NiSource announces third quarter 2023 results, extension to long-term growth plan

Rhea-AI Summary

NiSource Inc. reaffirms its 2023 non-GAAP NOEPS guidance in the upper half of the range and introduces 2024 non-GAAP NOEPS guidance. The company also extends its annual 6-8% growth plan from 2023-2028. The NIPSCO minority interest transaction with Blackstone Infrastructure Partners is on-track for closing by the end of 2023. NiSource incorporates an additional $1 billion in capital expenditures across its 5-year plan horizon.

Positive

• NiSource reaffirms its 2023 non-GAAP NOEPS guidance in the upper half of the range.
• The company introduces its 2024 non-GAAP NOEPS guidance, expecting it to be in the range of $1.68-1.72.
• NiSource extends its growth plan to 2028, with annual 6-8% non-GAAP NOEPS growth.
• The NIPSCO minority interest transaction with Blackstone Infrastructure Partners is on-track for closing by the end of 2023.
• NiSource incorporates an additional $1 billion in capital expenditures across its 5-year plan horizon.

Negative

• None.

• Reaffirming 2023 non-GAAP NOEPS guidance in upper half of the range
• Introducing 2024 non-GAAP NOEPS guidance and extending annual 6-8% growth from 2023-28
• NIPSCO minority interest transaction with Blackstone Infrastructure Partners on-track for closing by the end of 2023 with recent FERC approval, highlighting diverse funding sources and balance sheet flexibility while preserving the scale of the business
• Incorporating an incremental $1 billion in capital expenditures across 5-year plan horizon

MERRILLVILLE, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) today announced, on a GAAP basis, net income available to common shareholders for the three months ended September 30, 2023, of $77.0 million, or $0.17 diluted earnings per share, compared to net income available to common shareholders of $52.0 million, or $0.12 diluted earnings per share, for the same period of 2022. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, on a GAAP basis NiSource's net income available to common shareholders was $436.1 million, or $0.98 diluted earnings per share, compared to net income available to common shareholders of $518.2 million, or $1.18 diluted earnings per share, for the same period of 2022.

NiSource also reported non-GAAP net operating earnings available to common shareholders of $83.7 million, or $0.19 diluted earnings per share, for the three months ended September 30, 2023, compared to non-GAAP net operating earnings available to common shareholders of $44.6 million, or $0.10 diluted earnings per share, for the same period of 2022. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, NiSource's non-GAAP net operating earnings available to common shareholders was $477.0 million, or $1.07 diluted earnings per share, compared to non-GAAP net operating earnings available to common shareholders of $427.2 million, or $0.97 diluted earnings per share, for the same period of 2022. Schedule 1 of this press release contains a complete reconciliation of GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures.**

2023 NOEPS guidance reaffirmed, introducing 2024 NOEPS guidance and extension to growth plan

NiSource is reiterating 2023 non-GAAP NOEPS to be in the upper half of the $1.54-1.60 range. In 2024 non-GAAP NOEPS is expected to be in the range of $1.68-1.72. NiSource is extending its plan to 2028 with non-GAAP NOEPS growth expected to be 6-8% annually, driven by $16 billion 2024-28 base plan capital expenditures and 8-10% annual 2023-28 rate base growth*. This increases the capital expenditures projected over the next 5-year window by $1 billion.**

"Today’s extended financial plan with 2024 guidance demonstrates strong execution since the initiation of our plan one year ago as well as the resilience and duration of NiSource’s fundamental drivers. Balance sheet flexibility and a superior regulatory and stakeholder foundation enable continued execution of our investment programs while maintaining our commitments through economic and market volatility," said NiSource President and CEO, Lloyd Yates. "This is all made possible by the tireless commitment of our more than 11,300 employees and contractors to customers and communities every day."

* core business rate base growth; select years may exceed range

**Regulation G Disclosure Statement

This press release includes financial results and guidance for NiSource with respect to net operating earnings available to common shareholders and diluted earnings per share (NOEPS), which are non-GAAP financial measures as defined by the SEC’s Regulation G. The company includes these measures because management believes they permit investors to view the company’s performance using the same tools that management uses and to better evaluate the company’s ongoing business performance. With respect to guidance on NOEPS, NiSource reminds investors that it does not provide a GAAP equivalent of its guidance on net operating earnings due to the impact of unpredictable factors such as fluctuations in weather, impact of asset sales and impairments and other unusual or infrequent items included in the comparable GAAP measures. The company is not able to estimate the impact of such factors on the comparable GAAP measures and, as such, is not providing guidance on a GAAP basis. In addition, the company is not able to provide a reconciliation of its non-GAAP NOEPS guidance to the comparable GAAP equivalents without unreasonable efforts.

