Ameren (NYSE: AEE) Announces First Quarter 2019 Results

ST. LOUIS, May 9, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Ameren Corporation AEE today announced first quarter 2019 net income attributable to common shareholders of $191 million, or $0.78 per diluted share, compared to first quarter 2018 net income attributable to common shareholders of $151 million, or $0.62 per diluted share.

Ameren Logo (PRNewsfoto/Ameren Corporation)

The increase in year-over-year earnings reflected the benefits of increased infrastructure investments, which contributed to higher net income at each of Ameren's business segments. Ameren Illinois Natural Gas earnings increased as a result of higher delivery service rates and a change in rate design. Increased infrastructure investments drove higher earnings at Ameren Transmission and Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution, each of which benefits from formulaic ratemaking. Ameren Missouri earnings also rose reflecting higher weather-driven electric retail sales and energy efficiency performance incentives that offset the comparative impacts of timing differences in 2018 between income tax expense and revenue reductions related to federal tax reform. The first quarter earnings comparison also benefited from a lower consolidated effective income tax rate.

"Our first quarter results reflect the strong execution of our strategy across all of our jurisdictions, which we believe will continue to deliver superior value to our customers and shareholders," said Warner L. Baxter, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Ameren Corporation. "We remain on track to deliver within our 2019 earnings per share guidance range of $3.15 to $3.35."

Earnings Guidance

Today, Ameren also affirmed its 2019 earnings guidance range of $3.15 to $3.35 per diluted share. Earnings guidance for 2019 assumes normal temperatures for the last nine months of this year and is subject to the effects of, among other things: 30-year U.S. Treasury bond yields; regulatory, judicial and legislative actions; energy center and energy distribution operations; energy, economic, capital and credit market conditions; severe storms; unusual or otherwise unexpected gains or losses; and other risks and uncertainties outlined, or referred to, in the Forward-looking Statements section of this press release.

Ameren Missouri Segment Results

Ameren Missouri first quarter 2019 earnings were $39 million, compared to first quarter 2018 earnings of $38 million. The year-over-year improvement reflected higher electric retail sales due, in part, to colder winter temperatures and energy efficiency performance incentives. These positive factors offset the comparative impacts of $19 million of timing differences in 2018 between income tax expense and revenue reductions related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA). These timing differences will impact 2019 quarterly earnings comparisons but are not expected to impact the full-year comparison.

Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution Segment Results

Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution first quarter 2019 earnings were $36 million, compared to first quarter 2018 earnings of $33 million. The year-over-year improvement reflected increased earnings on infrastructure investments partially offset by a lower allowed return on equity due to a lower average 30-year U.S. Treasury bond yield in 2019 compared to 2018.

Ameren Illinois Natural Gas Segment Results

Ameren Illinois Natural Gas first quarter 2019 earnings were $57 million, compared to first quarter 2018 earnings of $42 million. The year-over-year improvement reflected higher delivery service rates, which incorporated increased infrastructure investments, effective in November 2018. First quarter 2019 earnings also benefited by $9 million from a change in rate design, which is not expected to impact full-year results.

Ameren Transmission Segment Results

Ameren Transmission first quarter 2019 earnings were $44 million, compared to first quarter 2018 earnings of $37 million. The year-over-year improvement reflected increased earnings on infrastructure investments.

Other Results (includes items not reported in a business segment)

Other results for the first quarter of 2019 reflected earnings of $15 million, compared to first quarter 2018 earnings of $1 million. The year-over-year improvement reflected a lower effective income tax rate primarily due to recognition of tax benefits associated with stock-based compensation. In addition, the comparison benefited from a $5 million decrease in income tax expense, which is not expected to impact full-year results.

Analyst Conference Call

Ameren will conduct a conference call for financial analysts at 9 a.m. Central Time on Thursday, May 9, to discuss 2019 earnings, earnings guidance and other matters. Investors, the news media and the public may listen to a live broadcast of the call at AmerenInvestors.com by clicking on "Webcast" under "Q1 2019 Earnings Conference Call," where an accompanying slide presentation will also be available. The conference call and presentation will be archived for one year in the "Investor News & Events" section of the website under "Events and Presentations."

About Ameren

St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation powers the quality of life for 2.4 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area through its Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois rate-regulated utility subsidiaries. Ameren Illinois provides electric transmission and distribution service and natural gas distribution service. Ameren Missouri provides electric generation, transmission and distribution service, as well as natural gas distribution service. Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois develops, owns and operates rate-regulated regional electric transmission projects. For more information, visit Ameren.com, or follow us on Twitter at  @AmerenCorp, Facebook.com/AmerenCorp, or LinkedIn/company/Ameren.



