ST. LOUIS, Feb. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Ameren Corporation (NYSE: AEE) today announced 2017 net income attributable to common shareholders in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) of $523 million, or $2.14 per diluted share, compared to $653 million, or $2.68 per diluted share, for 2016. The 2017 GAAP earnings included non-cash charges, primarily at the parent company, that decreased earnings by a combined $168 million, or 69 cents per diluted share, reflecting the revaluation of deferred taxes as a result of changes in Illinois and federal income tax rates. Excluding these charges, Ameren recorded 2017 core earnings of $691 million, or $2.83 per diluted share. There were no differences between GAAP and core earnings for 2016.
The year-over-year increase in 2017 core earnings reflected new Ameren Missouri electric service rates effective April 1, 2017, which were driven, in part, by increased infrastructure investments and removal of the negative effect of lower sales to the New Madrid aluminum smelter. In addition, the comparison benefited from earnings on increased infrastructure investments made at Ameren Transmission and Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution. These favorable factors were partially offset by lower electric retail sales, primarily driven by milder summer temperatures. The earnings comparison was also unfavorably impacted by the absence of a 2016 performance incentive award related to Ameren Missouri's 2013 through 2015 energy efficiency plan, as well as higher Ameren Missouri depreciation expense.
"In 2017, we again delivered strong core earnings growth," said Warner L. Baxter, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Ameren Corporation. "Our team continued to successfully execute our strategy across our businesses, including allocating capital to jurisdictions with modern, constructive regulatory frameworks and managing costs in a disciplined manner. In addition, Ameren Missouri announced a forward-thinking plan under which it expects to accelerate its transition to a cleaner, more diversified energy portfolio, including significant investments in renewable generation by 2020."
Ameren recorded a GAAP net loss attributable to common shareholders for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2017, of $60 million, or 24 cents per diluted share, compared to net income attributable to common shareholders of $32 million, or 13 cents per diluted share, for the same period in 2016. The GAAP results for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2017, included a $154 million, or 63 cents per diluted share, charge for the revaluation of deferred taxes resulting from a change in the federal income tax rate. Excluding this charge, Ameren recorded core earnings for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2017, of $94 million, or 39 cents per diluted share.
The year-over-year increase in fourth quarter 2017 core earnings reflected a change in the timing of interim period revenue recognition at Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution that increased results by 12 cents per diluted share but had no effect on full-year earnings. The comparison also benefited from new Ameren Missouri electric service rates, increased infrastructure investments made at Ameren Transmission and a lower effective income tax rate. These favorable factors were partially offset by a nuclear refueling and maintenance outage at the Callaway Energy Center in the fourth quarter that increased operations and maintenance expenses, compared to the year-ago period when there was no such outage.
As reflected in the table below, the following items were excluded from core earnings:
A reconciliation of three-month and full-year GAAP to core earnings in millions of dollars and per share, is as follows:
Three Months Ended |
Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Dec. 31, |
Dec. 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 |
2016 |
2017 |
2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||
GAAP Earnings (Loss) / Diluted EPS |
$ |
(60) |
$ |
(0.24) |
$ |
32 |
$ |
0.13 |
$ |
523 |
$ |
2.14 |
$ |
653 |
$ |
2.68 | ||||||||
Charge for revaluation of deferred taxes from increased Illinois state income tax rate |
22 |
0.09 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Less: Federal income tax benefit |
— |
— |
— |
— |
(8) |
(0.03) |
— |
— | ||||||||||||||||
Charge, net of tax benefit |
— |
— |
— |
— |
14 |
0.06 |
— |
— | ||||||||||||||||
Charge for revaluation of deferred taxes from decreased federal income tax rate |
162 |
0.66 |
— |
— |
162 |
0.66 |
— |
— | ||||||||||||||||
Less: State income tax benefit |
(8) |
(0.03) |
— |
— |
(8) |
(0.03) |
— |
— | ||||||||||||||||
Charge, net of tax benefit |
154 |
0.63 |
— |
— |
154 |
0.63 |
— |
— | ||||||||||||||||
Core Earnings / Diluted EPS |
$ |
94 |
$ |
0.39 |
$ |
32 |
$ |
0.13 |
$ |
691 |
$ |
2.83 |
$ |
653 |
$ |
2.68 |
Earnings Guidance
Ameren expects diluted earnings per share to be in a range of $2.95 to $3.15 for 2018 and to grow at a 5% to 7% compound annual rate from 2017 through 2022, using 2017 core results as a base. This multi-year earnings growth is expected to be driven by projected rate base growth of approximately 7% compounded annually from 2017 through 2022, which does not include approximately $1 billion of wind generation investment proposed by Ameren Missouri in its September 2017 Integrated Resource Plan filing with the Missouri Public Service Commission.
