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Share Name | Share Symbol | Market | Type |
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Cleco Corp. | NYSE:CNL | NYSE | Common Stock |
Price Change | % Change | Share Price | High Price | Low Price | Open Price | Shares Traded | Last Trade | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0.00 | 0.00% | 55.36 | 0 | 01:00:00 |
Consolidated Earnings - Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures Diluted EPS ------------------------------ Three months Twelve months ended Dec. 31, ended Dec. 31, -------------- -------------- Subsidiary 2009 2008 2009 2008 ------ ------ ------ ------ Cleco Power LLC $ 0.35 $ 0.33 $ 1.84 $ 1.89 Cleco Midstream Resources LLC(1) (0.21) (0.12) (0.29) (0.17) Corporate and Other(1),(2) 0.01 (0.04) 0.18 0.03 ------ ------ ------ ------ Operational earnings per share (Non-GAAP) 0.15 0.17 1.73 1.75 Adjustments(3) 0.06 0.05 0.03 (0.05) ------ ------ ------ ------ Earnings per share applicable to common stock $ 0.21 $ 0.22 $ 1.76 $ 1.70 GAAP refers to United States generally accepted accounting principles (1) Includes affilate interest charges/interest income on affiliate debt related to Cleco's investment in Acadia ($0.01 per share and $0.02 per share for the quarters ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively; $0.05 per share and $0.07 per share for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively) (2) Includes dividends on preferred stock (3) Refer to "Operational Earnings Adjustments" on page 5 of this news release
"Cleco delivered solid earnings in 2009 in the face of a tough economic environment," said Mike Madison, president and chief executive officer of Cleco Corporation. "2009 was a defining year for Cleco with several key initiatives coming together. The foundation of our growth strategy is now firmly in place.
"Rodemacher Unit 3, the largest generation project in our history, achieved full commercial operation earlier this month. This unit is expected to provide stable, low cost power to our customers for decades to come. We also have received approval from our regulators to transfer half of the Acadia plant to Cleco Power. The addition of these two facilities to the Cleco Power generation fleet creates the efficient diversified portfolio we hoped to achieve," Madison said.
Recent Developments:
-- Rodemacher Unit 3 achieved full commercial operation on Feb. 12, 2010, and our new rates that the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) approved in October 2009 are now in effect. -- On Feb. 22, 2010, the Cleco Evangeline LLC (Evangeline) tolling agreement was terminated for consideration of $188.6 million. -- Evangeline executed a new tolling agreement with the same counterparty for the period Mar. 1, 2010, through Dec. 31, 2011. -- The LPSC and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the transfer of 50 percent of the Acadia Power Station to Cleco Power. This transaction closed on Feb. 23, 2010. -- Entergy Louisiana's acquisition of the remaining 50 percent of the Acadia Power Station is progressing as expected.
Dividend Guidance:
The Board of Directors of Cleco Corporation has approved a dividend policy that will increase its quarterly dividend rate from $0.225 per common share to $0.25 per common share beginning with the dividend payable May 15, 2010. The 11 percent increase in the dividend, subject to the board's official declaration of the dividend in April, will result in an annual dividend rate of $1.00 per common share.
"With the completion of the Rodemacher Unit 3 construction and the associated increase in Cleco's earnings power, we are now in a position to increase the common dividend," Madison said. "This dividend increase is a step toward achieving our longer term goal of a dividend payout level in the range of 50 percent to 60 percent of sustainable earnings. This action on the dividend underscores management's and the board's confidence in the outlook for our business and our focus on our shareholders' total return."
The declaration of dividend payments is at the board's sole discretion and future dividend increases are subject to numerous factors that ordinarily affect dividend policy, including the result of Cleco's operations and its financial position as well as general economic and business conditions.
Earnings Guidance:
Cleco is targeting consolidated 2010 earnings in the range of $2.05 - $2.15 per share. The 2010 consolidated earnings estimate includes normal weather and excludes one-time results of the Evangeline transaction and the Acadia transactions.
Financial Highlights:
Fourth Quarter 2009
-- Cleco reports fourth quarter earnings applicable to common stock of $12.8 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, compared to $13.5 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2008.
Year-to-date 2009
-- Cleco reports earnings applicable to common stock for 2009 of $106.3 million, or $1.76 per diluted share, compared to $102.1 million, or $1.70 per diluted share for 2008.