Additional Information

Additional information for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, is available on the Investors section of www.nisource.com, including segment and financial information and a presentation, as well as NiSource’s social media channels. The company alerts investors that it intends to use the Investors section of its website www.nisource.com and as well as the company’s social media channels to disseminate important information about the company to its investors. Investors are advised to look at NiSource’s website and its social media channels for future important information about the company.

About NiSource

NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) is one of the largest fully-regulated utility companies in the United States, serving approximately 3.3 million natural gas customers and 500,000 electric customers across six states through its local Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands. The mission of our approximately 7,200 employees is to deliver safe, reliable energy that drives value to our customers. NiSource is a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability - North America Index and is on Forbes lists of America’s Best Employers for Women and Diversity. Learn more about NiSource’s record of leadership in sustainability, investments in the communities it serves and how we live our vision to be an innovative and trusted energy partner at www.NiSource.com. NI-F

The content of our website is not incorporated by reference into this document or any other report or document NiSource files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the purchase and sale agreement that NiSource’s wholly-owned subsidiary, NIPSCO Holdings II LLC, entered into with BIP BLUE BUYER L.L.C., an affiliate of Blackstone Infrastructure Partners (the “Investor”) on June 17, 2023 whereby Investor will acquire newly issued membership interests of NIPSCO Holdings II LLC which will represent a 19.9% ownership in NIPSCO Holdings II LLC at closing (the “NIPSCO Minority Equity Interest Sale”); statements concerning the ability to complete the NIPSCO Minority Equity Interest Sale on the anticipated timeline or at all; statements concerning the anticipated benefits of the NIPSCO Minority Equity Interest Sale if completed; statements concerning the projected impact of the NIPSCO Minority Equity Interest Sales on our performance or opportunities; any statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives or prospects or future performance or financial condition as a result of or in connection with the NIPSCO Minority Equity Interest Sale; statements concerning our plans, strategies, objectives, expected performance, expenditures, recovery of expenditures through rates, stated on either a consolidated or segment basis, and any and all underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical fact. Investors and prospective investors should understand that many factors govern whether any forward-looking statement contained herein will be or can be realized. Any one of those factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Expressions of future goals and expectations and similar expressions, including "may," "will," "should," "could," "would," "aims," "seeks," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "intends," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," "targets," "forecast," and "continue," reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that management believes to be reasonable; however, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations discussed in this release include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to the timing and certainty of closing the NIPSCO Minority Equity Interest Sale; the ability to satisfy the conditions to closing the NIPSCO Minority Equity Interest Sale; the ability to achieve the anticipated benefits of the NIPSCO Minority Equity Interest Sale; the effect of this communication on NiSource’s stock price; the effects of transaction costs; the effects of the NIPSCO Minority Equity Interest Sale on industry, market, economic, political or regulatory conditions outside of NiSource’s control; any disruption to NiSource’s business from the NIPSCO Minority Equity Interest Sale, including the diversion of management time on NIPSCO Minority Equity Interest Sale-related issues; our ability to execute our business plan or growth strategy, including utility infrastructure investments; potential incidents and other operating risks associated with our business; our ability to adapt to, and manage costs related to, advances in, or failures of, technology; impacts related to our aging infrastructure; our ability to obtain sufficient insurance coverage and whether such coverage will protect us against significant losses; the success of our electric generation strategy; construction risks and natural gas costs and supply risks; fluctuations in demand from residential and commercial customers; fluctuations in the price of energy commodities and related transportation costs or an inability to obtain an adequate, reliable and cost-effective fuel supply to meet customer demands; the attraction and retention of a qualified, diverse workforce and ability to maintain good labor relations; our ability to manage new initiatives and organizational changes; the actions of activist stockholders; the performance of third-party suppliers and service providers; potential cybersecurity attacks; increased requirements and costs related to cybersecurity; any damage to our reputation; any remaining liabilities or impact related to the sale of the Massachusetts Business; the impacts of natural disasters, potential terrorist attacks or other catastrophic events; the physical impacts of climate change and the transition to a lower carbon future; our ability to manage the financial and operational risks related to achieving our carbon emission reduction goals, including our Net Zero Goal; our debt obligations; any changes to our credit rating or the credit rating of certain of our subsidiaries; any adverse effects related to our equity units; adverse economic and capital market conditions or increases in interest rates; inflation; recessions; economic regulation and the impact of regulatory rate reviews; our ability to obtain expected financial or regulatory outcomes; continuing and potential future impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic; economic conditions in certain industries; the reliability of customers and suppliers to fulfill their payment and contractual obligations; the ability of our subsidiaries to generate cash; pension funding obligations; potential impairments of goodwill; the outcome of legal and regulatory proceedings, investigations, incidents, claims and litigation; potential remaining liabilities related to the Greater Lawrence Incident; compliance with applicable laws, regulations and tariffs; compliance with environmental laws and the costs of associated liabilities; changes in taxation; and other matters set forth in Item 1, "Business," Item 1A, "Risk Factors" and Part II, Item 7, "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and matters set forth in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023, some of which risks are beyond our control. In addition, the relative contributions to profitability by each business segment, and the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements relating thereto, may change over time.