"Looking ahead, we plan to continue to deliver strong long-term earnings per share growth reflecting a robust pipeline of investments in critical energy infrastructure that will deliver long-term benefits to our customers and the communities we serve," Baxter said. "In addition, our customers will ultimately realize significant benefits associated with the recent reduction in the federal corporate income tax rate. Increased investments in critical energy infrastructure coupled with utility rate benefits associated with tax reform result in a win-win for our customers, the communities we serve and our shareholders."
Earnings guidance for 2018 assumes normal temperatures and, along with Ameren's growth expectations, 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 2017 GAAP and core earnings were $323 million and $359 million, respectively, compared to 2016 earnings of $357 million. GAAP earnings in 2017 included a $36 million non-cash charge for the revaluation of deferred taxes resulting from a change in the federal income tax rate, but this charge was excluded from core earnings. The increase in year-over-year core earnings reflected new electric service rates that were largely offset by lower electric retail sales primarily driven by milder summer temperatures, the absence of a 2016 performance incentive award, as well as higher depreciation and transmission expenses.
Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution Segment Results
Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution 2017 earnings were $131 million, compared to 2016 earnings of $126 million. The year-over-year earnings improvement was primarily driven by earnings on increased infrastructure investments, as well as a higher allowed return on equity due to a higher average 30-year U.S. Treasury bond yield in 2017 compared to 2016. These favorable factors were partially offset by the absence of the 2016 benefit from warmer-than-normal temperatures before the decoupling of electric revenues began in 2017.
Ameren Illinois Natural Gas Segment Results
Ameren Illinois Natural Gas 2017 earnings of $60 million were comparable to 2016 earnings of $59 million.
Ameren Transmission Segment Results
Ameren Transmission 2017 earnings were $140 million, compared to 2016 earnings of $117 million. The year-over-year earnings improvement reflected increased infrastructure investments partially offset by a lower allowed return on equity.
Other Results (includes items not reported in a business segment)
Other results for 2017 were a GAAP loss of $131 million and core earnings of $1 million, respectively, compared to a 2016 loss of $6 million. The 2017 GAAP loss included non-cash charges that decreased earnings by a combined $132 million reflecting the revaluation of deferred taxes as a result of changes in Illinois and federal income tax rates, but these charges were excluded from core results. The improvement in year-over-year core results primarily reflected a decrease in the effective income tax rate.
Analyst Conference Call
Ameren will conduct a conference call for financial analysts at 9 a.m. Central Time on Friday, Feb. 16, to discuss 2017 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 "Q4 2017 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 and 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 and natural gas transmission and distribution service while Ameren Missouri provides vertically integrated electric service, with generating capacity of over 10,200 megawatts, and natural gas distribution service. Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois develops regional electric transmission projects. For more information, visit Ameren.com, or follow us at @AmerenCorp, Facebook.com/AmerenCorp, or LinkedIn/company/Ameren.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In this release, Ameren has presented core earnings per share, which is a non-GAAP measure and may not be comparable to those of other companies. A reconciliation of GAAP information to non-GAAP information has been included in this release. Generally, core earnings or losses include earnings or losses attributable to common shareholders and exclude income or loss from significant discrete items that management does not consider representative of ongoing earnings, such as the third quarter 2017 non-cash charge for the revaluation of deferred taxes resulting from a July 2017 change in Illinois law that increased the state's corporate income tax rate and the fourth quarter 2017 non-cash charge for the revaluation of deferred taxes resulting from a December 2017 change in federal law that decreased the federal corporate income tax rate. Ameren uses core earnings internally for financial planning and for analysis of performance. Ameren also uses core earnings as the primary performance measurement when communicating with analysts and investors regarding our earnings results and outlook, as the company believes that core earnings allow the company to more accurately compare its ongoing performance across periods. In providing core earnings guidance, there could be differences between core earnings and earnings prepared in accordance with GAAP as a result of our treatment of certain items, such as that described above. Ameren is unable to estimate the impact, if any, on future GAAP earnings of such future items.
