Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2021 Results
Southwest Gas Holdings (NYSE: SWX) reported a consolidated loss of $0.19 per diluted share for Q3 2021, a decline from earnings of $0.32 per share in Q3 2020. The net loss reached $11.6 million, while adjusted net income was $3.1 million. The natural gas segment saw a net loss of $27.5 million, while utility infrastructure services generated net income of $18.5 million, down from $34.9 million in Q3 2020. The company’s outlook suggests potential growth in earnings for 2022 driven by new acquisitions and market demand in service territories across Arizona, Nevada, and California.
- Acquisition of Riggs Distler expected to enhance growth and earnings potential.
- Utility infrastructure services revenues increased by $52.5 million in Q3 2021 compared to Q3 2020.
- Operating margin increased by $18 million quarter-over-quarter due to customer growth and rate relief.
- Consolidated loss of $11.6 million in Q3 2021, compared to a profit of $18.3 million in Q3 2020.
- Natural gas segment recorded a net loss of $27.5 million, worsening from $16 million the prior year.
- Increased operational expenses, up by $18.5 million year-over-year, impacting profitability.
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SWX) reported a consolidated loss of
The natural gas segment had a net loss of
The utility infrastructure services segment delivered net income of
Commenting on the performance and outlook of Southwest Gas Holdings, John P. Hester, President and Chief Executive Officer, said: "In the third quarter, we continued executing on our strategy to create a higher performing, stronger company, while taking actions to enhance our financial flexibility and capital allocation to pursue value-creating, accretive opportunities. While our financial results for the reported quarter reflect one-time transaction costs and other non-recurring expenses, we are excited about the longer-term strategic and financial opportunities opening up to our company. Drawn by robust economies, job growth, attractive business climates, and excellent quality of life, thousands of residents and businesses like Intel, Lucid Motors, and Taiwan Semiconductor have been moving into Southwest's service territories of Arizona, Nevada, and California. We are well positioned for meaningful earnings growth in 2022 as we execute our longer-term strategy and focus on providing growing returns to our investors, excellent service to our customers, and opportunities to our employees."
"With the acquisition of Riggs Distler, we believe Centuri is well positioned for continued growth and significant upside as investments in energy infrastructure are made nationwide to address the needs of a low-carbon energy future. In early October, we also announced an agreement to acquire Questar Pipelines, a compelling collection of assets that aligns with our long-term value creation goals. The combination of FERC-regulated pipelines and accompanying storage facilities will significantly increase and expand our regulated business mix, as it provides a robust stream of steady earnings and cash flows. We look forward to benefiting from the extremely attractive energy transition opportunities in RNG/RSG, hydrogen and CO2 transportation following closing the transaction. We plan to leverage the strong portfolio of assets we've built to continue driving an attractive, risk-adjusted total return for our stockholders, based on earnings growth and a meaningful dividend to increase long-term stockholder value."
For the twelve months ended September 30, 2021, consolidated net income was
Natural Gas Operations Segment Results
Third Quarter
Operating margin increased
Operations and maintenance expense increased
Depreciation and amortization increased
Other income decreased
Net interest deductions decreased
Twelve Months to Date
Operating margin increased
Operations and maintenance expense increased
Other income increased
Net interest deductions decreased
Income tax expense in both periods reflects that COLI results are recognized without tax consequences, and also reflect the impacts of amortization of EADIT balances.
Utility Infrastructure Services Segment Results
Third Quarter
Utility infrastructure revenues increased
Utility infrastructure services expenses increased
Depreciation and amortization increased
Net interest deductions increased
Income tax expense decreased
Twelve Months to Date
Utility infrastructure services revenues increased
Utility infrastructure services expenses increased
Depreciation and amortization expense increased
Net interest deductions increased
Outlook for Fiscal Year 2021
Management's updated estimated 2021 diluted earnings per share is
Highlights of 2021 expectations are as follows:
Natural Gas Operations Segment:
- Operating margin for 2021 is anticipated to benefit from customer growth (
1.7% ), rate relief in all three states in which we operate, expansion projects, and infrastructure tracker mechanisms. Combined, these items are expected to produce an increase in operating margin of6% to8% . - Total pension costs are expected to be relatively flat compared to 2020, but will be reflected as an increase in operations and maintenance cost of about
$6 million , with a comparable decrease to other expense (associated with non-service-related pension costs). - Operating income is expected to increase
4% to6% (previously3% to5% ). - COLI earnings of
$5 million to$7 million are projected (previously$3 million to$5 million ). - Capital expenditures in 2021 are estimated to be
$650 million to$675 million (previously$700 million ), in support of customer growth, system improvements, and pipe replacement programs.
