Today Emera (TSX: EMA) announced financial results for the first quarter
of 2019.
Q1 2019 Highlights:
Reported Net Income
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Q1 2019 reported net income was $312 million, compared with net income
of $271 million in Q1 2018
-
Q1 2019 reported earnings per common share were $1.32, compared with
$1.17 per common share in Q1 2018
Adjusted Net Income (1)
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Q1 2019 adjusted net income was $224 million, compared with $202
million in Q1 2018
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Q1 2019 adjusted earnings per common share were $0.95, compared with
$0.87 in Q1 2018
Cash Flow
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Operating cash flow, before changes in working capital, decreased by
$26 million to $418 million in Q1 2019, compared with $444 million in
Q1 2018
DRIP Discount
-
Discount offered on the reinvestment of cash dividends under the
dividend reinvestment plan (the “DRIP”) reduced from five per cent to
two per cent
(1) See “Non-GAAP Measures” noted below.
“Our business continued to perform well during the first quarter,
delivering strong financial results while making measurable progress on
our strategic objectives,” said Scott Balfour, President and CEO. “With
the recent close of our New England Gas Generation transaction and the
announced sale of Emera Maine, we are well positioned to focus on our
robust capital investment profile.”
Financial Highlights:
For the
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Three months ended March 31
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millions of Canadian dollars (except per share amounts)
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2019
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2018
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Net income attributable to common shareholders
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$
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312
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$
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271
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After-tax mark-to-market gain (loss)
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88
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$
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69
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Adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders (1)(2)
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$
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224
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$
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202
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Earnings per common share – basic
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$
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1.32
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$
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1.17
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Adjusted earnings per common share – basic (1)(2)
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$
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0.95
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$
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0.87
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Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding - basic
(millions of shares)
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236
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231
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(1) See “Non-GAAP Measures” noted below
(2)
Adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per common share exclude the
effect of mark-to-market adjustments
After-tax mark-to-market gains increased $19 million to $88 million in
2019 compared to $69 million in 2018, mainly due to changes in Emera
Energy’s existing positions on gas contracts and a larger reversal of
mark-to-market losses in 2019 compared to 2018, partially offset by
higher amortization of gas transportation assets in 2019.
The weaker Canadian dollar increased earnings by $13 million and
adjusted earnings by $8 million in Q1 2019 compared to Q1 2018.
Consolidated Financial Review:
The following table highlights significant changes in adjusted net
income from 2018 to 2019 in the first quarter.
For the
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Three months ended
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millions of Canadian dollars
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March 31
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Adjusted net income – 2018 (1)(2)
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$
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202
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Gas Utilities and Infrastructure
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14
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Gain on sale of property in Florida
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10
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Canadian Electric Utilities
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6
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Other Variances
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(8)
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Adjusted net income – 2019 (1)(2)
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$
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224
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(1) See “Non-GAAP Measures” noted below
(2)
Excludes the effect of mark-to-market adjustments
Segmented Results:
Effective January 1, 2019, Emera has revised its reportable segments to
align with strategic priorities and internal governance. Emera reports
its results in five operating segments: Florida Electric Utility,
Canadian Electric Utilities, Other Electric Utilities, Gas Utilities and
Infrastructure and Other.
For the
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Three months ended March 31
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millions of Canadian dollars (except per share amounts)
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2019
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2018
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Adjusted net income (1)
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Florida Electric Utility
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$
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61
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$
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60
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Canadian Electric Utilities
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96
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90
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Other Electric Utilities (2)
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16
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15
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Gas Utilities and Infrastructure
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67
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53
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Other (2)
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(16)
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(16)
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Adjusted net income (1)
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$
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224
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$
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202
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After-tax mark-to-market gain (loss)
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88
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69
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Net income attributable to common shareholders
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$
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312
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$
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271
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EPS (basic)
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$
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1.32
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$
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1.17
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Adjusted EPS (basic) (1)(2)
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$
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0.95
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$
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0.87
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(1) See “Non-GAAP Measures” noted below.
(2)
Excludes the effect of mark-to-market adjustments.
Florida Electric Utility’s CAD net income increased by $1 million
to $61 million in Q1 2019, compared to $60 million in Q1 2018. This
increase was due to higher revenues related to the in-service solar
generation projects, lower OM&G due to the timing of generation outages
and a weaker Canadian dollar, partially offset by lower revenues due to
less favourable weather.
