DALLAS - Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE: ATO) today reported consolidated results for its fiscal 2016 second quarter and six months ended March 31, 2016.
For the six months ended March 31, 2016, consolidated net income was $244.7 million, or $2.38 per diluted share, compared with net income of $235.3 million, or $2.31 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 six months ended March 31, 2016, compared with unrealized net gains of $4.0 million, or $0.04 per diluted share for the prior-year period. For the current six-month period, regulated operations contributed $238.3 million of net income, or $2.32 per diluted share, and nonregulated operations contributed net income of $6.3 million, or $0.06 per diluted share.
“Our performance through the second quarter of fiscal 2016 reflects the impact of investments made to our infrastructure to safely meet the energy needs of our customers,” said Kim Cocklin, chief executive officer of Atmos Energy Corporation. “With the winter heating season essentially 2 behind us, we believe we can achieve earnings in the tightened range of $3.25 to $3.35 per diluted share. Looking forward, we are positioned to continue delivering annual earnings growth in the 6 percent to 8 percent range,” Cocklin concluded.
Results for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2016
Regulated distribution gross profit increased $2.9 million to $409.1 million for the fiscal 2016 second quarter, compared with $406.2 million in the prior-year quarter. Gross profit reflects a net $17.1 million increase in rates, primarily in the Mid-Tex, Mississippi and West Texas Divisions. This increase was partially offset by a $12.6 million decrease in revenue-related taxes and a $2.2 million decline in weather-related consumption. Weather was 25 percent warmer than the prior-year quarter, before adjusting for weather normalization mechanisms, which resulted in a 21 percent decrease in sales volumes. Regulated pipeline gross profit increased $4.0 million to $95.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, compared with $91.7 million for the same quarter last year. This increase is primarily the result of a $7.0 million increase in revenues from the Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program (GRIP) filing approved in 2015, partially offset by decreased through-system volumes and lower storage and blending fees due to warmer weather in the current-year quarter. Nonregulated gross profit decreased $9.8 million to $13.1 million for the fiscal 2016 second quarter, compared with $22.9 million for the prior-year quarter, as a result of a $7.8 million decrease in realized margins, combined with a $2.0 million decrease in unrealized margins. The quarter-over-quarter decrease in realized margins reflects larger losses on the settlement of financial positions during a period of falling natural gas prices.
Results for the Six Months Ended March 31, 2016
Regulated distribution gross profit increased $12.6 million to $742.6 million for the six months ended March 31, 2016, compared with $730.0 million in the prior-year period. Gross profit reflects a net $30.6 million increase in rates, primarily in the Mid-Tex, Mississippi and West Texas Divisions. This increase was partially offset by a $13.9 million decrease in revenue-related taxes and a $3.3 million decrease in consumption. Weather was 26 percent warmer than the prior-year period, before adjusting for weather normalization mechanisms, which resulted in a 21 percent decrease in sales volumes. Regulated pipeline gross profit increased $15.1 million to $190.4 million for the six months ended March 31, 2016, compared with $175.3 million in the prior-year period. This increase primarily reflects a $17.1 million increase in revenue from the GRIP filing approved in 2015. This increase was partially offset by decreased through-system volumes and lower storage and blending fees due to warmer weather in the current-year period. Nonregulated gross profit decreased $10.0 million to $28.9 million for the six months ended March 31, 2016, compared with $38.9 million for the prior-year period, as a result of a $12.2 million decrease in realized margins, combined with a $2.1 million increase in unrealized margins. The year-over-year decrease in realized margins reflects the aforementioned losses on the settlement of financial positions during a period of falling natural gas prices. 3 Consolidated operation and maintenance expense for the six months ended March 31, 2016, was $258.5 million, compared with $252.0 million for the prior-year period. This increase was primarily driven by increased pipeline maintenance spending. Capital expenditures increased to $538.2 million for the six months ended March 31, 2016, compared with $441.6 million in the prior-year period driven by a planned increase in spending in the company's regulated operations. For the six months ended March 31, 2016, the company generated operating cash flow of $455.8 million, an $85.1 million decrease compared with the six months ended March 31, 2015. The year-over-year decrease primarily reflects the timing of deferred gas cost recoveries. The debt capitalization ratio at March 31, 2016 was 48.0 percent, compared with 47.7 percent at September 30, 2015 and 46.1 percent at March 31, 2015. At March 31, 2016, there was $626.9 million of short-term debt outstanding, compared with $457.9 million at September 30, 2015 and $225.0 million at March 31, 2015.
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 expects fiscal 2016 earnings to be in the tightened range of $3.25 to $3.35 per diluted share, excluding unrealized margins. Net income from regulated operations is expected to be in the range of $320 million to $335 million. Net income from nonregulated operations is expected to be in the range of $14 million to $19 million. Capital expenditures for fiscal 2016 are expected to range between $1.0 billion and $1.1 billion.
Conference Call to be Webcast May 5, 2016
Atmos Energy will host a conference call with financial analysts to discuss the financial results for the fiscal 2016 second quarter on Thursday, May 5, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern. The domestic telephone number is 877-485-3107 and the international telephone number is 201-689-8427.Kim Cocklin, chief executive officer, Mike Haefner, president and chief operating officer, and Bret Eckert, senior vice president and chief financial officer, along with other members of the leadership team, will participate in the conference call. 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.
Highlights and Recent Developments Election of Director
Effective March 1, 2016, Rafael G. Garza was elected to the board of directors of the company. Mr. Garza is co-founder and Managing Director of Bravo Equity Partners, a Fort Worth-based firm, which provides capital to middle-market companies in the U.S. and Mexico. He is a member of the board's Audit Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
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, 2015 and in the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and six months ended March 31, 2016. 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 more than 3 million natural gas distribution customers in about 1,400 communities in eight states from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the East to the Rocky Mountains in the West. Atmos Energy manages company-owned natural gas pipeline and storage assets, including one of the largest intrastate natural gas pipeline systems in Texas and also provides natural gas marketing and procurement services to industrial, commercial and municipal customers primarily in the Midwest and Southeast. Atmos Energy can also be accessed through social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter Instagram, and YouTube.
Atmos Energy is engaged in regulated utility operations. Atmos Energy Corporation. All Rights Reserved.