Exelon 3rd-Quarter Profit Soars on Positive Hedging Impacts, Lower Costs

   By Tess Stynes 
 

Exelon Corp.'s (EXC) third-quarter earnings surged as the nuclear-power producer benefited from positive hedging impacts and lower costs.

The company narrowed its per-share earnings estimate for the year to $2.40 to $2.60, from its previous estimate for $2.35 to $2.65.

Exelon, the largest owner and operator of nuclear-power plants in the U.S., acquired Constellation Energy Group last year in an $8 billion deal that added a growing retail power business in states such as Texas, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The company's wholesale power business has continued to struggle as power prices have remained low for a prolonged period and demand has been flat.

In the latest quarter, the company's generating segment's adjusted earnings fell 10% amid lower realized market prices and higher nuclear fuel costs.

Exelon reported a profit of $736 million, or 86 cents a share, up sharply from $297 million, or 35 cents, a year earlier. Excluding mark-to-market impacts, year-earlier impacts related to the sale or retirement of generating plants, as well as other items, adjusted earnings were up at 78 cents from 77 cents. Revenue decreased 1.2% to $6.5 billion.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters recently expected per-share earnings of 66 cents and revenue of $6.2 billion.

Expenses for purchased power and fuel dropped 9.4%. Operating and maintenance costs declined 20%.

Shares closed Tuesday at $28.05 and were inactive in recent premarket trading. Through Tuesday's close, the stock is down 5.7% this year.

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