Power utility company Progress Energy Inc’s (PGN) second-quarter 2011 operating earnings of 71 cents per share, jumped above the Zacks Consensus Estimate and year-ago earnings of 63 cents.
In the second quarter, Progress Energy Carolinas contributed 37 cents to operating earnings per share, while Progress Energy Florida contributed 48 cents. After-tax expenses from Corporate and Other Business were 14 cents a share in the reported quarter.
Total Revenue
Progress Energy’s total revenue of $2,256 million lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,310 million and the year-ago revenues of $2,372 million. The decline in total revenue was driven by a 5.1% decline in revenues from Progress Energy Carolinas and a 4.7% decline in Progress Energy Florida’s revenues.
Operating Highlights
Total electricity sales in the second quarter totaled 24.3 billion kilowatt hours (KWh), down 2.9% from 25.0 billion KWh in the year-ago quarter. Progress Energy Carolinas' electricity sales totaled 13.4 billion KWh, down 3.7% year over year, while Progress Energy Florida sold 10.9 billion KWh, down 1.8% year over year.
Total energy supply in the reported quarter was 25.8 billion KWh, down 0.6 billion KWh from 26.4 billion KWh last year, with Progress Energy Carolinas contributing 14.1 billion KWh (55% of total supply) and Progress Energy Florida the remaining 11.7 billion KWh (45% of total supply).
Operating expenses during the quarter decreased 5.4% year over year to $1.8 billion. This was driven by a 9.3% decline in the cost of fuel used for electric generation and a 23.2% decline in depreciation, amortization and accretion expense, offset partially by a 4.4% rise in cost of power purchased and a 1% rise in operation and maintenance expense.
Despite the outstanding cost performance, operating income during the quarter decreased 2.7% year over year to $428 million mainly due to poor revenues recorded in the quarter.
Financial Update
Cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2011, were $52 million compared with $611 million as of December 31, 2010. Net long-term debt of the company as of June 30, 2011 was $11.418 billion up from $11.864 billion as of December 31, 2010.
Cash flow from operations for the first half of 2011 totaled $780 million, down 32.7% from the year-ago level of $1,159 million.
Outlook
Progress Energy reiterated its operating earnings per share guidance of $3.00 to $3.20 per share for 2011.
Progress Energy said it sees modest growth and signs of recovery in the Carolinas and Florida. Going forward, the company remains focused on operational excellence, cost discipline and managing the business effectively as it speeds up approvals and integration planning associated with its pending merger with Duke Energy Corp. (DUK).
Our View
Raleigh, North Carolina-based Progress Energy is one of the nation’s larger pure-play electricity utilities with a solid opportunity for rate-base growth in the long-term. Progress Energy currently has a Zacks #3 Rank (short term Hold rating). This supports our Neutral recommendation on the stock.
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