Ameren (AEE) Tops Q4 Earnings Estimates, Issues '18 View

EXC AEE AEP D

Ameren Corporation (AEE - Free Report) posted fourth-quarter 2017 adjusted earnings from continuing operations of 39 cents per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 34 cents by 14.7%. The bottom line also surged 200% year over year, primarily due to a change in the timing of interim period revenue recognition at Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution.

For 2017, Ameren Corporation reported adjusted earnings of $2.83 per share, compared with earnings of $2.68 in the prior year. Full-year earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.79 by 1.4%.

Total Revenues

Total revenues of $1,402 million in the quarter were up 3.4% year over year owing to higher electric as well as natural gas sales volumes.

For 2017, the company generated revenues worth $6,177 million that lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6,330 million. However, on a year-over-year basis, revenues rose 1.7% from $6,076 million in the prior year.

Highlights of the Release

Ameren’s total electricity sales volumes in the quarter decreased 2.1% to 17,854 million kilowatt hours (kWh) from 18,235 million kWh in the prior-year quarter. Gas volumes improved 11.3% 59 million dekatherms.

Total operating expenses were $1,177 million, down 2.8% year over year.

Interest expenses were $96 million compared with $95 million with the year-ago figure.

Ameren Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

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