MILWAUKEE, July 31,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- WEC Energy Group (NYSE: WEC)
today reported net income of $211.3
million, or 67 cents per
share, for the second quarter of 2024 — down from $289.7 million, or 92
cents per share, in last year's second quarter.
For the first six months of 2024, the company recorded net
income of $833.6 million, or
$2.64 per share — up from
$797.2 million, or $2.52 per share, in the corresponding period a
year ago.
Consolidated revenues totaled $4.5
billion, down $265.9 million
from the first half of 2023.
"Despite the warmest winter on record, we're delivering solid
results, and we're firmly on track for a strong 2024," said
Scott Lauber, president and CEO.
"We're focused on the fundamentals of our business — financial
discipline, customer satisfaction and operating efficiency."
Retail deliveries of electricity — excluding the iron ore mine
in Michigan's Upper Peninsula —
were up by 0.5 percent in the second quarter of 2024, compared to
the second quarter last year.
Electricity consumption by small commercial and industrial
customers was 0.3 percent higher. Electricity use by large
commercial and industrial customers — excluding the iron ore mine —
declined by 0.1 percent.
Residential electricity use rose by 1.4 percent.
On a weather-normal basis, retail deliveries of electricity
during the second quarter of this year – excluding the iron ore
mine — decreased by 0.3 percent.
The company is reaffirming its 2024 earnings guidance of
$4.80 to $4.90 per share. This assumes normal weather for
the remainder of the year.
Earnings per share listed in this news release are on a fully
diluted basis.
Conference call
A conference call is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Central time, Wednesday, July
31. The call will review 2024 second-quarter earnings and
the company's outlook for the future.
All interested parties, including stockholders, news media and
the general public, are invited to listen. Access the call at
888-330-2443 up to 15 minutes before it begins. The number for
international callers is 240-789-2728. The conference ID is
3088105.
Conference call access also is available at wecenergygroup.com.
Under 'Webcasts,' select 'Q2 Earnings.' In conjunction with this
earnings announcement, WEC Energy Group will post on its website a
package of detailed financial information on its second-quarter
performance. The materials will be available at 6:30 a.m. Central time, Wednesday, July 31.
Replay
A replay will be available on the website and by phone. Access
to the webcast replay will be available on the website about two
hours after the call. Access to a phone replay also will be
available approximately two hours after the call and remain
accessible through Aug. 14, 2024.
Domestic callers should dial 800-770-2030. International
callers should dial 647-362-9199. The replay conference ID is
3088105.
WEC Energy Group (NYSE: WEC), based in Milwaukee, is one of the nation's premier
energy companies, serving 4.7 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 states ranging from South
Dakota to Texas.
WEC Energy Group (wecenergygroup.com) is a Fortune 500
company and a component of the S&P 500. The company has
approximately 35,000 stockholders of record, 7,000 employees and
more than $44 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, dividend payments 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; timing, resolution and impact of rate cases and other
regulatory decisions; including rider reconciliations; 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;
unusual, varying or 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;
electrification initiatives, mandates and other efforts to reduce
the use of natural gas; the company's ability to successfully
acquire and/or dispose of assets and projects and to execute on its
capital plan; terrorist, physical or cyber-security threats or
attacks and data security breaches; construction risks; labor
disruptions; 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, state, and local
legislative and regulatory changes, including changes in
rate-setting policies or procedures and environmental standards,
the enforcement of these laws and regulations or permit conditions
and changes in the interpretation of regulations by regulatory
agencies; supply chain disruptions; inflation; political or
geopolitical developments, including impacts on the global economy,
supply chain and fuel prices, generally, from ongoing, escalating,
or expanding regional conflicts; the impact from any health crises,
including epidemics and pandemics; current and future litigation
and regulatory investigations, proceedings or inquiries; changes in
accounting standards; the financial performance of the 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, 2023, 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.
Tables follow
WEC ENERGY GROUP, INC.