Quarter-Over-Quarter Operational EPS Reconciliation:
$ 0.17 2008 Fourth-Quarter Diluted Operational EPS 0.02 Non-fuel revenue 0.02 Energy hedging, net 0.01 Income taxes (0.09) Other expenses, net 0.06 AFUDC (allowance for funds used during construction) ------- 0.02 Cleco Power results (0.09) Cleco Midstream results 0.05 Corporate results ------- 0.15 2009 Fourth-Quarter Diluted Operational EPS 0.06 Adjustments(1) ------- $ 0.21 Reported GAAP earnings per share (1) Refer to "Operational Earnings Adjustments" on page 5 of this news release
Cleco Power
-- Non-fuel revenue increased $0.02 per share compared to the fourth quarter of 2008 primarily due to higher residential usage and new service to a wholesale customer that began in April 2009. Partially offsetting these increases were lower sales to industrial customers which was largely the result of decreased production at one of Cleco Power's largest industrial customers and the start of a large industrial customer cogenerating a portion of its electricity requirements. Lower miscellaneous revenue also contributed to the decrease. -- Net realized and mark-to-market gains on energy hedging positions tied to a fixed-price wholesale contract increased earnings by $0.02 per share compared to the fourth quarter of 2008. -- Income taxes increased earnings by $0.01 per share compared to the fourth quarter of 2008 as a result of an increase in state flow-through tax benefits. -- Other expenses, net were $0.09 per share higher compared to the fourth quarter of 2008 primarily due to higher generating station maintenance work performed during 2009 and higher interest related to uncertain tax positions. -- AFUDC, primarily associated with the Rodemacher Unit 3 project, contributed an additional $0.06 per share compared to the fourth quarter of 2008. The equity portion of AFUDC associated with the Rodemacher Unit 3 project was up $0.04 per share, while the debt portion of AFUDC contributed $0.02 per share more than the fourth quarter of 2008.
Cleco Midstream Resources
-- Evangeline was down $0.08 per share compared to the fourth quarter of 2008 primarily due to higher interest charges related to uncertain tax positions, partially offset by lower maintenance expenses resulting from the facility's fourth quarter 2008 planned outage. -- Acadia was down $0.02 per share compared to the fourth quarter of 2008 primarily due to higher removal and retirement costs and higher turbine and general maintenance expenses, partially offset by lower depreciation expense resulting from certain Acadia assets meeting the criteria of assets held for sale. -- Lower other operating expenses increased Midstream's results by $0.01 per share compared to the fourth quarter of 2008.
Corporate and Other
-- Interest expense decreased $0.07 per share compared to the fourth quarter of 2008 primarily due to lower interest related to uncertain tax positions. -- Higher other miscellaneous expenses, net decreased earnings by $0.02 per share.
Year-Over-Year Operational EPS Reconciliation:
$ 1.75 Twelve Months ended Dec. 31, 2008 Diluted Operational EPS (0.01) Non-fuel revenue (0.20) Interest expense, net 0.06 Income taxes (0.11) Other expenses, net 0.21 AFUDC ------- (0.05) Cleco Power results (0.12) Cleco Midstream results 0.15 Corporate results ------- 1.73 Twelve Months ended Dec. 31, 2009 Diluted Operational EPS 0.03 Adjustments(1) $ 1.76 Reported GAAP earnings per share (1) Refer to "Operational Earnings Adjustments" on page 5 of this news release
Cleco Power
-- Non-fuel revenue decreased $0.01 per share in the year-to-year comparison. Miscellaneous revenue decreased $0.04 per share primarily from lower transmission, customer fee and pole attachment revenue. Partially offsetting this decrease was a $0.03 per share increase in retail and wholesale customer sales mainly from a new wholesale customer that began taking service in April 2009 and an increase in the number of customers served. Partially offsetting these increases were lower industrial sales from one of Cleco Power's large industrial customers and a large industrial customer starting to cogenerate a portion of its electricity requirements. -- Interest expense, net increased $0.20 per share year over year primarily due to the issuances of senior notes, Gulf Opportunity Zone bonds, senior secured storm recovery bonds, and solid-waste disposal bonds. Also reducing earnings was lower average investment balances and lower investment earnings, lower recovery of interest costs relating to lower deferred lignite mining costs, and higher interest related to uncertain tax positions. -- Income taxes increased earnings by $0.06 per share year over year largely as a result of an increase in state flow-through tax benefits. -- Other expenses, net increased $0.11 per share year over year primarily due to higher generating station maintenance work, higher general liability expense, higher employee benefit costs and administrative expenses, and higher other net miscellaneous expenses. -- AFUDC, primarily associated with the Rodemacher Unit 3 project, contributed an additional $0.21 per share compared to 2008. The equity portion of AFUDC associated with the Rodemacher Unit 3 project was up $0.14 per share, while the debt portion of AFUDC contributed $0.07 per share more than in 2008.
