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Published: 2021-11-10 00:00:00 ET
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Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

News Release

Analysts and Media Contact:

Dan Meziere (972) 855-3729

Atmos Energy Corporation Reports Earnings for Fiscal 2021;

Initiates Fiscal 2022 through Fiscal 2026 Guidance; Raises Dividend 8.8 Percent

DALLAS (November 10, 2021) - Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE: ATO) today reported consolidated results for its fourth fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2021.

Highlights

 

   

Earnings per diluted share was $5.12 for the year ended September 30, 2021; $0.37 per diluted share for the fourth fiscal quarter.

 

   

Fiscal 2021 diluted earnings per share increased 8.5% compared to fiscal 2020 adjusted diluted earnings per share of $4.72.

 

   

Consolidated net income was $665.6 million for the year ended September 30, 2021; $48.7 million for the fourth fiscal quarter.

 

   

Capital expenditures totaled $1.97 billion for the year ended September 30, 2021, with approximately 88 percent of capital spending related to system safety and reliability investments.

Outlook

 

   

Earnings per diluted share for fiscal 2022 is expected to be in the range of $5.40 to $5.60.

 

   

Capital expenditures are expected to be in the range of $2.4 billion to $2.5 billion in fiscal 2022.

 

   

The company’s Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.68 per common share. The indicated annual dividend for fiscal 2022 is $2.72, which represents an 8.8% increase over fiscal 2021.

“Fiscal 2021 was our 10th year executing our proven investment strategy of operating safely and reliably while we modernize our natural gas distribution, transmission, and storage systems,” said Kevin Akers, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atmos Energy. “Our success in Fiscal 2021 once again reflects our employees’ commitment and ongoing effort to keep our 3.2 million customers in our 1,400 communities, themselves and their families healthy and safe.”

Results for the Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2021

Consolidated operating income increased $80.9 million to $905.0 million for the year ended September 30, 2021, compared to $824.1 million in the prior year, which primarily reflects rate outcomes in both segments and customer growth in our distribution segment, partially offset by higher bad debt expense and lower service order revenue in our distribution segment, lower through system revenue in our pipeline and storage segment and increased system maintenance, depreciation and property tax expenses. Additionally, operating income decreased due to the refund of excess deferred income taxes, which was substantially offset by a corresponding decrease in income tax expense.

 

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Distribution operating income increased $90.3 million to $618.5 million for the year ended September 30, 2021, compared with $528.2 million in the prior year. The increase reflects a $150.6 million increase in rates and customer growth of $19.2 million, partially offset by a $43.6 million increase in depreciation and property tax expenses associated with increased capital investments, increased bad debt expense of $18.2 million, a $12.8 million increase in pipeline maintenance and other activities and an $8.4 million decrease in service order revenues.

Pipeline and storage operating income decreased $9.4 million to $286.5 million for the year ended September 30, 2021, compared with $295.9 million in the prior year. This decrease is primarily attributable to a $56.2 million increase from our GRIP filings approved in fiscal 2020 and 2021 which was more than offset by a $17.1 million increase in system maintenance, a $17.0 million increase in depreciation and property tax expenses due to increased capital investments, and an $8.2 million decrease in through system revenues.

Additionally, our fiscal year results reflect a reduction in our annual effective tax rate related to the refund of $55.9 million of excess deferred taxes. As a result, our consolidated effective tax rate declined from 19.5% in the prior year to 18.8% for the year ended September 30, 2021.

Capital expenditures increased $33.8 million to $1.97 billion for the year ended September 30, 2021, compared with $1.94 billion in the prior year, due to continued spending for infrastructure replacements and enhancements.

For the year ended September 30, 2021, the company had negative operating cash flow of $1.08 billion, a $2.12 billion decrease compared with the year ended September 30, 2020. The year-over-year decrease is primarily the result of approximately $2.3 billion incurred for gas costs during Winter Storm Uri.

