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WEC Energy Group announces plan to increase dividend by 7.4 percent

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WEC Energy Group (NYSE: WEC) announced a planned increase in its quarterly dividend to 72.75 cents per share, marking a 7.4% rise from the current dividend. This new rate is set for the first quarter of 2022, with the dividend payable on March 1, 2022, to stockholders of record on February 14, 2022. The company also provided earnings guidance for 2022, anticipating earnings in the range of $4.29 to $4.33 per share, representing a 7.5% growth from the previous year.

Positive
  • Quarterly dividend increase to 72.75 cents per share, a rise of 5 cents.
  • Anticipated earnings for 2022 set between $4.29 and $4.33 per share, indicating a 7.5% growth.
Negative
  • None.

MILWAUKEE, Dec. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of WEC Energy Group (NYSE: WEC) today announced that it is planning to raise the quarterly dividend on the company's common stock to 72.75 cents per share in the first quarter of 2022. This would represent an increase of 5 cents per share, or 7.4 percent.

The directors expect to declare the new dividend at their regularly scheduled meeting in January. The dividend — which would be equivalent to an annual rate of $2.91 per share — would be payable March 1, 2022, to stockholders of record on Feb. 14, 2022.

"The board's review today is consistent with our ongoing plan targeting a dividend payout ratio of 65 to 70 percent of earnings," said Gale Klappa, executive chairman.

In addition, the company introduced earnings guidance for 2022. Calendar year 2022 earnings are expected to be in a range of $4.29 to $4.33 per share. The midpoint of the range is $4.31 per share, which represents growth of 7.5 percent from the midpoint of the company's original guidance for 2021. 

WEC Energy Group (NYSE: WEC), based in Milwaukee, is one of the nation's premier energy companies, serving 4.6 million customers in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota.

The company's principal utilities are We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service, Peoples Gas, North Shore Gas, Michigan Gas Utilities, Minnesota Energy Resources and Upper Michigan Energy Resources. Another major subsidiary, We Power, designs, builds and owns electric generating plants. In addition, WEC Infrastructure LLC owns a growing fleet of renewable generation facilities in the Midwest.

WEC Energy Group (wecenergygroup.com) is a Fortune 500 company and a component of the S&P 500. The company has approximately 40,000 stockholders of record, 7,200 employees and more than $38 billion of assets.

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements contained in this press release are "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. These statements are based upon management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning management's expectations and projections regarding earnings, earnings growth rates and future results. In some cases, forward-looking statements may be identified by reference to a future period or periods or by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "guidance," "intends," "may," "objectives," "plans," "possible," "potential," "projects," "should," "targets," "will" or similar terms or variations of these terms.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions, including business and competitive conditions in the company's service territories; the extent, duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or any future health pandemics; timing, resolution and impact of rate cases and other regulatory decisions; the company's ability to continue to successfully integrate the operations of its subsidiaries; availability of the company's generating facilities and/or distribution systems; unanticipated changes in fuel and purchased power costs; key personnel changes; varying, adverse or unusually severe weather conditions; continued industry restructuring and consolidation; continued advances in, and adoption of, new technologies that produce power or reduce power consumption; energy and environmental conservation efforts; the company's ability to successfully acquire and/or dispose of assets and projects; cyber-security threats and data security breaches; construction risks; equity and bond market fluctuations; changes in the company's and its subsidiaries' ability to access the capital markets; changes in tax legislation or our ability to use certain tax benefits and carryforwards; federal and state legislative and regulatory changes, including changes to environmental standards, the enforcement of these laws and regulations and changes in the interpretation of regulations by regulatory agencies; supply chain disruptions; political developments; current and future litigation and regulatory investigations, proceedings or inquiries; changes in accounting standards; the financial performance of American Transmission Company as well as projects in which the company's energy infrastructure business invests; the ability of the company to obtain additional generating capacity at competitive prices; goodwill and its possible impairment; and other factors described under the heading "Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity and Capital Resources" in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and under the headings "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information" and "Risk Factors" contained in the company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and in subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as may be required by law, the company expressly disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.

Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wec-energy-group-announces-plan-to-increase-dividend-by-7-4-percent-301436583.html

SOURCE WEC Energy Group

FAQ

When will WEC Energy Group announce its new dividend amount?

WEC Energy Group plans to declare the new dividend at their meeting in January 2022.

What is the expected dividend payout date for WEC Energy Group?

The dividend is payable on March 1, 2022, to stockholders of record on February 14, 2022.

How much will the dividend increase be for WEC Energy Group?

The dividend will increase by 5 cents per share, resulting in a new amount of 72.75 cents per share.

What are the earnings expectations for WEC Energy Group in 2022?

The earnings guidance for 2022 is expected to be between $4.29 and $4.33 per share.

What is the current dividend yield for WEC Energy Group?

The annual dividend rate will be $2.91 per share following the increase.

WEC Energy Group, Inc.

NYSE:WEC

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