Utility Infrastructure Services Segment:
- Centuri's revenues (excluding Riggs Distler) for 2021 are expected to be
1% to3% (previously1% to4% ) greater than the record 2020 amount (which included$82 million of emergency storm restoration services). - Centuri's operating income (excluding Riggs Distler) is expected to be approximately
5% to5.4% of revenues (previously5.3% to5.8% ). - Riggs Distler is expected to generate revenues of
$150 million to$170 million and an operating loss of$11 million to$13 million from the date of acquisition through the end of 2021 due to transaction-related expenses totaling$14 million and amortization expense of$8 million . - Total interest expense is expected to be
$19 .5 million to$20 .5 million (previously$7 million to$8 million before Riggs Distler) following the expansion and refinancing of the term loan and credit facility in connection with the acquisition of Riggs Distler. - Net income expectations reflect earnings attributable to Southwest Gas Holdings, net of an estimated
$6 million to$7 million of earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests (previously$5 million to$6 million ). Changes in Canadian exchange rates could influence results.
Corporate and Administrative:
- Transaction-related expenses (including advisor, legal, accounting, and initial financing commitment costs) associated with the planned year-end acquisition of Questar Pipelines and activism response are expected to approximate
$25 million to$30 million .
Southwest Gas Holdings has two business segments:
Southwest Gas Corporation provides safe and reliable natural gas service to over 2 million customers in Arizona, Nevada, and California.
Centuri Group, Inc. is a comprehensive utility infrastructure services enterprise dedicated to delivering a diverse array of solutions to North America's gas and electric providers. Centuri derives revenues primarily from installation, replacement, repair, and maintenance of energy distribution systems.
Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") and the Company's expectations or intentions regarding the future. These forward-looking statements can often be identified by the use of words such as "will", "predict", "continue", "forecast", "expect", "believe", "anticipate", "outlook", "could", "target", "project", "intend", "plan", "seek", "estimate", "should", "may" and "assume", as well as variations of such words and similar expressions referring to the future, and include (without limitation) statements regarding expectations of continuing growth in 2021. In addition, the statements under the heading "Outlook for 2021" that are not historic, constitute forward-looking statements. A number of important factors affecting the business and financial results of the Company could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the timing and amount of rate relief, changes in rate design, customer growth rates, the effects of regulation/deregulation, tax reform and related regulatory decisions, the impacts of construction activity at Centuri, future earnings trends, seasonal patterns, and the impacts of stock market volatility. In addition, the Company can provide no assurance that its discussions about future operating margin, operating income, pension costs, COLI results, and capital expenditures of the natural gas segment will occur. Likewise, the Company can provide no assurance that discussions regarding utility infrastructure services segment revenues, operating income as a percentage of revenues, interest expense, and noncontrolling interest amounts will transpire, nor assurance regarding acquisitions or their impacts, including management's plans or expectations related thereto, including with regard to Riggs Distler or as currently planned in regard to Questar Pipelines. Because of these and other factors, the Company can provide no assurances that estimates of 2021 earnings per share will be realized. Factors that could cause actual results to differ also include (without limitation) those discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.'s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the Company's and Southwest Gas Corporation's current and periodic reports, including our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, filed from time to time with the SEC. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, even if subsequently made available by the Company on its Web site or otherwise. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.
Non-GAAP Measures. This earnings release contains financial measures that have not been calculated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. ("GAAP"). These non-GAAP measures include (i) adjusted consolidated earnings per diluted share, (ii) consolidated adjusted net income, (iii) natural gas segment adjusted net income, and (iv) utility infrastructure services segment adjusted net income. Management uses these non-GAAP measures internally to evaluate performance and in making financial and operational decisions. Management believes that its presentation of these measures provides investors greater transparency with respect to its results of operations and that these measures are useful for a period-to-period comparison of results. Management also believes that providing these non-GAAP financial measures helps investors evaluate the Company's operating performance, profitability, and business trends in a way that is consistent with how management evaluates such performance.
Management also uses the non-GAAP measure operating margin. Southwest recognizes operating revenues from the distribution and transportation of natural gas (and related services) to customers. Gas cost is a tracked cost, which is passed through to customers without markup under purchased gas adjustment ("PGA") mechanisms, impacting revenues and net cost of gas sold on a dollar-for-dollar basis, thereby having no impact on Southwest's profitability. Therefore, management routinely uses operating margin, defined by management as gas operating revenues less the net cost of gas sold, in its analysis of Southwest's financial performance. Operating margin also forms a basis for Southwest's various regulatory decoupling mechanisms. Management believes supplying information regarding operating margin provides investors and other interested parties with useful and relevant information to analyze Southwest's financial performance in a rate-regulated environment. (The included Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. Consolidated Earnings Digest provides reconciliations for these non-GAAP measures.)