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, 2016, 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:
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 |
Year Ended | ||||||||||||||
2017 |
2016 |
2017 |
2016 | ||||||||||||
Operating Revenues: |
|||||||||||||||
Electric |
$ |
1,127 |
$ |
1,095 |
$ |
5,310 |
$ |
5,196 |
|||||||
Natural gas |
275 |
261 |
867 |
880 |
|||||||||||
Total operating revenues |
1,402 |
1,356 |
6,177 |
6,076 |
|||||||||||
Operating Expenses: |
|||||||||||||||
Fuel |
143 |
171 |
737 |
745 |
|||||||||||
Purchased power |
147 |
170 |
638 |
621 |
|||||||||||
Natural gas purchased for resale |
115 |
114 |
311 |
341 |
|||||||||||
Other operations and maintenance |
431 |
430 |
1,660 |
1,676 |
|||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
228 |
217 |
896 |
845 |
|||||||||||
Taxes other than income taxes |
113 |
109 |
477 |
467 |
|||||||||||
Total operating expenses |
1,177 |
1,211 |
4,719 |
4,695 |
|||||||||||
Operating Income |
225 |
145 |
1,458 |
1,381 |
|||||||||||
Other Income and Expenses: |
|||||||||||||||
Miscellaneous income |
17 |
20 |
59 |
74 |
|||||||||||
Miscellaneous expense |
5 |
11 |
21 |
32 |
|||||||||||
Total other income |
12 |
9 |
38 |
42 |
|||||||||||
Interest Charges |
96 |
95 |
391 |
382 |
|||||||||||
Income Before Income Taxes |
141 |
59 |
1,105 |
1,041 |
|||||||||||
Income Taxes |
200 |
26 |
576 |
382 |
|||||||||||
Net Income (Loss) |
(59) |
33 |
529 |
659 |
|||||||||||
Less: Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests |
1 |
1 |
6 |
6 |
|||||||||||
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Ameren Common Shareholders |
$ |
(60) |
$ |
32 |
$ |
523 |
$ |
653 |
|||||||
Earnings (Loss) per Common Share – Basic |
$ |
(0.24) |
$ |
0.13 |
$ |
2.16 |
$ |
2.69 |
|||||||
Earnings (Loss) per Common Share – Diluted |
$ |
(0.24) |
$ |
0.13 |
$ |
2.14 |
$ |
2.68 |
|||||||
Average Common Shares Outstanding – Basic |
242.6 |
242.6 |
242.6 |
242.6 |
|||||||||||
Average Common Shares Outstanding – Diluted |
244.7 |
244.7 |
244.2 |
243.4 |
AMEREN CORPORATION (AEE) | |||||||
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET | |||||||
(Unaudited, in millions) | |||||||
December 31, |
December 31, | ||||||
ASSETS |
|||||||
Current Assets: |
|||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
10 |
$ |
9 |
|||
Accounts receivable - trade (less allowance for doubtful accounts) |
445 |
437 |
|||||
Unbilled revenue |
323 |
295 |
|||||
Miscellaneous accounts and notes receivable |
70 |
63 |
|||||
Inventories |
522 |
527 |
|||||
Current regulatory assets |
144 |
149 |
|||||
Other current assets |
98 |
113 |
|||||
Total current assets |
1,612 |
1,593 |
|||||
Property, Plant, and Equipment, Net |
21,466 |
20,113 |
|||||
Investments and Other Assets: |
|||||||
Nuclear decommissioning trust fund |
704 |
607 |
|||||
Goodwill |
411 |
411 |
|||||
Regulatory assets |
1,230 |
1,437 |
|||||
Other assets |
522 |
538 |
|||||
Total investments and other assets |
2,867 |
2,993 |
|||||
TOTAL ASSETS |
$ |
25,945 |
$ |
24,699 |
|||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY |
|||||||
Current Liabilities: |
|||||||
Current maturities of long-term debt |
$ |
841 |
$ |
681 |
|||
Short-term debt |
484 |
558 |
|||||
Accounts and wages payable |
902 |
805 |
|||||
Taxes accrued |
52 |
46 |
|||||
Interest accrued |
99 |
93 |
|||||
Customer deposits |
108 |
107 |
|||||
Current regulatory liabilities |
128 |
110 |
|||||
Other current liabilities |
326 |
274 |
|||||
Total current liabilities |
2,940 |
2,674 |
|||||
