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DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) today reported consolidated results
for its fiscal 2015 third quarter and nine months ended June 30, 2015.
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Fiscal 2015 third quarter consolidated net income, excluding net
unrealized margins, was $55.1 million, or $0.54 per diluted share,
compared with consolidated net income, excluding net unrealized
margins, of $46.1 million, or $0.45 per diluted share in the
prior-year quarter.
-
Fiscal 2015 third quarter consolidated net income was $56.3 million,
or $0.55 per diluted share, after including unrealized net gains of
$1.2 million, or $0.01 per diluted share. Net income was $45.7
million, or $0.45 per diluted share in the prior-year quarter, after
including unrealized net losses of $0.4 million, or $0.00 per diluted
share.
-
The company's Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of
39 cents per share. The indicated annual dividend for fiscal 2015 is
$1.56 per share, which represents a 5.4 percent increase over fiscal
2014.
-
Fiscal 2015 earnings guidance was increased to $3.00 to $3.10 per
diluted share from $2.90 to $3.05 per diluted share, excluding
unrealized margins.
For the nine months ended June 30, 2015, consolidated net income was
$291.6 million, or $2.86 per diluted share, compared with net income of
$266.1 million, or $2.76 per diluted share for the same period last
year. Results from nonregulated operations include noncash, unrealized
net gains of $5.2 million, or $0.05 per diluted share for the nine
months ended June 30, 2015, compared with unrealized net gains of $7.0
million, or $0.07 per diluted share for the prior-year period. For the
current nine-month period, regulated operations contributed $274.0
million of net income, or $2.69 per diluted share, and nonregulated
operations contributed net income of $17.6 million, or $0.17 per diluted
share.
“Our financial performance primarily reflects the results of
infrastructure investments made to enhance the safety and reliability of
our system, which is the foundation of our growth strategy,” said Kim
Cocklin, president and chief executive officer of Atmos Energy
Corporation. “As a result of the continued execution of our regulatory
strategy, coupled with increased consumption experienced through the
third fiscal quarter across our service areas, we are raising our fiscal
2015 earnings per share guidance to $3.00 to $3.10 per diluted share,
excluding unrealized margins,” Cocklin concluded.
Results for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2015
Regulated distribution gross profit increased $9.3 million to $267.0
million for the fiscal 2015 third quarter, compared with $257.7 million
in the prior-year quarter. Gross profit reflects a net $16.2 million
increase in rates, primarily in the Mid-Tex, Kentucky/Mid-States and
West Texas Divisions. This increase was partially offset by a $4.4
million decrease in revenue-related taxes.
Regulated pipeline gross profit increased $9.8 million to $97.0 million
for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, compared with $87.2 million for the
same quarter last year. This increase is primarily the result of a $9.5
million increase in revenues from the Gas Reliability Infrastructure
Program (GRIP) filings approved in fiscal 2014 and 2015.
Nonregulated gross profit increased $3.0 million to $17.8 million for
the fiscal 2015 third quarter, compared with $14.8 million for the
prior-year quarter. Realized margins for gas delivery, storage and
transportation services increased $2.8 million quarter over quarter,
primarily due to a $0.04/Mcf increase in per-unit margins partially
offset by a seven percent decrease in consolidated sales volumes.
Unrealized margins were $2.7 million higher than the prior-year quarter.
Consolidated operation and maintenance expense for the quarter ended
June 30, 2015, was $132.4 million, compared with $125.6 million for the
prior-year quarter. The $6.8 million increase resulted primarily from
increased pipeline maintenance spending and higher employee-related
costs, partially offset by a decrease in legal expenses.
Results for the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2015
Regulated distribution gross profit increased $55.1 million to $997.1
million for the nine months ended June 30, 2015, compared with $942.0
million in the prior-year period. Gross profit reflects a net $61.5
million period-over-period increase in rates, primarily in the Mid-Tex,
West Texas and Kentucky/Mid-States Divisions. Additionally, gross profit
increased $3.6 million from higher transportation revenues. Gross profit
decreased $9.2 million from weather-related consumption. Although
weather was eight percent colder than normal during the nine months
ended June 30, 2015, it was nine percent warmer than the prior-year
period, before adjusting for weather normalization mechanisms.