Cleco Midstream Resources
-- Evangeline was down $0.07 per share compared to the same period last year primarily due to higher interest related to uncertain tax positions, partially offset by lower maintenance expenses and the absence in 2009 of replacement power purchases resulting from Evangeline's 2008 unplanned outage. -- Acadia was down $0.06 per share compared to the same period of 2008 primarily due to higher expenses from outages at the facility during 2009 and higher legal fees associated with the sale transactions. These decreases were partially offset by net revenue from Acadia's short-term tolling agreement with Cleco Power and lower depreciation expense resulting from certain Acadia assets meeting the criteria of assets held for sale. -- Lower other operating expenses increased Midstream's results by $0.01 per share year over year.
Corporate and Other
-- Lower interest charges resulting from uncertain tax positions, the repayment of $100 million of senior notes in May 2008, and the favorable settlement of a franchise tax lawsuit increased results by $0.15 per share compared to last year.
Operational Earnings Adjustments:
Cleco's management uses operational earnings per share to evaluate the operations of Cleco and to establish goals for management and employees. Management believes this presentation is appropriate and enables investors to more accurately compare Cleco's operational financial performance over the periods presented. Operational earnings as presented here may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. The following table provides a reconciliation of operational earnings per share to reported GAAP earnings per share.
Reconciliation of Operational EPS to Reported GAAP EPS Three months Twelve months ended Dec. 31, ended Dec. 31, -------------- -------------- 2009 2008 2009 2008 ------- ------ ------- ------ Operational earnings per share $ 0.15 $ 0.17 $ 1.73 $ 1.75 Tax levelization 0.05 0.07 - - Company/trust-owned life insurance policy adjustments 0.01 (0.02) 0.03 (0.05) ------- ------ ------- ------ Reported GAAP earnings per share $ 0.21 $ 0.22 $ 1.76 $ 1.70
Reconciling adjustments from operational earnings per share to GAAP earnings per share are as follows:
Tax Levelization
Generally accepted accounting principles require companies to apply an effective tax rate to interim periods that is consistent with a company's estimated annual effective tax rate. As a result, quarterly, Cleco projects the effective tax rate for the year and then raises or lowers the tax expense recorded in that quarter to reflect the projected annual tax rate. During the fourth quarter of 2009, Cleco recorded a $0.05 per share benefit from the levelization of its annual tax rate after taking into consideration the effect of a late Rodemacher Unit 3 commercial operation date. This $0.05 per share adjustment during the fourth quarter brings Cleco's projected annual tax rate at the end of the third quarter in line with its actual annual tax rate at the end of the year. In 2008, the levelization adjustment was an increase of $0.07 per share for the fourth quarter related to various changes from the third quarter 2008 projected annual tax rate. This incremental adjustment is not related to the fourth quarter operational results because it reflects the effect of the change in tax rates on operational earnings for the entire year.
COLI/TOLI Adjustments
Cleco has both Company-Owned Life Insurance and Trust-Owned Life Insurance (COLI/TOLI) policies covering certain members of management. These policies are payable to Cleco upon death of the insured. COLI/TOLI assets are acquired at fair value, and adjusted for changes in market value and any payments/redemptions of cash surrender values. The resulting adjustments for these items increased earnings by $0.01 per share for the fourth quarter of 2009 and decreased earnings by $0.02 per share for the fourth quarter of 2008. The adjustments increased earnings by $0.03 per share for 2009 and decreased earnings by $0.05 per share for 2008. Cleco is unable to predict changes in the market values and amounts of cash surrender values of these policies and management does not consider these adjustments to be a component of operational earnings.
