News Release > Entergy Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Results

Entergy Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Results

02/20/2019

Entergy Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Results; Initiates 2019 Earnings Guidance Based on Single New Measure

NEW ORLEANS – Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) reported a fourth quarter 2018 loss per share of (36) cents on an as-reported basis and earnings per share of 60 cents on an operational basis (non-GAAP), which excludes the effects of special items. For the full year, the company reported 2018 earnings per share of $4.63 on an as-reported basis and $7.31 on an operational basis. The as-reported results for the quarter and full year reflected asset impairments and other expenses related to the strategic decision to exit the EWC business. 

“Today we are reporting strong results for another successful year, and we are firmly on track to achieve our long-term goals,” said Entergy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Leo Denault. “In 2018 we executed on our strategy and met major milestones in our transition to a pure-play utility. We expect 2019 will be no different.” 

Business highlights included the following:

• Entergy initiated 2019 guidance and 2020-2021 outlooks for its new ETR adjusted EPS measure.
• The APSC and PUCT issued orders approving settlements in E-AR’s and E-TX’s base rate proceedings.
• In January 2019, Entergy completed the sale of VY to NorthStar.
• Entergy and Holtec filed Pilgrim’s license transfer application with the NRC.
• Entergy raised its dividend for the fourth consecutive year.
• The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation named Entergy a finalist in its 2018 Corporate Citizenship Awards in the "Best Economic Empowerment Program" category.

Calculations may differ due to rounding

Consolidated Results

For fourth quarter 2018, the company reported a loss of $(66 million), or (36) cents per share, on an as-reported basis and earnings of $110 million, or 60 cents per share, on an operational basis. This compared to a fourth quarter 2017 loss of $(479 million), or $(2.66) per share, on an as-reported basis and earnings of $138 million, or 76 cents per share on an operational basis.

For the full year, the company reported 2018 earnings of $849 million, or $4.63 per share, on an as-reported basis and $1,341 million, or $7.31 per share, on an operational basis. This compared to 2017 earnings of $412 million, or $2.28 per share, on an as-reported basis and earnings of $1,300 million, or $7.20 per share, on an operational basis.

Summary discussions by business are below. Additional details, including information on OCF by business, are provided in Appendix A and a comprehensive analysis of quarterly and year-to-date variances by business is provided in Appendix B.

Utility, Parent & Other Results

For fourth quarter 2018, the Utility business reported earnings attributable to Entergy Corporation of $388 million, or $2.12 per share, on an as-reported basis, and earnings of $350 million, or $1.91 per share, on an operational basis. This compared to a fourth quarter 2017 loss of $(47 million), or (26) cents per share, on an as-reported basis, and earnings of $133 million, or 74 cents per share on an operational basis.

Drivers for the increase in quarterly earnings included:

• A fourth quarter 2017 revaluation of certain tax assets as a result of tax reform, net of adjustments for customer sharing, which decreased 2017 earnings by $181 million (considered a special item and excluded from operational earnings),
• In fourth quarter 2018, a $38 million reversal of a portion of the tax reform accrual recorded in 2017 (considered a special item and excluded from operational earnings),
• A fourth quarter 2018 favorable income tax item, net of a portion reserved for sharing with E-AR customers, which increased earnings by approximately $140 million,
• New base rate actions to recover investments that benefit customers and
• Non-fuel O&M expense decreased quarter-over-quarter.

The drivers above were partially offset by:

• Regulatory provisions in 2018 that lowered earnings into the allowed ranges at E-AR and E-MS as required by their FRPs,
• A regulatory charge in 2018 for amounts due to E-TX customers for the benefit of the lower federal tax rate retroactive to January 2018 and
• Higher depreciation expense and taxes other than income taxes.

The current period results also included a $215 million reduction in income taxes, with a corresponding reduction in net revenue, for the amortization of unprotected excess ADIT. This was neutral to earnings.

For fourth quarter 2018, Parent & Other reported a loss of $(81 million), or (44) cents per share, on both an as-reported and operational basis. This compared to a fourth quarter 2017 loss of $(6 million), or (4) cents per share, on an as-reported basis, and a loss of $(58 million), or (33) cents per share, on an operational basis.

As-reported results for 2017 reflected a reduction in income tax expense of $52 million for the revaluation of certain tax assets, which resulted from tax reform. This was considered a special item and excluded from operational earnings.

On a combined basis, Utility, Parent & Other (non-GAAP) contributed $1.68 to fourth quarter 2018 consolidated EPS compared to a loss of (30) cents in fourth quarter 2017. On an adjusted basis, excluding special items and normalizing weather and income taxes, Utility, Parent & Other contributed 51 cents in fourth quarter 2018 to consolidated EPS, compared to 48 cents in fourth quarter 2017.