Our equity capitalization ratio at September 30, 2021 was 51.9%, compared with 60.0% at September 30, 2020, due to the issuance of $600 million of 1.50% senior notes in October 2020 and a $2.2 billion debt issuance in March 2021 to finance gas costs incurred during Winter Storm Uri, partially offset by $606.7 million in equity issuances under our forward equity agreements. Excluding the $2.2 billion of incremental financing, our equity capitalization ratio would have been 60.6% at September 30, 2021.

Results for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2021

Consolidated operating income decreased $9.8 million to $91.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, from $100.8 million in the prior-year quarter. Rate case outcomes in both segments were more than offset by increased depreciation and property tax expenses, timing of system maintenance and increased employee costs. Additionally, operating income decreased due to the refund of excess deferred income taxes, which was substantially offset by a corresponding decrease in income tax expense.

Distribution operating income increased $5.7 million to $37.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared with $31.9 million in the prior-year quarter. The increase primarily reflects a net $22.9 million increase in rates and a $4.2 million increase in customer growth, which was partially offset by a $12.2 million increase in depreciation and property tax expenses associated with increased capital investments, a $7.0 million increase in pipeline maintenance and other activities and a $6.6 million increase in employee related costs.

 

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Pipeline and storage operating income decreased $15.5 million to $53.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared with $68.9 million in the prior-year quarter. This decrease is primarily attributable to a $16.4 million increase in system maintenance expenses primarily due to timing, a $2.2 million increase in depreciation and property tax expenses due to increased capital investments and a $1.7 million decrease in through system revenues, which were partially offset by a $14.4 million increase in rates.

Conference Call to be Webcast November 11, 2021

Atmos Energy will host a conference call with financial analysts to discuss the fiscal 2021 financial results and the outlook for fiscal 2022 through fiscal 2026 on Thursday, November 11, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The domestic telephone number is 877-407-3088 and the international telephone number is 201-389-0927. Kevin Akers, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Chris Forsythe, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will participate in the conference call. The conference call will be webcast live on the Atmos Energy website at www.atmosenergy.com. A playback of the call will be available on the website later that day.

Forward-Looking Statements

The matters discussed in this news release may contain “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. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements made in good faith by the company and are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this news release or any of the company’s other documents or oral presentations, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “forecast”, “goal”, “intend”, “objective”, “plan”, “projection”, “seek”, “strategy” or similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in this presentation, including the risks relating to regulatory trends and decisions, the company’s ability to continue to access the credit and capital markets, and the other factors discussed in the company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks and uncertainties include the following: federal, state and local regulatory and political trends and decisions, including the impact of rate proceedings before various state regulatory commissions; increased federal regulatory oversight and potential penalties; possible increased federal, state and local regulation of the safety of our operations; the impact of greenhouse gas emissions or other legislation or regulations intended to address climate change; possible significant costs and liabilities resulting from pipeline integrity and other similar programs and related repairs; the inherent hazards and risks involved in distributing, transporting and storing natural gas; the availability and accessibility of contracted gas supplies, interstate pipeline and/or storage services; increased competition from energy suppliers and alternative forms of energy; adverse weather conditions; the impact of climate change; the inability to continue to hire, train and retain operational, technical and managerial personnel; increased dependence on technology that may hinder the Company’s business if such technologies fail; the threat of cyber-attacks or acts of cyber-terrorism that could disrupt our business operations and information technology systems or result in the loss or exposure of confidential or sensitive customer, employee or Company information; natural disasters, terrorist activities or other events and other risks and

 

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uncertainties discussed herein, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control; the capital-intensive nature of our business; our ability to continue to access the credit and capital markets to execute our business strategy; market risks beyond our control affecting our risk management activities, including commodity price volatility, counterparty performance or creditworthiness and interest rate risk; the concentration of our operations in Texas; the impact of adverse economic conditions on our customers; changes in the availability and price of natural gas; increased costs of providing health care benefits, along with pension and postretirement health care benefits and increased funding requirements; and the outbreak of COVID-19 and its impact on business and economic conditions.