Cleco management will discuss the company's annual and fourth-quarter 2009 results during a conference call scheduled for 11 a.m. Eastern time (10 a.m. Central time) Friday, Feb. 26, 2010. The call will be webcast live on the Internet. A replay will be available for 12 months. Investors may access the webcast through the company's Web site at www.cleco.com by selecting "For Investors" and then "Cleco Corporation Fourth-Quarter 2009 Earnings Conference Call."
Cleco Corp. is a regional energy company headquartered in Pineville, La. It operates a regulated electric utility company that serves approximately 277,000 customers across Louisiana. Cleco also operates a wholesale energy business with 1,065 megawatts of nameplate generating capacity, which includes Entergy Louisiana's pending acquisition of Acadia Power Station Unit 2. For more information about Cleco, visit www.cleco.com.
Financial tables follow:
For the three months ended Dec. 31, ------------------------------------------------ (Unaudited) (million kWh) (thousands) ------------------- -------------------------- 2009 2008 Change 2009 2008 Change ----- ----- ------ -------- -------- ------- Electric Sales Residential 823 757 8.7 % $ 35,186 $ 32,765 7.4 % Commercial 602 576 4.5 % 23,582 22,968 2.7 % Industrial 599 721 (16.9)% 12,911 13,980 (7.6)% Other retail 34 33 3.0 % 1,426 1,383 3.1 % Storm surcharge - - - 4,987 5,464 (8.7)% ----- ----- ------ -------- -------- Total retail 2,058 2,087 (1.4)% 78,092 76,560 2.0 % Sales for resale 128 114 12.3 % 7,337 4,256 72.4 % Unbilled (38) 4 * (1,275) 371 (443.7)% ----- ----- ------ -------- -------- Total retail and wholesale customer sales 2,148 2,205 (2.60)% $ 84,154 $ 81,187 3.7 % *Not meaningful For the twelve months ended Dec. 31, ----------------------------------------------- (Unaudited) (million kWh) (thousands) ------------------ -------------------------- 2009 2008 Change 2009 2008 Change ----- ----- ------ --------- --------- ------ Electric Sales Residential 3,637 3,545 2.6 % $ 157,672 $ 154,001 2.4 % Commercial 2,484 2,450 1.4 % 95,453 94,226 1.3 % Industrial 2,232 2,898 (23.0)% 50,957 55,560 (8.3)% Other retail 136 134 1.5 % 5,715 5,589 2.3 % Storm surcharge - - - 19,661 21,105 (6.8)% ----- ----- --------- --------- Total retail 8,489 9,027 (6.0)% 329,458 330,481 (0.3)% Sales for resale 560 441 27.0 % 23,371 19,685 18.7 % Unbilled 60 16 275.0 % 2,262 1,954 15.8 % ----- ----- --------- --------- Total retail and wholesale customer sales 9,109 9,484 (4.00)% $ 355,091 $ 352,120 0.8 % CLECO CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Thousands, except share and per share amounts) (Unaudited) For the three months ended Dec. 31, 2009 2008 ---------- ---------- Operating revenue Electric operations $ 181,178 $ 229,573 Other operations 7,971 6,942 Affiliate revenue 2,947 2,670 ---------- ---------- Total operating revenue 192,096 239,185 Operating expenses Fuel used for electric generation 48,243 73,566 Power purchased for utility customers 52,697 79,016 Other operations 31,497 29,068 Maintenance 15,523 11,632 Depreciation 19,971 19,906 Taxes other than income taxes 7,135 7,151 Gain on sale of assets - (11) ---------- ---------- Total operating expenses 175,066 220,328 ---------- ---------- Operating income 17,030 18,857 Interest income 461 872 Allowance for other funds used during construction 20,928 18,490 Equity loss from investees (18,134) (8,265) Other income 827 168 Other expense (626) (3,648) Interest charges Interest charges, including amortization of debt expenses, premium and discount, net of capitalized interest 18,401 22,158 Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction (7,016) (5,117) ---------- ---------- Total interest charges 11,385 17,041 ---------- ---------- Income before income taxes 9,101 9,433 Federal and state income tax benefit (3,678) (4,116) ---------- ---------- Net income 12,779 13,549 Preferred dividends requirements, net of tax 12 12 ---------- ---------- Net income applicable to common stock $ 12,767 $ 13,537 ========== ========== Average shares of common stock outstanding Basic 60,254,541 60,039,943 Diluted 60,622,385 60,320,230 Basic earnings per share Net income applicable to common stock $ 0.21 $ 0.22 Diluted earnings per share Net income applicable to common stock $ 0.21 $ 0.22 Cash dividends paid per share of common stock $ 0.225 $ 0.225 CLECO CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Thousands, except share and per