Entergy Corporation (ETR - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2018 adjusted earnings of 60 cents per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 48 cents by 25%. However, the reported figure decreased 21.1% from 76 cents registered in the year-ago quarter.
Excluding the effects of special items, the company incurred GAAP loss of 36 cents per share compared with a loss of $2.26 per share a year ago.
For 2018, the company reported adjusted earnings of $7.31 per share, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.15 by 2.2%. The bottom line also increased 1.5% from $7.20 in the prior year.
Total Revenues
In the quarter under review, total revenues came in at $2,512.5 million, which exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,961 million by 28.1%. However, the top line fell 4.2% from the year-ago quarter’s $2,623.8 million.
For 2018, the company’s total revenues amounted to $11.01 billion, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $10.74 billion by 2.4%.
However, the reported figure slipped 0.6% from the year-ago quarter’s $11.07 billion.
Segment Results
Utility: The segment’s quarterly adjusted earnings came in at $1.91 per share compared with 74 cents in the prior-year quarter.
Parent & Other: The segment incurred adjusted loss of 44 cents per share compared with a loss of 33 cents in the prior-year quarter.
Entergy Wholesale Commodities (EWC): The segment incurred adjusted loss of 87 cents per share against earnings of 35 cents registered in the year-ago quarter.
Highlights of the Release
Operating expenses in the quarter summed $2.74 billion, up 14.9% from $2.39 billion in the year-ago quarter.
Interest expenses were $197.8 million, up 7.3% from $184.4 million in the year-ago quarter.
In the reported quarter, total retail customers served by the company increased 0.6% to nearly 2.9 million.
Financial Highlights
As of Dec 31, 2018, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $481million compared with $781 million as of Dec 31, 2017.
At the end of 2018, the company generated cash from operating activities of $2.39 billion, down from $2.62 billion in the prior year.
Guidance
For 2019, Entergy expects its operational earnings to remain in the band of $5.10-$5.50 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s earnings is currently pegged at $5.35, higher than the midpoint of the company’s guided range.
Zacks Rank
Entergy carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Recent Utility Releases
Ameren Corporation’s (AEE - Free Report) fourth-quarter 2018 earnings of 28 cents per share from continuing operations missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 32 cents by 12.5%.
American Electric Power Co. (AEP - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2018 operating earnings of 72 cents per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2018 adjusted earnings of $1.49 per share, which fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.51 by 1.3%.
Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019
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Entergy Corporation (ETR - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2018 adjusted earnings of 60 cents per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 48 cents by 25%. However, the reported figure decreased 21.1% from 76 cents registered in the year-ago quarter.
Excluding the effects of special items, the company incurred GAAP loss of 36 cents per share compared with a loss of $2.26 per share a year ago.
For 2018, the company reported adjusted earnings of $7.31 per share, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.15 by 2.2%. The bottom line also increased 1.5% from $7.20 in the prior year.
Total Revenues
In the quarter under review, total revenues came in at $2,512.5 million, which exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,961 million by 28.1%. However, the top line fell 4.2% from the year-ago quarter’s $2,623.8 million.
For 2018, the company’s total revenues amounted to $11.01 billion, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $10.74 billion by 2.4%.
However, the reported figure slipped 0.6% from the year-ago quarter’s $11.07 billion.
Segment Results
Utility: The segment’s quarterly adjusted earnings came in at $1.91 per share compared with 74 cents in the prior-year quarter.
Parent & Other: The segment incurred adjusted loss of 44 cents per share compared with a loss of 33 cents in the prior-year quarter.
Entergy Wholesale Commodities (EWC): The segment incurred adjusted loss of 87 cents per share against earnings of 35 cents registered in the year-ago quarter.
Highlights of the Release
Operating expenses in the quarter summed $2.74 billion, up 14.9% from $2.39 billion in the year-ago quarter.
Interest expenses were $197.8 million, up 7.3% from $184.4 million in the year-ago quarter.
In the reported quarter, total retail customers served by the company increased 0.6% to nearly 2.9 million.
Financial Highlights
As of Dec 31, 2018, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $481million compared with $781 million as of Dec 31, 2017.
At the end of 2018, the company generated cash from operating activities of $2.39 billion, down from $2.62 billion in the prior year.
Guidance
For 2019, Entergy expects its operational earnings to remain in the band of $5.10-$5.50 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s earnings is currently pegged at $5.35, higher than the midpoint of the company’s guided range.
Zacks Rank
Entergy carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Recent Utility Releases
Ameren Corporation’s (AEE - Free Report) fourth-quarter 2018 earnings of 28 cents per share from continuing operations missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 32 cents by 12.5%.
American Electric Power Co. (AEP - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2018 operating earnings of 72 cents per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2018 adjusted earnings of $1.49 per share, which fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.51 by 1.3%.
Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019
In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year?
Who wouldn't? Our annual Top 10s have beaten the market with amazing regularity. In 2018, while the market dropped -5.2%, the portfolio scored well into double-digits overall with individual stocks rising as high as +61.5%. And from 2012-2017, while the market boomed +126.3, Zacks' Top 10s reached an even more sensational +181.9%.
See Latest Stocks Today >>
Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.
This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.
Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>
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