Accordingly, while we believe these forward-looking statements to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will approximate actual experience or that the expectations derived from them will be realized. Further, the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of our forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Due to the passage of Kansas House Bill 2585 in June 2020 we remeasured our deferred tax liability and updated our state deferred tax rate. As a result, we recorded a non-cash income tax benefit of $21.0 million for the year ended September 30, 2020. Due to the non-recurring nature of this benefit, we believe that net income and diluted net income per share before the non-cash income tax benefit provide a more relevant measure to analyze our financial performance than net income and diluted net income per share in order to allow investors to better analyze our core results and allow the information to be presented on a comparative basis to the prior year. Accordingly, the discussion and analysis of our financial performance herein will reference adjusted net income and adjusted diluted net income per share, non-GAAP measures, which are calculated as follows:

 

     Year Ended September 30  
     2021      2020      Change  
                      
     (In thousands, except per share data)  

Net income

   $ 665,563    $ 601,443    $ 64,120

Non-cash income tax benefits

     —          (20,962      20,962
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted net income

   $ 665,563    $ 580,481    $ 85,082
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted net income per share

   $ 5.12    $ 4.89    $ 0.23

Diluted EPS from non-cash income tax benefits

     —          (0.17      0.17
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted diluted net income per share

   $ 5.12    $ 4.72    $ 0.40
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

About Atmos Energy

Atmos Energy Corporation, an S&P 500 company headquartered in Dallas, is the country’s largest natural gas-only distributor. We safely deliver reliable, affordable, efficient and abundant natural gas to more than 3 million distribution customers in over 1,400 communities across eight states located primarily in the South. As part of our vision to be the safest provider of natural gas services, we are modernizing our business and infrastructure while continuing to invest in safety, innovation, environmental sustainability and our communities. Atmos Energy manages proprietary pipeline and storage assets, including one of the largest intrastate natural gas pipeline systems in Texas. Find us online at http://www.atmosenergy.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

This news release should be read in conjunction with the attached unaudited financial information.

 

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Atmos Energy Corporation

Financial Highlights (Unaudited)

 

Statements of Income

   Year Ended September 30  
(000s except per share)    2021     2020  

Operating revenues

    

Distribution segment

   $ 3,241,973   $ 2,626,993

Pipeline and storage segment

     637,347     609,339

Intersegment eliminations

     (471,830     (415,195
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     3,407,490     2,821,137

Purchased gas cost

    

Distribution segment

     1,501,695     1,071,227

Pipeline and storage segment

     1,582     1,548

Intersegment eliminations

     (470,560     (413,921
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     1,032,717     658,854

Operation and maintenance expense

     679,019     629,601

Depreciation and amortization

     477,977     429,828

Taxes, other than income

     312,779     278,755
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

     904,998     824,099

Other non-operating income (expense)

     (2,145     7,171

Interest charges

     83,554     84,474
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     819,299     746,796

Income tax expense

     153,736     145,353
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 665,563   $ 601,443
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic net income per share

   $ 5.12   $ 4.89
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted net income per share

   $ 5.12   $ 4.89
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash dividends per share

   $ 2.50   $ 2.30
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

     129,779     122,788
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

     129,834     122,872
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

             Year Ended September 30          

Summary Net Income by Segment (000s)

   2021      2020  

Distribution

   $ 445,862    $ 395,664

Pipeline and storage

     219,701      205,779
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 665,563    $ 601,443
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Atmos Energy Corporation

Financial Highlights, continued (Unaudited)

 

Statements of Income

   Three Months Ended September 30  
(000s except per share)    2021     2020  

Operating revenues

    

Distribution segment

   $ 523,899   $ 430,176

Pipeline and storage segment

     160,479     156,918

Intersegment eliminations

     (115,994     (112,180
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     568,384     474,914

Purchased gas cost

    

Distribution segment

     197,426     128,641

Pipeline and storage segment

     2,022     1,258

Intersegment eliminations

     (115,670     (111,868
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     83,778     18,031