Regulated pipeline gross profit increased $40.2 million to $272.3
million for the nine months ended June 30, 2015, compared with $232.1
million during the same period last year. This increase is primarily the
result of a $37.2 million increase in revenues from the GRIP filings
approved in fiscal 2014 and 2015.
Nonregulated gross profit decreased $14.3 million to $56.7 million for
the nine months ended June 30, 2015, compared with $71.0 million for the
prior-year period, as a result of an $11.2 million decrease in realized
margins, combined with a $3.1 million decrease in unrealized margins.
Realized margins for gas delivery, storage and transportation services
increased $6.0 million period over period, primarily due to a $0.02/Mcf
increase in per-unit margins partially offset by an eight percent
decrease in consolidated sales volumes. This increase was more than
offset by a $17.2 million decrease in other realized margins primarily
related to lower natural gas price volatility in the current period.
Consolidated operation and maintenance expense for the nine months ended
June 30, 2015, was $384.5 million, compared with $366.0 million for the
prior-year period. The $18.5 million increase resulted primarily from
increased pipeline maintenance spending, partially offset by lower legal
expenses.
Capital expenditures increased to $667.5 million for the nine months
ended June 30, 2015, compared with $552.6 million in the prior-year
period. The $114.9 million increase is largely due to a $68.5 million
increase in spending in the regulated distribution segment, primarily
reflecting the timing of spending combined with a planned increase in
safety and reliability investment in fiscal 2015. Additionally, spending
in the regulated pipeline segment increased $47.4 million in the current
year to further ensure the reliability of gas service to the Mid-Tex
Division and other regulated distribution customers.
For the nine months ended June 30, 2015, the company generated operating
cash flow of $717.6 million, an $87.4 million increase compared with the
nine months ended June 30, 2014. The increase primarily reflects
successful rate case outcomes achieved in the prior and current year,
the timing of gas cost recoveries under purchased gas cost mechanisms
and lower gas prices during the current-year storage injection season.
The debt capitalization ratio at June 30, 2015 was 45.5 percent,
compared with 46.2 percent at September 30, 2014 and 44.1 percent at
June 30, 2014. At June 30, 2015, there was $252.0 million of short-term
debt outstanding, compared with $196.7 million at September 30, 2014
with no short-term debt outstanding at June 30, 2014.
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 2015 earnings to be in the range of $3.00 to
$3.10 per diluted share, excluding unrealized margins. Net income from
regulated operations is now expected to be in the range of $290 million
to $305 million, and net income from nonregulated operations is now
expected to be in the range of $14 million to $18 million. Capital
expenditures for fiscal 2015 are expected to continue to range between
$900 million and $1 billion.
Conference Call to be Webcast August 6, 2015
Atmos Energy will host a conference call with financial analysts to
discuss the financial results for the fiscal 2015 third quarter on
Thursday, August 6, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern. The telephone number is
877-485-3107 and the international telephone number is 201-689-8427. 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.
Kim Cocklin, president and chief executive officer, and Bret Eckert,
senior vice president and chief financial officer, will participate in
the conference call.
Highlights and Recent Developments
Fitch Ratings Upgrades Atmos Energy's Senior Unsecured Debt
On July 1, 2015, Fitch Ratings upgraded Atmos Energy's senior unsecured
debt ratings to A from A- with a ratings outlook of stable, citing the
company's continued strong performance, which has been driven primarily
by organic growth in the regulated distribution and pipeline segments.
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 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, 2014, and the company's Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2015.
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.
About Atmos Energy
Atmos Energy Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, is one of the
country’s largest natural-gas-only distributors, 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 and provides natural gas marketing
and procurement services to industrial, commercial and municipal
customers primarily in the Midwest and Southeast. For more information,
visit www.atmosenergy.com.