share amounts) For the twelve months ended Dec. 31, 2009 2008 ----------- ----------- Operating revenue Electric operations $ 808,646 $ 1,032,970 Other operations 33,651 36,768 Affiliate revenue 11,461 10,460 ----------- ----------- Total operating revenue 853,758 1,080,198 Operating expenses Fuel used for electric generation 261,456 235,706 Power purchased for utility customers 216,906 471,261 Other operations 109,060 99,028 Maintenance 51,300 47,089 Depreciation 78,204 77,876 Taxes other than income taxes 29,947 34,471 Loss (gain) on sales of assets 76 (110) ----------- ----------- Total operating expenses 746,949 965,321 ----------- ----------- Operating income 106,809 114,877 Interest income 1,512 5,417 Allowance for other funds used during construction 73,269 64,953 Equity loss from investees (17,423) (5,542) Other income 5,581 1,263 Other expense (2,807) (7,970) Interest charges Interest charges, including amortization of debt expenses, premium and discount, net of capitalized interest 77,228 72,042 Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction (26,173) (19,642) ----------- ----------- Total interest charges 51,055 52,400 ----------- ----------- Income before income taxes 115,886 120,598 Federal and state income tax expense 9,579 18,457 ----------- ----------- Net income 106,307 102,141 Preferred dividends requirements, net of tax 46 46 ----------- ----------- Net income applicable to common stock $ 106,261 $ 102,095 =========== =========== Average shares of common stock outstanding Basic 60,187,894 59,990,229 Diluted 60,498,205 60,214,640 Basic earnings per share Net income applicable to common stock $ 1.77 $ 1.70 Diluted earnings per share Net income applicable to common stock $ 1.76 $ 1.70 Cash dividends paid per share of common stock $ 0.900 $ 0.900 CLECO CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Thousands) At Dec. 31, At Dec. 31, 2009 2008 ----------- ----------- Assets Current Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 145,193 $ 97,483 Accounts receivable, net 70,557 78,314 Other current assets 278,175 290,582 ----------- ----------- Total Current Assets 493,925 466,379 Property, plant and equipment, net 2,247,030 2,045,286 Equity investment in investees 251,617 249,144 Prepayments, deferred charges and other 702,275 580,395 ----------- ----------- Total Assets $ 3,694,847 $ 3,341,204 ----------- ----------- Liabilities Current Liabilities Long-term debt due within one year $ 11,478 $ 63,546 Accounts payable 114,541 138,300 Other current liabilities 115,785 158,987 ----------- ----------- Total Current Liabilities 241,804 360,833 Deferred credits and other liabilities 1,016,672 812,687 Long-term debt, net 1,320,299 1,106,819 ----------- ----------- Total Liabilities 2,578,775 2,280,339 ----------- ----------- Shareholders' Equity Preferred stock 1,029 1,029 Common shareholders' equity 1,126,334 1,069,669 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (11,291) (9,833) ----------- ----------- Total Shareholders' Equity 1,116,072 1,060,865 ----------- ----------- Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $ 3,694,847 $ 3,341,204 =========== ===========
Please note: In addition to historical financial information, this news release contains forward-looking statements about future results and circumstances, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Rodemacher Unit 3 project and completion of the Acadia/Entergy Louisiana transaction. There are many risks and uncertainties with respect to such forward-looking statements, including the weather and other natural phenomena, state and federal legislative and regulatory initiatives, the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices and interest rates, the operating performance of Cleco Power's and Cleco Midstream's facilities, the financial condition of the company's tolling agreement counterparty, the performance of the tolling agreement by such counterparty, construction and operational costs of Rodemacher Unit 3, the completion of the Acadiana Load Pocket project, the completion of the Acadia/Entergy Louisiana transaction, the impact of the global economic downturn, and other risks and uncertainties more fully described in the company's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements.
Investor Contacts: R. Russell Davis (318) 484-7501 Rodney J. Hamilton (318) 484-7593 Media Contact: Fran Phoenix (318) 484-7467
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