Forward-looking Statements

Statements in this release not based on historical facts are considered "forward-looking" and, accordingly, involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed. Although such forward-looking statements have been made in good faith and are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that the expected results will be achieved. These statements include (without limitation) statements as to future expectations, beliefs, plans, strategies, objectives, events, conditions, and financial performance. In connection with the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we are providing this cautionary statement to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. The following factors, in addition to those discussed under Risk Factors in Ameren's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year-ended December 31, 2018, and elsewhere in this release and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations suggested in such forward-looking statements:

  • regulatory, judicial, or legislative actions, and any changes in regulatory policies and ratemaking determinations, such as those that may result from the complaint case filed in February 2015 with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), a new methodology to determine the allowed base return on common equity under the Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO) tariff proposed by the FERC in November 2018, the Notices of Inquiry issued by the FERC in March 2019, Ameren Missouri's natural gas regulatory rate review filed with the Missouri Public Service Commission in December 2018, an appeal filed by the Missouri Office of Public Counsel in January 2019 in Ameren Missouri's Renewable Energy Standard Rate Adjustment Mechanism case, Ameren Illinois' April 2019 annual electric distribution formula rate update filing, and future regulatory, judicial, or legislative actions that change regulatory recovery mechanisms;
  • the effect of Ameren Illinois' participation in performance-based formula ratemaking frameworks under the Illinois Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act and the Illinois Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA), including the direct relationship between Ameren Illinois' return on common equity and the 30-year United States Treasury bond yields, and the related financial commitments;
  • the effect of Missouri Senate Bill 564 on Ameren Missouri, including as a result of Ameren Missouri's election to use plant-in-service accounting and the resulting customer rate caps;
  • the effects of changes in federal, state, or local laws and other governmental actions, including monetary, fiscal, and energy policies;
  • the effects of changes in federal, state, or local tax laws, regulations, interpretations, or rates, amendments or technical corrections to the TCJA, and challenges to the tax positions we have taken;
  • the effects on demand for our services resulting from technological advances, including advances in customer energy efficiency, energy storage, and private generation sources, which generate electricity at the site of consumption and are becoming more cost-competitive;
  • the effectiveness of Ameren Missouri's customer energy-efficiency programs and the related revenues and performance incentives earned under its Missouri Energy Efficiency Investment Act programs;
  • Ameren Illinois' ability to achieve the performance standards applicable to its electric distribution business and the FEJA electric customer energy-efficiency goals and the resulting impact on its allowed return on equity;
  • our ability to align overall spending, both operating and capital, with frameworks established by our regulators and to recover these costs in a timely manner in our attempt to earn our allowed returns on equity;
  • the cost and availability of fuel, such as ultra-low-sulfur coal, natural gas, and enriched uranium used to produce electricity; the cost and availability of purchased power, zero emission credits, renewable energy credits, and natural gas for distribution; and the level and volatility of future market prices for such commodities and credits, including our ability to recover the costs for such commodities and credits and our customers' tolerance for any related price increases;
  • disruptions in the delivery of fuel, failure of our fuel suppliers to provide adequate quantities or quality of fuel, or lack of adequate inventories of fuel, including nuclear fuel assemblies from the one Nuclear Regulatory Commission-licensed supplier of Ameren Missouri's Callaway Energy Center's assemblies;
  • the cost and availability of transmission capacity for the energy generated by Ameren Missouri's energy centers or required to satisfy Ameren Missouri's energy sales;
  • the effectiveness of our risk management strategies and our use of financial and derivative instruments;
  • the ability to obtain sufficient insurance, including insurance for Ameren Missouri's Callaway Energy Center, or, in the absence of insurance, the ability to recover uninsured losses from our customers;
  • the impact of cyberattacks on us or our suppliers, which could, among other things, result in the loss of operational control of energy centers and electric and natural gas transmission and distribution systems and/or the loss of data, such as customer, employee, financial, and operating system information;
  • business and economic conditions, including their impact on interest rates, collection of our receivable balances, and demand for our products;
  • disruptions of the capital markets, deterioration in our credit metrics, including as a result of the implementation of the TCJA, or other events that may have an adverse effect on the cost or availability of capital, including short-term credit and liquidity;
  • the actions of credit rating agencies and the effects of such actions;
  • the inability of our counterparties to meet their obligations with respect to contracts, credit agreements, and financial instruments;
  • the impact of weather conditions and other natural phenomena on us and our customers, including the impact of system outages;
  • the construction, installation, performance, and cost recovery of generation, transmission, and distribution assets;
  • the effects of breakdowns or failures of equipment in the operation of natural gas transmission and distribution systems and storage facilities, such as leaks, explosions, and mechanical problems, and compliance with natural gas safety regulations;
  • the effects of breakdowns or failures of electric generation, transmission, or distribution equipment or facilities, which could result in unanticipated liabilities or unplanned outages;
  • the operation of Ameren Missouri's Callaway Energy Center, including planned and unplanned outages, and decommissioning costs;
  • the impact of current environmental laws and new, more stringent, or changing requirements, including those related to carbon dioxide and the proposed repeal and replacement of the Clean Power Plan and potential adoption and implementation of the Affordable Clean Energy Rule, other emissions and discharges, cooling water intake structures, coal combustion residuals, and energy efficiency, that could limit or terminate the operation of certain of Ameren Missouri's energy centers, increase our operating costs or investment requirements, result in an impairment of our assets, cause us to sell our assets, reduce our customers' demand for electricity or natural gas, or otherwise have a negative financial effect;
  • the impact of complying with renewable energy requirements in Missouri and Illinois and with the zero emission standard in Illinois;
  • Ameren Missouri's ability to acquire wind and other renewable generation facilities and recover its cost of investment and related return in a timely manner, which is affected by the ability to obtain all necessary project approvals; the availability of federal production and investment tax credits related to renewable energy and Ameren Missouri's ability to use such credits; the cost of wind and solar generation technologies; and Ameren Missouri's ability to obtain timely interconnection agreements with MISO or other Regional Transmission Organizations, including the costs of such interconnections;
  • labor disputes, work force reductions, changes in future wage and employee benefits costs, including those resulting from changes in discount rates, mortality tables, returns on benefit plan assets, and other assumptions;
  • the impact of negative opinions of us or our utility services that our customers, legislators, or regulators may have or develop, which could result from a variety of factors, including failures in system reliability, failure to implement our investment plans or to protect sensitive customer information, increases in rates, or negative media coverage;
  • the impact of adopting new accounting guidance;
  • the effects of strategic initiatives, including mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures;
  • legal and administrative proceedings; and
  • acts of sabotage, war, terrorism, or other intentionally disruptive acts.

