WEC Energy (WEC) Q3 Earnings Beat Estimates, Revenue Miss

WEC Energy Group (NYSE:WEC) reported third-quarter 2017 adjusted earnings of 68 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 67 cents by 1.5%. However, earnings missed the year-ago figure of 69 cents by the same percentage.

Revenues

WEC Energy’s total revenues amounted to $1,657.5 million, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,708 million by 2.9%. Reported revenues also missed the year-ago figure of $1,712.5 million by 3.2%.

Highlights of the Release

Residential consumption of electricity for the first nine months of 2017 was down 4.6% year over year. Electricity utilized by small commercial and industrial customers also dropped 2.3% year over year. Electricity used by large commercial and industrial customers, excluding the iron ore mines in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, declined 2.5%.

Total operating expenses in the quarter under review was $1,263.9 million compared with $1,313.5 million.

Operating income in the reported quarter was $393.6 million, down 1.4% from $399 million a year ago.

The company’s interest expenses in the third quarter increased 4.7% year over year to $103.8 million.

WEC Energy's utilities expanded the customer base in the reported quarter. At the end of third-quarter 2017, the company had an additional 9,000 electric and 18,000 natural gas customers compared with the year-ago quarter.

Financial Position

As of Sep 30, 2017, WEC Energy had cash and cash equivalents of $18.1 million compared with $37.5 million as of Dec 31, 2016.

As of Sep 30, 2017, the company’s long-term debts of $8.8 billion decreased almost 4.1% from the 2016-end level.

In the first nine months of 2017, cash flow from operating activities was $1,746.7 million, marginally higher than $1,721.9 million in the year-ago period.

WEC Energy’s capital expenditure during the first nine months of 2017 was $1,309.2 million, 30.9% higher than the comparable year-ago period.

Guidance

The company reaffirmed 2017 earnings guidance in the range of $3.06-$3.12, with the expectation of concluding the year in the upper end of the range.

WEC Energy Group, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

WEC Energy Group, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | WEC Energy Group, Inc. Quote

Zacks Rank

WEC Energy currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Peer Releases

Here are a few companies from the same industry that have reported their quarterly results.

NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) reported third-quarter 2017 adjusted earnings of $1.85 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.75 by 5.7%.

Xcel Energy Inc. (NYSE:XEL) reported third-quarter 2017 adjusted earnings of 97 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 92 cents by 5.4%.

DTE Energy Company (NYSE:DTE) reported third-quarter 2017 adjusted earnings of $1.48, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.53 by 3.3%.

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