Operation and maintenance expense

     199,531     180,072

Depreciation and amortization

     124,708     111,746

Taxes, other than income

     69,403     64,220
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

     90,964     100,845

Other non-operating expense

     (16,938     (1,962

Interest charges

     14,486     15,494
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     59,540     83,389

Income tax expense

     10,820     18,056
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 48,720   $ 65,333
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic net income per share

   $ 0.37   $ 0.53
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted net income per share

   $ 0.37   $ 0.53
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash dividends per share

   $ 0.625   $ 0.575
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

     131,564     124,096
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

     131,653     124,100
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

       Three Months Ended September 30    

Summary Net Income by Segment (000s)

   2021      2020  

Distribution

   $ 6,545    $ 19,944

Pipeline and storage

     42,175      45,389
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 48,720    $ 65,333
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Atmos Energy Corporation

Financial Highlights, continued (Unaudited)

 

Condensed Balance Sheets

   September 30,      September 30,  
(000s)    2021      2020  

Net property, plant and equipment

   $ 15,063,970    $ 13,355,347

Cash and cash equivalents

     116,723      20,808

Accounts receivable, net

     342,967      230,595

Gas stored underground

     178,116      111,950

Other current assets

     2,200,909      107,905
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current assets

     2,838,715      471,258

Goodwill

     731,257      731,257

Deferred charges and other assets

     974,720      801,170
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 19,608,662    $ 15,359,032
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity

   $ 7,906,889    $ 6,791,203

Long-term debt

     4,930,205      4,531,779
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total capitalization

     12,837,094      11,322,982

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

    
423,222
 
     235,775

Other current liabilities

    
686,681
 
     546,461

Current maturities of long-term debt

     2,400,452      165
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     3,510,355      782,401

Deferred income taxes

     1,705,809      1,456,569

Regulatory excess deferred taxes

     549,227      697,764

Deferred credits and other liabilities

     1,006,177      1,099,316
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 19,608,662    $ 15,359,032
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

7


Atmos Energy Corporation

Financial Highlights, continued (Unaudited)

 

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

   Year Ended September 30  
(000s)    2021     2020  

Cash flows from operating activities

    

Net income

   $ 665,563   $ 601,443

Depreciation and amortization

     477,977     429,828

Deferred income taxes

     155,355     155,322

One-time income tax benefit

     —         (20,962

Other

     (3,733     6,044

Change in Winter Storm Uri current regulatory asset

     (2,003,659     —    

Change in Winter Storm Uri long-term regulatory asset

     (76,652     —    

Changes in other assets and liabilities

     (299,102     (133,676
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     (1,084,251     1,037,999

Cash flows from investing activities

    

Capital expenditures

     (1,969,540     (1,935,676

Debt and equity securities activities, net

     (6,072     491

Other, net

     11,957     9,667
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (1,963,655     (1,925,518

Cash flows from financing activities

    

Net decrease in short-term debt

     —         (464,915

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of premium/discount

     2,797,346     999,450

Net proceeds from equity offering

     606,667     624,302

Issuance of common stock through stock purchase and employee retirement plans

     15,841     19,548

Settlement of interest rate swaps

     62,159     (4,426

Cash dividends paid

     (323,904     (282,444

Debt issuance costs

     (14,288     (7,738
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

     3,143,821     883,777
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     95,915     (3,742

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     20,808     24,550
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 116,723   $ 20,808
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     Three Months Ended September 30          Year Ended September 30      

Statistics

   2021      2020      2021      2020  

Consolidated distribution throughput (MMcf as metered)

     65,505      66,447      461,346      439,037

Consolidated pipeline and storage transportation volumes (MMcf)

     157,526      167,725      585,857      621,371

Distribution meters in service

     3,397,249      3,333,181      3,397,249      3,333,181

Distribution average cost of gas

   $ 5.96    $ 3.75    $ 4.86    $ 3.67

###

 

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