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Six Months Ended
|
|
June 30
|
|
June 30
|
(in millions, except per share
amounts)
|
|
2024
|
|
2023
|
|
2024
|
|
2023
|
Operating revenues
|
|
$
1,772.0
|
|
$
1,830.0
|
|
$
4,452.2
|
|
$
4,718.1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of
sales
|
|
469.7
|
|
533.0
|
|
1,396.8
|
|
1,842.7
|
Other operation and
maintenance
|
|
533.4
|
|
496.0
|
|
1,064.2
|
|
1,030.0
|
Depreciation and
amortization
|
|
336.6
|
|
313.9
|
|
670.0
|
|
619.4
|
Property and revenue
taxes
|
|
67.5
|
|
61.8
|
|
143.0
|
|
131.4
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
1,407.2
|
|
1,404.7
|
|
3,274.0
|
|
3,623.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income
|
|
364.8
|
|
425.3
|
|
1,178.2
|
|
1,094.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity in earnings of
transmission affiliates
|
|
46.8
|
|
43.6
|
|
91.6
|
|
87.4
|
Other income,
net
|
|
40.6
|
|
48.3
|
|
84.7
|
|
89.1
|
Interest
expense
|
|
200.6
|
|
178.7
|
|
392.6
|
|
350.9
|
Other expense
|
|
(113.2)
|
|
(86.8)
|
|
(216.3)
|
|
(174.4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before income
taxes
|
|
251.6
|
|
338.5
|
|
961.9
|
|
920.2
|
Income tax
expense
|
|
41.6
|
|
48.5
|
|
129.3
|
|
122.6
|
Net income
|
|
210.0
|
|
290.0
|
|
832.6
|
|
797.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock
dividends of subsidiary
|
|
0.3
|
|
0.3
|
|
0.6
|
|
0.6
|
Net loss attributed to
noncontrolling interests
|
|
1.6
|
|
—
|
|
1.6
|
|
0.2
|
Net income attributed to common
shareholders
|
|
$
211.3
|
|
$
289.7
|
|
$
833.6
|
|
$
797.2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings per share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
0.67
|
|
$
0.92
|
|
$
2.64
|
|
$
2.53
|
Diluted
|
|
$
0.67
|
|
$
0.92
|
|
$
2.64
|
|
$
2.52
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average common shares
outstanding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
315.9
|
|
315.4
|
|
315.8
|
|
315.4
|
Diluted
|
|
316.2
|
|
315.9
|
|
316.1
|
|
315.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends per share of common
stock
|
|
$
0.8350
|
|
$
0.7800
|
|
$
1.6700
|
|
$
1.5600
|
WEC ENERGY GROUP, INC.
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(in millions, except share and per share
amounts)
|
|
June 30, 2024
|
|
December 31, 2023
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash
equivalents
|
|
$
224.0
|
|
$
42.9
|
Accounts receivable and
unbilled revenues, net of reserves of $166.9 and $193.5,
respectively
|
|
1,242.7
|
|
1,503.2
|
Materials, supplies,
and inventories
|
|
695.8
|
|
775.2
|
Prepaid
taxes
|
|
182.6
|
|
173.9
|
Other
prepayments
|
|
52.6
|
|
76.8
|
Other
|
|
186.4
|
|
223.7
|
Current assets
|
|
2,584.1
|
|
2,795.7
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term assets
|
|
|
|
|
Property, plant, and
equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of
$11,263.4 and
$11,073.1, respectively
|
|
32,263.8
|
|
31,581.5
|
Regulatory assets (June
30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 include $82.3 and $85.9,
respectively,
related to WEPCo Environmental Trust Finance I, LLC)
|
|
3,393.1
|
|
3,249.8
|
Equity investment in
transmission affiliates
|
|
2,055.8
|
|
2,005.9
|
Goodwill
|
|
3,052.8
|
|
3,052.8
|
Pension and OPEB
assets
|
|
901.2
|
|
870.9
|
Other
|
|
331.4
|
|
383.1
|
Long-term assets
|
|
41,998.1
|
|
41,144.0
|
Total assets
|
|
$
44,582.2
|
|
$
43,939.7
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and Equity
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
Short-term
debt
|
|
$
761.3
|
|
$
2,020.9
|
Current portion of
long-term debt (June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 include $9.1
and $9.0,
respectively, related to WEPCo Environmental Trust Finance I,
LLC)
|
|
1,157.4
|
|
1,264.2
|
Accounts
payable
|
|
799.9
|
|
896.6
|
Customer credit
balances
|
|
178.8
|
|
236.2
|
Other
|
|
594.2
|
|
696.9
|
Current liabilities
|
|
3,491.6
|
|
5,114.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term debt (June
30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 include $80.9 and $85.3,
respectively,
related to WEPCo Environmental Trust Finance I, LLC)
|
|
16,907.8
|
|
15,512.8
|
Deferred income
taxes
|
|
5,265.4
|
|
4,918.5
|
Deferred revenue,
net
|
|
345.5
|
|
356.4
|
Regulatory
liabilities
|
|
3,834.7
|
|
3,697.7
|
Intangible
liabilities
|
|
568.0
|
|
594.8
|
Environmental
remediation liabilities
|
|
437.0
|
|
463.7
|
Asset retirement
obligations
|
|
543.6
|
|
374.2
|
Other
|
|
794.2
|
|
835.3
|
Long-term liabilities
|
|
28,696.2
|
|
26,753.4
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments and
contingencies
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common shareholders' equity
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock – $0.01
par value; 650,000,000 shares authorized; 316,079,401 and
315,434,531
shares outstanding, respectively
|
|
3.2
|
|
3.2
|
Additional paid in
capital
|
|
4,168.3
|
|
4,115.9
|
Retained
earnings
|
|
7,919.2
|
|
7,612.8
|
Accumulated other
comprehensive loss
|
|
(7.8)
|
|
(7.7)
|
Common shareholders' equity
|
|
12,082.9
|
|
11,724.2
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock of
subsidiary
|
|
30.4
|
|
30.4
|
Noncontrolling
interests
|
|
281.1
|
|
316.9
|
Total liabilities and equity
|
|
$
44,582.2
|
|
$
43,939.7
|
WEC ENERGY GROUP, INC.
