sector. In addition, ROE is included on both an adjusted and an as-reported basis. Metrics defined as “adjusted” exclude the effect of adjustments as defined above.

These non-GAAP financial measures reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of Entergy’s operations that, when viewed with Entergy’s GAAP results and the accompanying reconciliations to corresponding GAAP financial measures, provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting Entergy’s business. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be used to the exclusion of GAAP financial measures. Investors are strongly encouraged to review Entergy’s consolidated financial statements and publicly filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure. Although certain of these measures are intended to assist investors in comparing Entergy’s performance to other companies in the utility sector, non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized; therefore, it might not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies’ non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements

In this news release, and from time to time, Entergy Corporation makes certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding Entergy’s 2024 earnings guidance; current financial and operational outlooks; industrial load growth outlooks; statements regarding its climate transition and resilience plans, goals, beliefs, or expectations; and other statements of Entergy’s plans, beliefs, or expectations included in this news release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, Entergy undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements, including (a) those factors discussed elsewhere in this news release and in Entergy’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Entergy’s other reports and filings made under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; (b) uncertainties associated with (1) rate proceedings, formula rate plans, and other cost recovery mechanisms, including the risk that costs may not be recoverable to the extent or on the timeline anticipated by the utilities and (2) implementation of the ratemaking effects of changes in law; (c) uncertainties associated with (1) realizing the benefits of its resilience plan, including impacts of the frequency and intensity of future storms and storm paths, as well as the pace of project completion and (2) efforts to remediate the effects of major storms and recover related restoration costs; (d) risks associated with operating nuclear facilities, including plant relicensing, operating, and regulatory costs and risks; (e) changes in decommissioning trust values or earnings or in the timing or cost of decommissioning Entergy’s nuclear plant sites; (f) legislative and regulatory actions and risks and uncertainties associated with claims or litigation by or against Entergy and its subsidiaries; (g) risks and uncertainties associated with executing on business strategies, including strategic transactions that Entergy or its subsidiaries may undertake and the risk that any such transaction may not be completed as and when expected and the risk that the anticipated benefits of the transaction may not be realized; (h) direct and indirect impacts to Entergy or its customers from pandemics, terrorist attacks, geopolitical conflicts, cybersecurity threats, data security breaches, or other attempts to disrupt Entergy’s business or operations, and/or other catastrophic events; and (i) effects on Entergy or its customers of (1) changes in federal, state, or local laws and regulations and other governmental actions or policies, including changes in monetary, fiscal, tax, environmental, or energy policies; (2) the effects of changes in commodity markets, capital markets, or economic conditions; and (3) the effects of technological change, including the costs, pace of development, and commercialization of new and emerging technologies.

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