Long-term Debt, Net |
7,094 |
6,595 |
|||||
Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities: |
|||||||
Accumulated deferred income taxes, net |
2,506 |
4,264 |
|||||
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits |
49 |
55 |
|||||
Regulatory liabilities |
4,387 |
1,985 |
|||||
Asset retirement obligations |
638 |
635 |
|||||
Pension and other postretirement benefits |
545 |
769 |
|||||
Other deferred credits and liabilities |
460 |
477 |
|||||
Total deferred credits and other liabilities |
8,585 |
8,185 |
|||||
Ameren Corporation Shareholders' Equity: |
|||||||
Common stock |
2 |
2 |
|||||
Other paid-in capital, principally premium on common stock |
5,540 |
5,556 |
|||||
Retained earnings |
1,660 |
1,568 |
|||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
(18) |
(23) |
|||||
Total Ameren Corporation shareholders' equity |
7,184 |
7,103 |
|||||
Noncontrolling Interests |
142 |
142 |
|||||
Total equity |
7,326 |
7,245 |
|||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY |
$ |
25,945 |
$ |
24,699 |
AMEREN CORPORATION (AEE) | |||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS | |||||||
(Unaudited, in millions) | |||||||
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||
2017 |
2016 | ||||||
Cash Flows From Operating Activities: |
|||||||
Net income |
$ |
529 |
$ |
659 |
|||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: |
|||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
876 |
835 |
|||||
Amortization of nuclear fuel |
76 |
88 |
|||||
Amortization of debt issuance costs and premium/discounts |
22 |
22 |
|||||
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits, net |
539 |
386 |
|||||
Allowance for equity funds used during construction |
(24) |
(27) |
|||||
Share-based compensation costs |
17 |
17 |
|||||
Other |
(10) |
4 |
|||||
Changes in assets and liabilities |
79 |
140 |
|||||
Net cash provided by operating activities – continuing operations |
2,104 |
2,124 |
|||||
Net cash used in operating activities – discontinued operations |
— |
(1) |
|||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
2,104 |
2,123 |
|||||
Cash Flows From Investing Activities: |
|||||||
Capital expenditures |
(2,132) |
(2,076) |
|||||
Nuclear fuel expenditures |
(63) |
(55) |
|||||
Purchases of securities – nuclear decommissioning trust fund |
(413) |
(392) |
|||||
Sales and maturities of securities – nuclear decommissioning trust fund |
396 |
377 |
|||||
Other |
7 |
5 |
|||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(2,205) |
(2,141) |
|||||
Cash Flows From Financing Activities: |
|||||||
Dividends on common stock |
(431) |
(416) |
|||||
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest holders |
(6) |
(6) |
|||||
Short-term debt, net |
(74) |
257 |
|||||
Maturities of long-term debt |
(681) |
(395) |
|||||
Issuances of long-term debt |
1,345 |
389 |
|||||
Debt issuance costs |
(11) |
(9) |
|||||
Share-based payments |
(39) |
(83) |
|||||
Other |
(1) |
(2) |
|||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
102 |
(265) |
|||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents |
1 |
(283) |
|||||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |
9 |
292 |
|||||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year |
$ |
10 |
$ |
9 |
AMEREN CORPORATION (AEE) | |||||||||||||||
OPERATING STATISTICS | |||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended |
Twelve Months Ended | ||||||||||||||
December 31, |
December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2017 |
2016 |
2017 |