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Atmos Energy Corporation
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Financial Highlights (Unaudited)
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Consolidated Statements of Income
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Three Months Ended June 30
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(000s except per share)
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2015
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2014
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Gross Profit:
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|
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Regulated distribution segment
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$
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267,019
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$
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257,665
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Regulated pipeline segment
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97,008
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87,189
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Nonregulated segment
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17,779
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14,813
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Intersegment eliminations
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(133
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)
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(134
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)
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Gross profit
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381,673
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359,533
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Operation and maintenance expense
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132,447
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125,559
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Depreciation and amortization
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68,444
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63,955
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Taxes, other than income
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63,175
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63,414
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Total operating expenses
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264,066
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252,928
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Operating income
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117,607
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106,605
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Miscellaneous income (expense)
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634
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(374
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)
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Interest charges
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27,955
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31,840
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Income before income taxes
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90,286
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74,391
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Income tax expense
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34,005
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28,670
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Net income
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$
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56,281
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$
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45,721
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Basic net income per share
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$
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0.55
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$
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0.45
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Diluted net income per share
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$
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0.55
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$
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0.45
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Cash dividends per share
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$
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0.39
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$
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0.37
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Weighted average shares outstanding:
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Basic
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102,000
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101,162
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Diluted
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102,000
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101,163
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Three Months Ended June 30
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Summary Net Income (Loss) by Segment (000s)
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2015
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2014
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Regulated distribution
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$
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22,464
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$
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18,529
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Regulated pipeline
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28,568
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24,938
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Nonregulated
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4,019
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2,660
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Unrealized margins, net of tax
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1,230
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(406
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)
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Consolidated net income
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$
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56,281
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$
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45,721
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Atmos Energy Corporation
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Financial Highlights, continued (Unaudited)
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Consolidated Statements of Income
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Nine Months Ended June 30
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(000s except per share)
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2015
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2014
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Gross Profit:
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Regulated distribution segment
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$
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997,066
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$
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942,024
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Regulated pipeline segment
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272,305
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232,145
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Nonregulated segment
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56,724
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70,968
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Intersegment eliminations
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(399
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)
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(370
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)
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Gross profit
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1,325,696
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1,244,767
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Operation and maintenance expense
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384,489
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365,991
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Depreciation and amortization
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204,059
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185,731
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Taxes, other than income
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181,606
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165,640
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Total operating expenses
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770,154
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717,362
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Operating income
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555,542
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527,405
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Miscellaneous expense
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(2,634
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)
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(4,022
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)
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Interest charges
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85,166
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95,556
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Income before income taxes
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467,742
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427,827
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Income tax expense
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176,182
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161,723
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Net income
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$
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291,560
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$
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266,104
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Basic net income per share
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$
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2.86
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$
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2.76
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Diluted net income per share
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$
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2.86
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$
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2.76
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Cash dividends per share
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$
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1.17
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$
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1.11