New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all of such factors, nor can it assess the impact of each such factor on the business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained or implied in any forward-looking statement. Given these uncertainties, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements. Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or future events.

AMEREN CORPORATION (AEE)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

(Unaudited, in millions, except per share amounts)





Three Months Ended

March 31,



2019



2018

Operating Revenues:







Electric

$

1,182





$

1,223



Natural gas

374





362



Total operating revenues

1,556





1,585



Operating Expenses:







Fuel

160





188



Purchased power

156





163



Natural gas purchased for resale

161





171



Other operations and maintenance

417





431



Depreciation and amortization

248





234



Taxes other than income taxes

126





125



Total operating expenses

1,268





1,312



Operating Income

288





273



Other Income, Net

29





23



Interest Charges

97





101



Income Before Income Taxes

220





195



Income Taxes

27





42



Net Income

193





153



Less: Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests

2





2



Net Income Attributable to Ameren Common Shareholders

$

191





$

151











Earnings per Common Share – Basic and Diluted

$

0.78





$

0.62











Weighted-average Common Shares Outstanding – Basic

244.9





242.9



Weighted-average Common Shares Outstanding – Diluted

246.4





244.4





 

AMEREN CORPORATION (AEE)

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

(Unaudited, in millions)





March 31,

2019



December 31,

2018

ASSETS







Current Assets:







Cash and cash equivalents

$

8





$

16



Accounts receivable - trade (less allowance for doubtful accounts)

517





463



Unbilled revenue

238





295



Miscellaneous accounts receivable

74





79



Inventories

402





483



Current regulatory assets

113





134



Other current assets

70





63



Total current assets

1,422





1,533



Property, Plant, and Equipment, Net

23,044





22,810



Investments and Other Assets:







Nuclear decommissioning trust fund

754





684



Goodwill

411





411



Regulatory assets

1,134





1,127



Other assets

744





650



Total investments and other assets

3,043





2,872



TOTAL ASSETS

$

27,509





$

27,215



LIABILITIES AND EQUITY







Current Liabilities:







Current maturities of long-term debt

$

336





$

580



Short-term debt

799





597



Accounts and wages payable

522





817



Taxes accrued

81





53



Interest accrued

81





93



Customer deposits

111





116



Current regulatory liabilities

161





149



Other current liabilities

301





282



Total current liabilities

2,392





2,687



Long-term Debt, Net

8,221





7,859



Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities:







Accumulated deferred income taxes, net

2,666





2,623



Accumulated deferred investment tax credits

42





43



Regulatory liabilities

4,731





4,637



Asset retirement obligations

630





627



Pension and other postretirement benefits

558





558



Other deferred credits and liabilities

422





408



Total deferred credits and other liabilities

9,049





8,896



Ameren Corporation Shareholders' Equity:







Common stock

2





2



Other paid-in capital, principally premium on common stock

5,625





5,627



Retained earnings

2,099





2,024



Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(21)





(22)



Total Ameren Corporation shareholders' equity

7,705





7,631



Noncontrolling Interests

142





142



Total equity

7,847





7,773



TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

$

27,509





$

27,215



 

AMEREN CORPORATION (AEE)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited, in millions)





Three Months Ended March 31,



2019



2018

Cash Flows From Operating Activities:







Net income

$

193





$

153



Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:







Depreciation and amortization

245





230



Amortization of nuclear fuel

23





24



Amortization of debt issuance costs and premium/discounts

5





5



Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits, net

32





26



Allowance for equity funds used during construction

(6)





(5)



Stock-based compensation costs

6





6



Other

(8)





2



Changes in assets and liabilities

(103)





(183)



Net cash provided by operating activities

387





258



Cash Flows From Investing Activities:







Capital expenditures

(544)





(579)



Nuclear fuel expenditures

(21)





(12)



Purchases of securities – nuclear decommissioning trust fund

(39)





(38)



Sales and maturities of securities – nuclear decommissioning trust fund

36





34



Other

1





(2)



Net cash used in investing activities

(567)





(597)



Cash Flows From Financing Activities:







Dividends on common stock

(116)





(111)



Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest holders

(2)





(2)



Short-term debt, net

202





475



Maturities of long-term debt

(329)







Issuances of long-term debt

450







Issuances of common stock

19





17



Employee payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation

(29)





(19)



Debt issuance costs

(4)







Net cash provided by financing activities

191





360



Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

11





21



Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year

107





68



Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period

$

118





$

89





 

AMEREN CORPORATION (AEE)

OPERATING STATISTICS





Three Months Ended



March 31,



2019



2018

Electric Sales - kilowatthours (in millions):







Ameren Missouri







Residential

3,838





3,780



Commercial

3,549





3,528



Industrial

1,012





1,053



Street lighting and public authority

28





29



Ameren Missouri retail load subtotal

8,427





8,390



Off-system

1,836





2,549



Ameren Missouri total

10,263





10,939



Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution







Residential

3,133





3,071



Commercial

2,957





2,977



Industrial

2,744





2,814



Street lighting and public authority

137





146



Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution total

8,971





9,008



Eliminate affiliate sales

(17)





(78)



Ameren Total

19,217





19,869



Electric Revenues (in millions):







Ameren Missouri







Residential

$

312





$

332



Commercial

239





252



Industrial

55





61



Other, including street lighting and public authority

41





27



Ameren Missouri retail load subtotal

$

647





$

672



Off-system

57





69



Ameren Missouri total

$

704





$

741



Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution







Residential

$

217





$

219



Commercial

123





124



Industrial

34





35



Other, including street lighting and public authority

13





22



Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution total

$

387





$

400



Ameren Transmission







Ameren Illinois Transmission(a)

$

70





$

62



       ATXI

44





42



Ameren Transmission total

$

114





$

104



Other and intersegment eliminations(a)

(23)





(22)



Ameren Total

$

1,182





$

1,223







(a)

Includes $15 million and $13 million, respectively, of electric operating revenues from transmission services provided to the Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution segment.

 

AMEREN CORPORATION (AEE)

OPERATING STATISTICS





Three Months Ended



March 31,



2019



2018

Gas Sales - dekatherms (in millions):







Ameren Missouri

9





9



Ameren Illinois Natural Gas

73





68



Ameren Total

82





77



Gas Revenues (in millions):





Ameren Missouri

$

54





$

51



Ameren Illinois Natural Gas

320





311



Ameren Total

$

374





$

362





March 31,



December 31,



2019



2018

Common Stock:







Shares outstanding (in millions)

245.6





244.5



Book value per share

$

31.37





$

31.21



 

Cision View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ameren-nyse-aee-announces-first-quarter-2019-results-300847195.html

SOURCE Ameren Corporation

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