For full year 2018, the Utility business earned net income attributable to Entergy Corporation of $1,483 million, or $8.09 per share, on an as-reported basis, and earnings of $1,445 million, or $7.88 per share, on an operational basis. This compared to full year 2017 earnings of $762 million, or $4.22 per share, on an as-reported basis, and $942 million, or $5.22 per share on an operational basis.

Drivers for the increase in annual earnings included:

• A fourth quarter 2017 revaluation of certain tax assets, net of customer sharing, discussed above (considered a special item and excluded from operational earnings),
• A fourth quarter 2018 reversal of a tax reform accrual discussed above (considered a special item and excluded from operational earnings),
• Second and fourth quarter 2018 favorable income tax items, net of customer sharing,
• New base rate actions to recover investments that benefit customers and
• Higher retail sales, attributable to weather.

The drivers above were partially offset by:

• Higher operating expenses (non-fuel O&M, taxes other than income taxes and depreciation expense) and
• 2018 regulatory provisions that lowered earnings into the allowed ranges at E-AR and E-MS as required by their FRPs.

Full year 2018 results also reflected the return of unprotected excess ADIT to customers, which affected several income statement line items but was neutral to earnings. Specifically, this reduced income taxes by $775 million, but was offset in net revenue and non-fuel O&M.

For 2018, Parent & Other reported a loss of $(292 million), or $(1.59) per share, on an as-reported and operational basis. This compared to a 2017 loss of $(175 million), or (97) cents per share, on an as-reported basis, and $(228 million), or $(1.26) per share, on an operational basis. As-reported results for 2017 included a decrease in income tax expense, which resulted from tax reform as described above. This was considered a special item and excluded from operational earnings. 2018 results also reflected higher interest expense.

On a combined basis, Utility, Parent & Other (non-GAAP) contributed $6.50 to 2018 consolidated EPS, compared to $3.25 in 2017. On an adjusted basis, normalizing weather and income taxes, Utility, Parent & Other contributed $4.71 to 2018 consolidated EPS, compared to $4.57 in 2017.

Appendix C contains additional details on Utility financial and operating measures, including a reconciliation for non-GAAP Utility, Parent & Other adjusted earnings and EPS.

Entergy Wholesale Commodities Results

For fourth quarter 2018, EWC recorded a loss attributable to Entergy Corporation of $(373 million), or $(2.04) per share, on an as-reported basis and loss $(158 million), or (87) cents per share, on an operational basis. This compared to fourth quarter 2017 loss of $(425 million), or $(2.36) per share, on an as-reported basis and earnings of $63 million, or 35 cents per share, on an operational basis.

As-reported results in both periods reflected impairments and other expenses recorded as a result of the strategic decision to exit the EWC business. In fourth quarter 2018, these items totaled $(214 million), or $(1.17) per share. This amount included a revision to Vermont Yankee’s asset retirement obligation as a result of its approved sale, which resulted in in a pre-tax asset impairment of $(173 million). In fourth quarter 2017, these items totaled $(92 million), or (51) cents per share. Fourth quarter 2017 results also reflected the write-down of certain tax assets totaling $(397 million) as a result of tax reform. All of these items were considered special items and excluded from operational earnings.

The current period results included losses on decommissioning trust fund investments, as well as lower net revenue as a result of lower nuclear energy volume. Partially offsetting these items were lower non-fuel O&M expense and lower income tax expense primarily due to lower pre-tax income.

For the full year, EWC reported a loss of $(343 million), or $(1.87) per share, on an as-reported basis, and earnings of $188 million, or $1.02 per share on an operational basis. In 2017, EWC realized a loss of $(175 million), or (97) cents per share, on an as-reported basis, and earnings of $586 million, or $3.24 per share on an operational basis. Both periods reflected the effects of the strategic decision to exit the EWC business as well as the 2017 tax reform item noted above. Other drivers included lower net revenue from the nuclear business, losses on decommissioning trust fund investments and lower depreciation and decommissioning expenses. Additionally, 2018 results included less favorable income tax items, excluding the 2017 tax reform item.

Appendix D contains additional details on EWC financial and operating measures, including a reconciliation for non-GAAP EWC operational adjusted EBITDA.

Earnings Guidance

Entergy initiated its 2019 adjusted earnings guidance range of $5.10 to $5.50 per share. See webcast presentation slides for additional details.

The company has provided 2019 earnings guidance with regard to the non-GAAP measure of Entergy adjusted EPS. This measure excludes from the corresponding GAAP financial measures 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 2019. One such adjustment will be the exclusion of EWC earnings from Entergy adjusted EPS. We currently estimate that the contribution of EWC to Entergy’s as-reported EPS will be approximately $(1.25) per share in 2019. This estimate is subject to substantial uncertainty due to, among other things, the potential effects of the strategic decision to exit the EWC business.

