Westar Energy Announces 1st Quarter 2017 Results.
TOPEKA, Kan., May 9, 2017 - Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE:WR) today announced earnings of $60 million, or $0.42 per share, for the first quarter 2017 compared with earnings of $66 million, or $0.46 per share, for the first quarter 2016. Lower net income for the quarter, compared with last year, was driven by the effect of mild weather resulting in lower residential and commercial sales. Also contributing to the lower net income was a decrease in corporate-owned life insurance income, higher depreciation expense due in part to the start of operations of our Western Plains Wind Farm, and higher distribution expense from taking advantage of the warmer winter weather to execute our vegetation management strategy earlier in the year. Additional Information Because of the pending transaction with Great Plains Energy, Westar Energy will no longer host a quarterly webcast and conference call. Investors may continue to contact our Investor Relations Department at (785) 575-8227. This earnings announcement, a package of detailed first-quarter financial information, the company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended Mar. 31, 2017, and other filings the company has made with the Securities and Exchange Commission are available on the company's website at www.WestarEnergy.com. - 30 - As Kansas' largest electric utility, Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE:WR) provides customers the safe, reliable electricity needed to power their businesses and homes. We have 7,800 MW of electric generation capacity that includes renewables and traditional power sources with half the electricity supplied to our more than 700,000 customers from emissions free sources: nuclear, wind and solar, with a third coming from renewables. We are a leader in electric transmission in Kansas coordinating a network of lines and substations that supports one of the largest consolidations of wind energy in the nation. Our employees live, volunteer and work in the communities we serve.. For more information about Westar Energy, visit us on the Internet at http://www.WestarEnergy.com. Forward-looking statements: Certain matters discussed in this news release are "forward-looking statements." The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 has established that these statements qualify for safe harbors from liability. Forward-looking statements may include words like "believe," "anticipate," "target," "expect," "pro forma," "estimate," "intend," "guidance" or words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements describe future plans, objectives, expectations or goals. Although Westar Energy believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, all forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include those discussed herein as well as (1) those discussed in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2016 (a) under the heading, "Forward-Looking Statements," (b) in ITEM 1. Business, (c) in ITEM 1A. Risk Factors, (d) in ITEM 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and (e) in ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data: Notes 3, 14 and 16; (2) those discussed in the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed May 9, 2017, (a) under the heading, "Forward-Looking Statements," (b) in ITEM 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and (c) in Part I, Financial Information, ITEM 1. Financial Statements: Notes 3, 11 and 12 and (d) in ITEM 1A. Risk Factors; and (3) other factors discussed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date such statement was made, and the company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement was made. Media Contact: Gina Penzig Media Relations Manager Phone: 785-575-8089 Gina.Penzig@westarenergy.com Media line: 888-613-0003 Investor Contact: Cody VandeVelde Director, Investor Relations Phone: 785-575-8227 Cody.VandeVelde@westarenergy.com Westar Energy, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) | Three Months Ended Mar. 31, | | 2017 | | 2016 | | Change | | % Change | | (Dollars In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) | REVENUES: | | | | | | | | Residential | $ | 176,169 | | | $ | 179,290 | | | $ | (3,121 | ) | | (1.7 | ) | Commercial | 155,707 | | | 165,673 | | | (9,966 | ) | | (6.0 | ) | Industrial | 98,516 | | | 100,697 | | | (2,181 | ) | | (2.2 | ) | Other retail | (12,349 | ) | | (14,381 | ) | | 2,032 | | | 14.1 | | Total Retail Revenues | 418,043 | | | 431,279 | | | (13,236 | ) | | (3.1 | ) | Wholesale | 77,367 | | | 67,412 | | | 9,955 | | | 14.8 | | Transmission | 69,441 | | | 63,915 | | | 5,526 | | | 8.6 | | Other | 7,723 | | | 6,844 | | | 879 | | | 12.8 | | Total Revenues | 572,574 | | | 569,450 | | | 3,124 | | | 0.5 | | OPERATING EXPENSES: | | | | | | | | Fuel and purchased power | 113,855 | | | 100,058 | | | 13,797 | | | 13.8 | | SPP network transmission costs | 60,674 | | | 60,760 | | | (86 | ) | | (0.1 | ) | Operating and maintenance | 81,198 | | | 77,757 | | | 3,441 | | | 4.4 | | Depreciation and amortization | 88,625 | | | 83,640 | | | 4,985 | | | 6.0 | | Selling, general and administrative | 59,157 | | | 56,456 | | | 2,701 | | | 4.8 | | Taxes other than income tax | 42,716 | | | 48,968 | | | (6,252 | ) | | (12.8 | ) | Total Operating Expenses | 446,225 | | | 427,639 | | | 18,586 | | | 4.3 | | INCOME FROM OPERATIONS | 126,349 | | | 141,811 | | | (15,462 | ) | | (10.9 | ) | OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE): | | | | | | | | Investment earnings | 3,155 | | | 2,016 | | | 1,139 | | | 56.5 | | Other income | 1,300 | | | 9,477 | | | (8,177 | ) | | (86.3 | ) | Other expense | (5,316 | ) | | (5,543 | ) | | 227 | | | 4.1 | | Total Other (Expense) Income | (861 | ) | | 5,950 | | | (6,811 | ) | | (114.5 | ) | Interest expense | 41,095 | | | 40,431 | | | 664 | | | 1.6 | | INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES | 84,393 | | | 107,330 | | | (22,937 | ) | | (21.4 | ) | Income tax expense | 20,911 | | | 38,622 | | | (17,711 | ) | | (45.9 | ) | NET INCOME | 63,482 | | | 68,708 | | | (5,226 | ) | | (7.6 | ) | Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | 3,821 | | | 3,123 | | | 698 | | | 22.4 | | NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK | $ | 59,661 | | | $ | 65,585 | | | $ | (5,924 | ) | | (9.0 | ) | BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER AVERAGE COMMON SHARE OUTSTANDING ATTRIBUTABLE TO WESTAR ENERGY, INC. (See 10-Q Note 2): | | | | | | | | Basic earnings per common share | $ | 0.42 | | | $ | 0.46 | | | $ | (0.04 | ) | | (8.7 | ) | Diluted earnings per common share | $ | 0.42 | | | $ | 0.46 | | | $ | (0.04 | ) | | (8.7 | ) | AVERAGE EQUIVALENT COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING (in thousands): | | | | | | | | Basic | 142,437 | | | 141,993 | | | 444 | | | 0.3 | | Diluted | 142,696 | | | 142,311 | | | 385 | | | 0.3 | | DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE | $ | 0.40 | | | $ | 0.38 | | | $ | 0.02 | | | 5.3 | | Effective income tax rate | 25 | % | | 36 | % | | | | |
This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Westar Energy, Inc. via Globenewswire
Source: Thomson Reuters ONE
(May 9, 2017 - 5:00 PM EDT)
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