2016 | ||||||||||||
Electric Sales - kilowatthours (in millions): |
|||||||||||||||
Ameren Missouri |
|||||||||||||||
Residential |
3,064 |
3,002 |
12,653 |
13,245 |
|||||||||||
Commercial |
3,431 |
3,443 |
14,384 |
14,712 |
|||||||||||
Industrial |
1,101 |
1,107 |
4,469 |
4,790 |
|||||||||||
Street lighting and public authority |
32 |
36 |
117 |
125 |
|||||||||||
Ameren Missouri retail load subtotal |
7,628 |
7,588 |
31,623 |
32,872 |
|||||||||||
Off-system |
1,518 |
2,065 |
10,640 |
7,125 |
|||||||||||
Ameren Missouri total |
9,146 |
9,653 |
42,263 |
39,997 |
|||||||||||
Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution |
|||||||||||||||
Residential |
2,680 |
2,611 |
10,985 |
11,512 |
|||||||||||
Commercial |
3,111 |
3,123 |
12,382 |
12,583 |
|||||||||||
Industrial |
2,848 |
2,843 |
11,359 |
11,738 |
|||||||||||
Street lighting and public authority |
127 |
131 |
515 |
521 |
|||||||||||
Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution total |
8,766 |
8,708 |
35,241 |
36,354 |
|||||||||||
Eliminate affiliate sales |
(58) |
(126) |
(440) |
(520) |
|||||||||||
Ameren total |
17,854 |
18,235 |
77,064 |
75,831 |
|||||||||||
Electric Revenues (in millions): |
|||||||||||||||
Ameren Missouri |
|||||||||||||||
Residential |
$ |
282 |
$ |
268 |
$ |
1,416 |
$ |
1,421 |
|||||||
Commercial |
236 |
241 |
1,207 |
1,223 |
|||||||||||
Industrial |
63 |
64 |
305 |
315 |
|||||||||||
Other, including street lighting and public authority |
35 |
27 |
115 |
102 |
|||||||||||
Ameren Missouri retail load subtotal |
$ |
616 |
$ |
600 |
$ |
3,043 |
$ |
3,061 |
|||||||
Off-system |
40 |
112 |
370 |
333 |
|||||||||||
Ameren Missouri total |
$ |
656 |
$ |
712 |
$ |
3,413 |
$ |
3,394 |
|||||||
Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution |
|||||||||||||||
Residential |
$ |
219 |
$ |
185 |
$ |
870 |
$ |
894 |
|||||||
Commercial |
132 |
115 |
527 |
518 |
|||||||||||
Industrial |
31 |
26 |
113 |
96 |
|||||||||||
Other, including street lighting and public authority |
8 |
10 |
58 |
41 |
|||||||||||
Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution total |
$ |
390 |
$ |
336 |
$ |
1,568 |
$ |
1,549 |
|||||||
Ameren Transmission |
|||||||||||||||
Ameren Illinois Transmission(a) |
$ |
61 |
$ |
45 |
$ |
258 |
$ |
232 |
|||||||
ATXI |
39 |
27 |
168 |
123 |
|||||||||||
Ameren Transmission total |
$ |
100 |
$ |
72 |
$ |
426 |
$ |
355 |
|||||||
Other and intersegment eliminations |
(19) |
(25) |
(97) |
(102) |
|||||||||||
Ameren total |
$ |
1,127 |
$ |
1,095 |
$ |
5,310 |
$ |
5,196 |
(a) |
Includes $10 million, $10 million, $42 million and $45 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 |
Twelve Months Ended | ||||||||||||||
December 31, |
December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2017 |
2016 |
2017 |
2016 | ||||||||||||
Gas Sales - dekatherms (in millions): |
|||||||||||||||
Ameren Missouri |
6 |
5 |
18 |
18 |
|||||||||||
Ameren Illinois Natural Gas |
53 |
48 |
166 |
166 |
|||||||||||
Ameren total |
59 |
53 |
184 |
184 |
|||||||||||
Gas Revenues (in millions): |
|||||||||||||||
Ameren Missouri |
$ |
43 |
$ |
38 |
$ |
126 |
$ |
128 |
|||||||
Ameren Illinois Natural Gas |
233 |
224 |
743 |
754 |
|||||||||||
Eliminate affiliate revenues |
(1) |
(1) |
(2) |
(2) |
|||||||||||
Ameren total |
$ |
275 |
$ |
261 |
$ |
867 |
$ |
880 |
|||||||
December 31, |
December 31, | ||||||||||||||
Common Stock: |
|||||||||||||||
Shares outstanding (in millions) |
242.6 |
242.6 |
|||||||||||||
Book value per share |
$ |
29.61 |
$ |
29.28 |
|||||||||||
SOURCE Ameren Corporation