Canadian Electric Utilities’ net income increased by $6 million
to $96 million, compared to $90 million in Q1 2019. The increase was due
to higher sales volume due to weather and lower OM&G, primarily a result
of lower storm costs, at Nova Scotia Power Inc.
Other Electric Utilities’ CAD net income, adjusted to exclude
mark-to-market, increased by $1 million to $16 million in Q1 2019,
compared to $15 million in Q1 2018.
Gas Utilities and Infrastructure’s CAD net income increased by
$14 million to $67 million in Q1 2019, compared to $53 million in Q1
2018. This increase was due to favourable weather conditions and the
optimization of pipeline capacity at New Mexico Gas Company, lower
depreciation and amortization at Peoples Gas and customer growth at both
utilities.
Other’s net loss, adjusted to exclude mark-to-market, in Q1 2019
was $16 million, consistent with Q1 2018. Adjusted earnings from Emera
Energy were $52 million, a decrease of $3 million from Q1 2018. Also in
Q1 2019 was a $2 million loss associated with the sales of the New
England Gas Generation portfolio and Bayside and a $10 million gain from
the sale of a property in Florida.
Discount on Reinvested Dividends:
Emera also announced today a change from five per cent to two per cent
of the applicable discount from the average market price for common
shares purchased in connection with the reinvestment of cash dividends
under its DRIP. The revision aligns the Company’s discount rate with
industry peers and offers value for those shareholders electing to
participate in the DRIP. For common shareholders who have elected
participation in the DRIP, reinvestment of their dividends will occur at
the new discount beginning on the next dividend declaration date.
Additional information regarding Emera’s DRIP is available on its
website at www.emera.com.
Non-GAAP Measures
Emera uses financial measures that do not have standardized meaning
under USGAAP and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by
other entities. Emera calculates the non-GAAP measures by adjusting
certain GAAP and non-GAAP measures for specific items the Company
believes are significant, but not reflective of underlying operations in
the period. Refer to the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section of our
Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for further discussion of
these items.
Forward Looking Information
This news release contains forward-looking information within the
meaning of applicable securities laws. By its nature, forward-looking
information requires Emera to make assumptions and is subject to
inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements reflect Emera
management’s current beliefs and are based on information currently
available to Emera management. There is a risk that predictions,
forecasts, conclusions and projections that constitute forward-looking
information will not prove to be accurate, that Emera’s assumptions may
not be correct and that actual results may differ materially from such
forward-looking information. Additional detailed information about these
assumptions, risks and uncertainties is included in Emera’s securities
regulatory filings, including under the heading “Business Risks and Risk
Management” in Emera’s annual Management’s Discussion and Analysis, and
under the heading “Principal Risks and Uncertainties” in the notes to
Emera’s annual and interim financial statements, which can be found on
SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Teleconference Call
The company will be hosting a teleconference today, Friday, May 10, 2019
at 9:30 a.m. Atlantic (8:30 a.m. Eastern) to discuss the Q1 2019
financial results.
Analysts and other interested parties in North America are invited to
participate by dialing 1-866-521-4909. International parties are invited
to participate by dialing 1-647-427-2311. Participants should dial in at
least 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. No pass code is
required.
A live and archived audio webcast of the teleconference will be
available on the Company's website, www.emera.com.
A replay of the teleconference will be available two hours after the
conclusion of the call until June 11, 2019, by dialing 1-800-585-8367
and entering pass code 9045319.
Annual General Meeting
Emera will hold its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at
2:00 p.m. Atlantic (1:00 p.m. Eastern) at the Halifax Convention Centre,
Argyle Suite, Level 2, 1650 Argyle Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
About Emera
Emera Inc. is a geographically diverse energy and services company
headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with approximately $32 billion in
assets and 2018 revenues of more than $6.5 billion. The company
primarily invests in regulated electricity generation and electricity
and gas transmission and distribution with a strategic focus on
transformation from high carbon to low carbon energy sources. Emera has
investments throughout North America, and in four Caribbean countries.
Emera’s common and preferred shares are listed on the Toronto Stock
Exchange and trade respectively under the symbol EMA, EMA.PR.A,
EMA.PR.B, EMA.PR.C, EMA.PR.E, EMA.PR.F and EMA.PR.H. Depositary receipts
representing common shares of Emera are listed on the Barbados Stock
Exchange under the symbol EMABDR and on The Bahamas International
Securities Exchange under the symbol EMAB. Additional Information can be
accessed at www.emera.com
or at www.sedar.com.
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