|
|
|
|
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
|
|
Six Months Ended
|
|
|
June 30
|
(in millions)
|
|
2024
|
|
2023
|
Operating activities
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$
832.6
|
|
$
797.6
|
Reconciliation to cash
provided by operating activities
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and
amortization
|
|
670.0
|
|
619.4
|
Deferred income taxes
and ITCs, net
|
|
321.5
|
|
113.4
|
Contributions and
payments related to pension and OPEB plans
|
|
(7.5)
|
|
(9.2)
|
Equity income in
transmission affiliates, net of distributions
|
|
(19.6)
|
|
(13.4)
|
Change in –
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts receivable
and unbilled revenues, net
|
|
254.2
|
|
529.5
|
Materials, supplies,
and inventories
|
|
79.4
|
|
213.3
|
Collateral on
deposit
|
|
47.4
|
|
(28.9)
|
Amounts recoverable
from customers
|
|
(17.0)
|
|
33.7
|
Other current
assets
|
|
19.1
|
|
16.2
|
Accounts
payable
|
|
(90.3)
|
|
(388.4)
|
Customer credit
balances
|
|
(57.4)
|
|
(10.9)
|
Other current
liabilities
|
|
(53.1)
|
|
(28.9)
|
Other, net
|
|
(78.3)
|
|
(89.1)
|
Net cash provided by operating
activities
|
|
1,901.0
|
|
1,754.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investing activities
|
|
|
|
|
Capital
expenditures
|
|
(1,138.4)
|
|
(1,073.7)
|
Acquisition of West
Riverside Energy Center
|
|
(98.2)
|
|
(95.3)
|
Acquisition of
Whitewater Cogeneration Facility
|
|
—
|
|
(76.0)
|
Acquisition of Sapphire
Sky Wind Energy LLC, net of cash acquired of $0.3
|
|
—
|
|
(442.6)
|
Acquisition of Samson I
Solar Energy Center LLC, net of cash acquired of $5.2
|
|
—
|
|
(249.4)
|
Acquisition of Red Barn
Wind Park
|
|
—
|
|
(143.8)
|
Capital contributions
to transmission affiliates
|
|
(30.3)
|
|
(33.3)
|
Proceeds from the sale
of assets
|
|
0.9
|
|
30.4
|
Proceeds from the sale
of investments held in rabbi trust
|
|
14.8
|
|
10.4
|
Payments for American
Transmission Company LLC's construction costs that will be
reimbursed
|
|
(0.6)
|
|
(19.1)
|
Other, net
|
|
1.0
|
|
(9.0)
|
Net cash used in investing
activities
|
|
(1,250.8)
|
|
(2,101.4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise of stock
options
|
|
4.7
|
|
2.3
|
Issuance of common
stock
|
|
38.2
|
|
—
|
Purchase of common
stock
|
|
(3.2)
|
|
(9.5)
|
Dividends paid on
common stock
|
|
(527.2)
|
|
(492.1)
|
Issuance of long-term
debt
|
|
2,074.2
|
|
1,450.0
|
Retirement of long-term
debt
|
|
(785.4)
|
|
(76.8)
|
Change in commercial
paper
|
|
(1,260.4)
|
|
(556.6)
|
Purchase of additional
ownership interest in Samson I Solar Energy Center LLC from
noncontrolling
interest
|
|
(28.1)
|
|
—
|
Payments for debt
extinguishment and issuance costs
|
|
(23.6)
|
|
(9.6)
|
Other, net
|
|
(1.7)
|
|
(2.7)
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing
activities
|
|
(512.5)
|
|
305.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted
cash
|
|
137.7
|
|
(42.1)
|
Cash, cash equivalents,
and restricted cash at beginning of period
|
|
165.2
|
|
182.2
|
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of
period
|
|
$
302.9
|
|
$
140.1
|
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SOURCE WEC Energy Group