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Weighted average shares outstanding:
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Basic
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101,776
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96,392
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Diluted
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101,776
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96,394
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Nine Months Ended June 30
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Summary Net Income by Segment (000s)
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2015
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2014
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Regulated distribution
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$
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195,704
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$
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170,029
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Regulated pipeline
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78,285
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68,493
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Nonregulated
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12,390
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20,543
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Unrealized margins, net of tax
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5,181
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7,039
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Consolidated net income
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$
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291,560
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$
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266,104
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Atmos Energy Corporation
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Financial Highlights, continued (Unaudited)
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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
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June 30,
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September 30,
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(000s)
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2015
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2014
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Net property, plant and equipment
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$
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7,212,088
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$
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6,725,906
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Cash and cash equivalents
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43,153
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42,258
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Accounts receivable, net
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301,743
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343,400
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Gas stored underground
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213,151
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278,917
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Other current assets
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58,602
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111,265
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Total current assets
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616,649
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775,840
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Goodwill
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742,029
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742,029
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Deferred charges and other assets
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313,723
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350,929
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$
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8,884,489
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$
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8,594,704
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Shareholders’ equity
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$
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3,238,255
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$
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3,086,232
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Long-term debt
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2,455,303
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2,455,986
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Total capitalization
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5,693,558
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5,542,218
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Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
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227,256
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|
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308,086
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Other current liabilities
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437,344
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|
405,869
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Short-term debt
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|
251,977
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|
|
|
196,695
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Total current liabilities
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916,577
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|
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|
910,650
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Deferred income taxes
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|
|
|
1,429,090
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|
|
|
1,286,616
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Deferred credits and other liabilities
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|
|
|
845,264
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|
|
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855,220
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|
|
|
$
|
8,884,489
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|
|
$
|
8,594,704
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|
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Atmos Energy Corporation
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Financial Highlights, continued (Unaudited)
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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash
Flows
|
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Nine Months Ended June 30
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(000s)
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|
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2015
|
|
|
2014
|
Cash flows from operating activities
|
|
|
|
|
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Net income
|
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$
|
291,560
|
|
|
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$
|
266,104
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
|
204,059
|
|
|
|
|
185,731
|
|
Deferred income taxes
|
|
|
|
164,627
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|
|
|
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150,457
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Other
|
|
|
|
18,999
|
|
|
|
|
22,256
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|
Changes in assets and liabilities
|
|
|
|
38,337
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|
|
|
|
5,662
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|
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
|
|
|
717,582
|
|
|
|
|
630,210
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Cash flows from investing activities
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|
|
|
|
|
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Capital expenditures
|
|
|
|
(667,483
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)
|
|
|
|
(552,600
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)
|
Other, net
|
|
|
|
(1,119
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)
|
|
|
|
(620
|
)
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
|
(668,602
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)
|
|
|
|
(553,220
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)
|
Cash flows from financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in short-term debt
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|
|
|
48,830
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|
|
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(366,602
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)
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Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
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|
|
|
493,538
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Settlement of interest rate agreements
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|
|
|
13,364
|
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Repayment of long-term debt
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|
|
|
(500,000
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)
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Cash dividends paid
|
|
|
|
(116,645
|
)
|
|
|
|
(108,806
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)
|
Repurchase of equity awards
|
|
|
|
(7,985
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)
|
|
|
|
(8,717
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)
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Net proceeds from equity offering
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—
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|
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|
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390,205
|
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Issuance of common stock
|
|
|
|
20,813
|
|
|
|
|
2,152
|
|
Net cash used in financing activities
|
|
|
|
(48,085
|
)
|
|
|
|
(91,768
|
)
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
|
895
|
|
|
|
|
(14,778
|
)
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
|
|
|
42,258
|
|
|
|
|
66,199
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
|
|
|
$
|
43,153
|
|
|
|
$
|
51,421
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended June 30
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended June 30
|
Statistics
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
2014
|
Consolidated regulated distribution throughput (MMcf as metered)
|
|
|
|
66,260
|
|
|
|
72,338
|
|
|
|
372,708
|
|
|
|
394,310
|
Consolidated regulated pipeline volumes (MMcf)
|
|
|
|
134,823
|
|
|
|
127,979
|
|
|
|
381,828
|
|
|
|
362,583
|
Consolidated nonregulated delivered gas sales volumes (MMcf)
|
|
|
|
75,929
|
|
|
|
82,074
|
|
|
|
272,260
|
|
|
|
294,678
|
Regulated distribution meters in service
|
|
|
|
3,144,874
|
|
|
|
3,007,511
|
|
|
|
3,144,874
|
|
|
|
3,007,511
|
Regulated distribution average cost of gas
|
|
|
$
|
4.15
|
|
|
$
|
6.61
|
|
|
$
|
5.26
|
|
|
$
|
5.92
|
Nonregulated net physical position (Bcf)
|
|
|
|
22.1
|
|
|
|
6.6
|
|
|
|
22.1
|
|
|
|
6.6
|
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150805006610/en/
|
|