SOUTHWEST GAS HOLDINGS, INC. CONSOLIDATED EARNINGS DIGEST | ||||||||
(In thousands, except per share amounts) | ||||||||
QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||
Consolidated Operating Revenues | $ | 888,696 | $ | 791,226 | ||||
Net Income (loss) applicable to Southwest Gas Holdings | $ | (11,576) | $ | 18,273 | ||||
Weighted Average Common Shares | 59,688 | 56,271 | ||||||
Basic Earnings (loss) Per Share | $ | (0.19) | $ | 0.32 | ||||
Diluted Earnings (loss) Per Share | $ | (0.19) | $ | 0.32 | ||||
Reconciliation of Gross margin to Operating Margin (non-GAAP measure) | ||||||||
Utility Gross Margin | $ | 62,681 | $ | 57,188 | ||||
Plus: | ||||||||
Operations and maintenance (excluding Admin & General) expense | 68,098 | 61,383 | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 61,359 | 55,942 | ||||||
Operating Margin | $ | 192,138 | $ | 174,513 | ||||
NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||
Consolidated Operating Revenues | $ | 2,596,024 | $ | 2,384,793 | ||||
Net Income applicable to Southwest Gas Holdings | $ | 130,836 | $ | 128,780 | ||||
Weighted Average Common Shares | 58,639 | 55,683 | ||||||
Basic Earnings Per Share | $ | 2.23 | $ | 2.31 | ||||
Diluted Earnings Per Share | $ | 2.23 | $ | 2.31 | ||||
Reconciliation of Gross margin to Operating Margin (non-GAAP measure) | ||||||||
Utility Gross Margin | $ | 392,190 | $ | 354,854 | ||||
Plus: | ||||||||
Operations and maintenance (excluding Admin & General) expense | 194,471 | 182,761 | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 187,688 | 173,865 | ||||||
Operating Margin | $ | 774,349 | $ | 711,480 | ||||
TWELVE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||
Consolidated Operating Revenues | $ | 3,510,104 | $ | 3,232,930 | ||||
Net Income applicable to Southwest Gas Holdings | $ | 234,380 | $ | 220,498 | ||||
Weighted Average Common Shares | 58,209 | 55,508 | ||||||
Basic Earnings Per Share | $ | 4.03 | $ | 3.97 | ||||
Diluted Earnings Per Share | $ | 4.02 | $ | 3.97 | ||||
Reconciliation of Gross margin to Operating Margin (non-GAAP measure) | ||||||||
Utility Gross Margin | $ | 566,065 | $ | 524,010 | ||||
Plus: | ||||||||
Operations and maintenance (excluding Admin & General) expense | 255,434 | 244,573 | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense | 249,118 | 230,158 | ||||||
Operating Margin | $ | 1,070,617 | $ | 998,741 |
Reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures of Adjusted net income (loss) and Adjusted diluted earnings per share and their comparable GAAP measures of Net income (loss) and Diluted earnings (loss) per share. Note that the comparable GAAP measures are also included in Note 7 - Segment Information in the Company's September 30, 2021 Form 10-Q. Prior periods are not presented below as comparable non-GAAP adjustments were not applicable in comparable periods of the prior year.
Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts | ||||||||||||
Three Months | Nine Months | Twelve Months | ||||||||||
September 30, 2021 | ||||||||||||
Reconciliation of Net income (loss) to Adjusted net income (non-GAAP measure) | ||||||||||||
Net income (loss) applicable to Natural Gas Operations (GAAP) | $ | (27,544) | $ | 102,584 | $ | 182,134 | ||||||
Plus: | ||||||||||||
Legal reserve, net of tax | 3,800 | 3,800 | 3,800 | |||||||||
Adjusted net income (loss) applicable to Natural Gas Operations | $ | (23,744) | $ | 106,384 | $ | 185,934 | ||||||
Net income applicable to Utility Infrastructure Services (GAAP) | $ | 18,540 | $ | 32,797 | $ | 56,723 | ||||||
Plus: | ||||||||||||
Riggs Distler transaction costs, net of tax | 10,913 | 11,663 | 11,663 | |||||||||
Adjusted net income applicable to Utility Infrastructure Services | $ | 29,453 | $ | 44,460 | $ | 68,386 | ||||||
Net loss - Corporate and administrative (GAAP) | $ | (2,572) | $ | (4,545) | $ | (4,477) | ||||||
Net income (loss) applicable to Southwest Gas Holdings (GAAP) | $ | (11,576) | $ | 130,836 | $ | 234,380 | ||||||
Plus: | ||||||||||||
Legal reserve, net of tax | 3,800 | 3,800 | 3,800 | |||||||||
Riggs Distler transaction costs, net of tax | 10,913 | 11,663 | 11,663 | |||||||||
Adjusted net income applicable to Southwest Gas Holdings | $ | 3,137 | $ | 146,299 | $ | 249,843 | ||||||
Weighted average shares - diluted | 59,816 | 58,742 | 58,312 | |||||||||
Earnings per share | ||||||||||||
Diluted earnings (loss) per share | $ | (0.19) | $ | 2.23 | $ | 4.02 | ||||||
Adjusted consolidated earnings per diluted share | $ | 0.05 | $ | 2.49 | $ | 4.28 | ||||||
For shareholders information, contact: | For media information, contact: |
Ken Kenny | Sean Corbett |
(702) 876-7237 | (702) 876-7219 |
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southwest-gas-holdings-inc-reports-third-quarter-2021-results-301419482.html
SOURCE Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.
FAQ
What were Southwest Gas Holdings' Q3 2021 earnings per share?
How did the natural gas segment perform in Q3 2021?
What was the adjusted net income for Southwest Gas in Q3 2021?
What factors impacted Southwest Gas Holdings' financial results in Q3 2021?