Earnings Results Analysis: CenterPoint Energy Inc. (NYSE: CNP)

On Friday, Shares of CenterPoint Energy Inc. (NYSE: CNP) showed the bullish trend with a higher momentum of 0.64% to $30.49. The company traded total volume of 2,127,854 shares as contrast to its average volume of 4.68M shares. The company has a market value of $15.18B and about 501.01M shares outstanding.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CNP) recently stated full-year income available to common shareholders of $333.0M, or $0.74 per diluted share, contrast with $1,792.0M, or $4.13 per diluted share in 2017. On a guidance basis, full-year 2018 earnings were $1.60 per diluted share, excluding impacts associated with the Vectren merger (the merger).  Full-year 2017 earnings, on a guidance basis, were $1.37 per diluted share, excluding a one-time tax benefit of $1,113.0M related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) federal income tax rate reduction.

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Business Segments

Electric Transmission & Distribution:

The electric transmission & distribution segment stated full-year 2018 operating income of $623.0M, consisting of $568.0M from the regulated electric transmission and distribution utility operations (TDU) and $55.0M related to securitization bonds.  Operating income for 2017 was $636.0M, consisting of $561.0M from the TDU and $75.0M related to securitization bonds. Operating income for the TDU benefited mainly from rate relief, customer growth and higher equity return related to the annual true-up of transition charges.  These benefits were partially offset by higher operation and maintenance expenses, lower revenues reflecting the lower federal corporate income tax rate because of the TCJA, and higher depreciation and amortization expense.

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The retrospective adoption of the accounting standard for compensation-retirement benefits (ASU 2017-07) resulted in a boost to TDU operating income and a corresponding decrease to other income of $26.0M for 2017.

Natural Gas Distribution:

The natural gas distribution segment stated full-year 2018 operating income of $266.0M, contrast with $348.0M in 2017. Full-year 2018 operating income for natural gas distribution improved mainly as a result of rate relief and customer growth.  These increases were more than offset by lower revenues reflecting the lower federal corporate income tax rate because of the TCJA, higher operation and maintenance expenses and higher depreciation and amortization expense.

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The retrospective adoption of ASU 2017-07 resulted in a boost to natural gas distribution operating income and a corresponding decrease to other income of $20.0M for 2017.

Energy Services:

The energy services segment stated a full-year operating loss of $47.0M, which included a mark-to-market loss of $110.0M, contrast with operating income of $126.0M for 2017, which included a mark-to-market gain of $79.0M.  Excluding mark-to-market adjustments, operating income was $63.0M in 2018 contrast to $47.0M in 2017. Operating income increased mainly because of improved margin and volumes.  This increase was partially offset by higher operation and maintenance expenses mainly associated with growth.

Midstream Investments:

The midstream investments segment stated full-year 2018 equity income of $307.0M, contrast with $265.0M in 2017.

Other Operations:

The other operations segment stated an operating loss of $11.0M for full-year 2018, contrast with operating income of $26.0M in 2017.  This decrease is mainly because of merger-related costs.

The Company offered net profit margin of 3.10%. ROE was recorded as 6.50% while beta factor was 0.44. The stock, as of recent close, has shown the weekly downbeat performance of -0.79% which was maintained at 7.30% in this year.