10-QPeriod: Q3 FY2015

CENTERPOINT ENERGY INC Quarterly Report for Q3 Ended Sep 30, 2015

Filed November 5, 2015For Securities:CNP

Summary

CenterPoint Energy, Inc. reported a net loss of $183 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, a significant downturn from the $435 million net income reported for the same period in 2014. This shift is largely attributable to a substantial $794 million decrease in equity earnings from unconsolidated affiliates, primarily driven by an $862 million impairment charge related to its investment in Enable Midstream Partners, LP. Revenues also saw a decline, decreasing to $5.6 billion from $6.9 billion year-over-year. Despite the net loss, the company's core utility operations, Electric Transmission & Distribution and Natural Gas Distribution, demonstrated resilience, with operating income increasing year-over-year for both segments. The company continues to invest in infrastructure, with significant capital expenditures aimed at maintaining reliability and expanding its systems. Management expects ongoing cash flows from operations, along with borrowings under credit facilities and distributions from Enable, to be sufficient for its needs in the near term.

Financial Statements
Beta
Revenue$1.63B
Operating Expenses$1.36B
Operating Income$265.00M
Net Income-$391.00M
EPS (Basic)$-0.91
EPS (Diluted)$-0.91
Shares Outstanding (Basic)430.26M
Shares Outstanding (Diluted)430.26M

Key Highlights

  • 1Significant Net Loss: CenterPoint Energy reported a net loss of $183 million for the first nine months of 2015, a reversal from a net income of $435 million in the prior year period.
  • 2Enable Midstream Impairment: A substantial $862 million impairment charge related to the investment in Enable Midstream Partners, LP, significantly impacted the financial results, leading to a $794 million decrease in equity earnings from unconsolidated affiliates.
  • 3Revenue Decline: Total revenues decreased to $5.6 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, from $6.9 billion in the same period of 2014.
  • 4Resilient Utility Operations: The Electric Transmission & Distribution and Natural Gas Distribution segments showed improved operating income year-over-year, demonstrating strength in core regulated businesses.
  • 5Capital Expenditures: The company continued to invest in infrastructure, with capital expenditures of $1.131 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.
  • 6Liquidity Position: Management believes that existing cash flows, credit facilities, and distributions from Enable are sufficient to meet anticipated cash needs for the remainder of 2015.
  • 7Increased Effective Tax Rate: The effective tax rate increased to 41% for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, from 36% in the prior year period, primarily due to the Enable impairment.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary reason for the substantial decrease in net income is an $862 million impairment charge related to CenterPoint Energy's investment in Enable Midstream Partners, LP. This charge led to an $873 million decrease in equity earnings from unconsolidated affiliates for the three months ended September 30, 2015, and a $940 million decrease for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, significantly impacting overall profitability.

The core utility businesses, Electric Transmission & Distribution and Natural Gas Distribution, are showing resilience. Operating income for the Electric Transmission & Distribution segment increased to $498 million for the first nine months of 2015 from $482 million in the prior year. The Natural Gas Distribution segment also saw an improvement in operating income, increasing to $176 million for the first nine months of 2015 from $184 million in the prior year period, with a notable quarter-over-quarter improvement.

CenterPoint Energy anticipates that its cash flows from operations, borrowings under its credit facilities, and distributions from Enable Midstream Partners will be sufficient to meet its anticipated cash requirements for the remainder of 2015. Capital expenditures for infrastructure investment are ongoing.

The company is actively involved in various regulatory proceedings, including rate cases and transmission projects in Texas and other states. Notable developments include applications for rate adjustments and updates to transmission cost recovery factors. The company also continues to monitor the status of its investment in Enable Midstream Partners and its potential impact on future earnings.