All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. We undertake no obligation to, and expressly disclaim any such obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or changes to the future results over time or otherwise, except as required by law.

Schedule 1 - Reconciliation of Consolidated Net Income Available to Common Shareholders to Net Operating Earnings Available to Common Shareholders (Non-GAAP) (unaudited)
	Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in millions, except per share amounts)		2023				2022				2023				2022
GAAP Net Income Available to Common Shareholders	$	77.0			$	52.0			$	436.1			$	518.2
Adjustments to Operating Income :
Operating Revenues:
Weather - compared to normal		9.0				(10.4	)			47.2				(21.7	)
FAC adjustment(1)		—				—				—				8.0
Operating Expenses:
NiSource Next initiative(2)		—				0.6				—				3.3
Massachusetts Business related amounts(3)		—				—				—			$	(105.0	)
Total adjustments to operating income		9.0				(9.8	)			47.2				(115.4	)
Income Taxes:
Tax effect of above items(4)		(2.3	)			2.4				(12.5	)			24.4
Preferred Dividends:
Preferred dividends redemption premium(5)		—				—				6.2				—
Total adjustments to net income (loss)		6.7				(7.4	)			40.9				(91.0	)
Net Operating Earnings Available to Common Shareholders (Non-GAAP)	$	83.7			$	44.6			$	477.0			$	427.2
Diluted Average Common Shares		448.3				443.4				447.4				441.7
GAAP Diluted Earnings Per Share(6)	$	0.17			$	0.12			$	0.98			$	1.18
Adjustments to diluted earnings (loss) per share		0.02				(0.02	)			0.09				(0.21	)
Non-GAAP Diluted Net Operating Earnings Per Share	$	0.19			$	0.10			$	1.07			$	0.97

(1)	Represents fuel costs deemed over-collected from customers through the FAC mechanism and ordered to be refunded to customers.
(2)	Represents incremental severance and third-party consulting costs incurred in connection with the NiSource Next initiative.
(3)	Represents proceeds from a property insurance settlement related to the Greater Lawrence Incident.
(4)	Represents income tax expense calculated using the statutory tax rates by legal entity.
(5)	Represents the premium from our Series A Preferred Stock redemption calculated as the difference between the carrying value of the Series A Preferred Stock and the total amount of consideration paid to redeem.
(6)	The GAAP Diluted Earnings Per Share numerator is equal to Net Operating Earnings Available to Common Shareholders adjusted for income allocated to participating securities and add-backs for interest expense incurred, net of tax, related to Series A Equity Unit purchase contracts.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231101656751/en/

Lynne Evosevich

Corporate Media Relations

(724) 288-1611

levosevich@nisource.com



Christopher Turnure

Director, Investor Relations

(614) 404-9426

cturnure@nisource.com



Michael Weisenburger

Lead Analyst, Investor Relations

(614) 202-2595

mweisenburger@nisource.com

Source: NiSource Inc.

FAQ

What is NiSource's 2023 non-GAAP NOEPS guidance?

NiSource reaffirms its 2023 non-GAAP NOEPS guidance to be in the upper half of the $1.54-1.60 range.

What is NiSource's 2024 non-GAAP NOEPS guidance?

NiSource introduces its 2024 non-GAAP NOEPS guidance, expecting it to be in the range of $1.68-1.72.

What is NiSource's growth plan?

NiSource extends its growth plan to 2028, with annual 6-8% non-GAAP NOEPS growth.

What is the status of the NIPSCO minority interest transaction?

The NIPSCO minority interest transaction with Blackstone Infrastructure Partners is on-track for closing by the end of 2023.

What is the additional capital expenditure incorporated by NiSource?

NiSource incorporates an additional $1 billion in capital expenditures across its 5-year plan horizon.