Earnings Teleconference

A teleconference will be held at 10:00 a.m. Central Time on Wednesday, February 20, 2019, 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 844-309-6569, conference ID 6799533, no more than 15 minutes prior to the start of the call. The webcast slide presentation is also posted to Entergy’s website concurrent with this release, which was issued before market open on the day of the call. 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 27, 2019, by dialing 855-859-2056, conference ID 6799533. This release and the webcast slide presentation are also available on the Entergy Investor Relations mobile web app at iretr.com.

Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including nearly 9,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.9 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of approximately $11 billion and nearly 13,700 employees.

Entergy Corporation’s common stock is listed on the New York and Chicago stock exchanges 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 slide presentation. Both documents are available on Entergy’s Investor Relations website at www.entergy.com/investor_relations and on Entergy’s Investor Relations mobile web app at iretr.com.

Entergy maintains a web page as part of its Investor Relations website, entitled “Regulatory and Other Information,” which provides investors with key updates of 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 F.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This news release contains non-GAAP financial measures. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company’s performance, financial position, or cash flows that either excludes or includes 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 release of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

Certain non-GAAP financial measures in this news release could differ from GAAP in that the figure or ratio states or includes operational earnings. Operational earnings are not calculated in accordance with GAAP because they exclude the effect of “special items.” Special items are unusual or non-recurring items or events or other items or events that management believes do not reflect the ongoing business of Entergy, and may include items such as impairments, and certain gains or losses including those that may occur as a result of strategic decisions such as Entergy’s decision to exit the EWC business. In addition, other financial measures including net income (or earnings), adjusted for preferred dividends and tax effected interest expense; net revenue; return on average invested capital; and return on average common equity are included on both an operational and as-reported basis. In each case, the metrics defined as “operational” would exclude the effect of special items as defined above.

Entergy reports the combination of the Utility segment with Parent & Other as Utility, Parent & Other, which is all of Entergy excluding the EWC segment, since management uses this combination in making decisions about its ongoing business in light of its decision to exit the merchant power business. Entergy also reports Utility, Parent & Other adjusted earnings, which combines the Utility segment with Parent & Other, excludes applicable special items and normalizes weather and income tax expense for the periods presented, because it believes that these financial metrics provide useful information to investors in evaluating the ongoing results of Entergy’s businesses and assist investors in comparing Entergy’s financial performance to the financial performance of other companies in the Utility sector. The methodologies employed to determine the normalized weather and income tax expense adjustments, each of which is further described in this release, involve estimations and the judgement of management.

Beginning with first quarter 2019 financial results, Entergy intends to report earnings using the non-GAAP measure of Entergy adjusted earnings, which excludes the effect of certain “adjustments,” including the removal of the Entergy Wholesale Commodities segment in light of its decision to exit the merchant power business. Beginning with this release, Entergy is also providing guidance and outlooks using adjusted earnings on a per share basis. 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 the EWC segment given its strategic decision to exit the EWC business, and items such as certain costs, expenses, significant tax items, or other specified items. Entergy believes that this financial measure provides 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.

In addition to reporting earnings per share on a consolidated basis, Entergy reports on a per share basis the earnings or loss of each of its segments, together with the combination of the Utility segment and Parent & Other. These per share measures represent the net income or loss of such segment or segments divided by the diluted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Beginning with Entergy’s first quarter 2019 financial results, Entergy intends to report its adjusted earnings on a per share basis. Entergy believes such per share measures provide useful information to investors in understanding the results of operations of those businesses and their contribution to Entergy’s consolidated results of operations.

Other non-GAAP measures, including adjusted EBITDA; operational adjusted EBITDA; gross liquidity; debt to capital ratio, excluding securitization debt; net debt to net capital ratio, excluding securitization debt; parent debt to total debt ratio, excluding securitization debt; operational FFO to debt ratio, excluding securitization debt and operational FFO to debt ratio, excluding securitization debt and return of unprotected excess ADIT are measures Entergy uses internally for management and board discussions and performance monitoring activities 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.

The non-GAAP financial measures and other reported adjusted items in this release are presented in addition to, and in conjunction with, results presented in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be used to the exclusion of GAAP financial measures. 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. Investors are strongly encouraged to review Entergy’s consolidated financial statements and publicly filed reports in their entirety and to not rely on any single financial measure. 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, Entergy’s 2019 earnings guidance; its current financial and operational outlook; 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 anticipated by the utilities and (2) implementation of the ratemaking effects of changes in law; (c) uncertainties associated with 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 fund 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 strategic transactions that Entergy or its subsidiaries may undertake, including 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) effects of 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; and (i) the effects of technological changes and changes in commodity markets, capital markets or economic conditions; and (j) impacts from a terrorist attack, cybersecurity threats, data security breaches or other attempts to disrupt Entergy’s business or operations, and other catastrophic events.

View complete earnings release (PDF)

-30-