Otter Tail Corporation (Nasdaq: OTTR) today announced financial
results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.
SUMMARY
Compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2022:
- Consolidated operating revenues decreased 16% to $338
million.
- Consolidated net income decreased 5% to $82 million.
- Diluted earnings per share decreased 5% to $1.95 per
share.
CEO OVERVIEW
“We are pleased with our second quarter financial results,” said
President and CEO Chuck MacFarlane, “with our employees continuing
to adapt to changing market conditions. Our Electric segment
produced earnings growth of 4 percent compared to the second
quarter of 2022, primarily driven by the recovery of rate base
investments. Manufacturing segment earnings decreased 21 percent
due to lower sales volumes of horticulture products and unfavorable
manufacturing cost absorption. As expected, Plastics segment
earnings declined from the second quarter of 2022, driven by
general end market softness and reductions in sales volumes as
distributors continue to manage inventory levels.
“We look forward to substantial completion of our 49 MW Hoot
Lake Solar project, which is currently expected to be placed in
service on time and on budget in the third quarter of 2023. Hoot
Lake Solar is being constructed on and near the retired Hoot Lake
coal plant property in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, allowing us the
unique opportunity to utilize our existing transmission rights,
substation and land. The project has received renewable rider
approval in Minnesota and all costs and benefits of the project are
assigned to Minnesota customers.
“We are increasing our 2023 diluted earnings per share guidance
to a range of $5.70 to $6.00 from our previous range of $4.55 to
$4.85. The increase in earnings guidance is due to stronger than
expected Plastics segment performance experienced in the second
quarter of 2023, which is expected to continue through the
remainder of the year.
“Our long-term focus remains unchanged - executing our strategy
to grow our business and achieve operational, commercial and talent
excellence to strengthen our position in the markets we serve. We
now expect a normalizing of Plastics segment earnings during the
last half of 2024. As we return to more normal levels of earnings
in this segment, we remain confident in our ability to achieve a
compounded annual growth rate in earnings per share of 5 to 7
percent. We then expect to return to an earnings mix of
approximately 65 percent from our Electric segment and 35 percent
from our Manufacturing and Plastics segments.”
SECOND QUARTER UPDATES
- Otter Tail Power filed its supplemental Integrated Resource
Plan (IRP) earlier this year, which requests, among other items,
the addition of on-site liquefied natural gas fuel storage at our
Astoria Station plant in 2026. In May, the Minnesota Public
Utilities Commission decided to align the timing of its decision on
the Astoria Station project with the timing of its decision on the
overall supplemental IRP. We anticipate a hearing on the IRP in
early 2024.
QUARTERLY DIVIDEND
On July 31, 2023, the corporation’s Board of Directors declared
a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.4375 per share. This
dividend is payable September 8, 2023 to shareholders of record on
August 15, 2023.
CASH FLOWS AND LIQUIDITY
Our consolidated cash provided by operating activities for the
six months ended June 30, 2023 was $184.5 million compared to
$175.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022. The increase
was driven by no pension plan contribution in 2023, compared with a
$20.0 million discretionary contribution in the prior year. This
increase was partially offset by lower 2023 earnings and higher
working capital. Investing activities for the six months ended June
30, 2023 included capital expenditures of $151.5 million, primarily
related to capital investments within our Electric segment,
including the purchase of the Ashtabula III wind farm for $50.6
million. Financing activities for the six months ended June 30,
2023 included net proceeds from short-term borrowings of $42.0
million at Otter Tail Power and dividend payments of $36.5
million.
As of June 30, 2023, we had $170.0 million and $110.2 million of
available liquidity under our Otter Tail Corporation Credit
Agreement and Otter Tail Power Credit Agreement, respectively,
along with $150.6 million of available cash and cash equivalents,
for total available liquidity of $430.8 million.
SEGMENT PERFORMANCE
Electric Segment
Three Months Ended June
30,
($ in thousands)
2023
2022
Change
% Change
Operating Revenues
$
113,763
$
130,949
$
(17,186
)
(13.1
)%
Net Income
19,634
18,858
776
4.1
Retail MWh Sales
1,345,830
1,286,419
59,411
4.6
%
Heating Degree Days
639
716
(77
)
(10.8
)
Cooling Degree Days
254
154
100
64.9
The following table shows heating degree days (HDDs) and cooling
degree days (CDDs) as a percent of normal.
Three Months Ended June
30,
2023
2022
HDDs
120.6
%
135.1
%
CDDs
215.3
%
129.4
%
The following table summarizes the estimated effect on diluted
earnings per share of the difference in retail kilowatt-hour (kwh)
sales under actual weather conditions and expected retail kwh sales
under normal weather conditions in 2023 and 2022.
2023 vs
Normal
2023 vs 2022
2022 vs
Normal
Effect on Diluted Earnings Per Share
$
0.04
$
0.01
$
0.03
Operating Revenues decreased $17.2 million primarily due
to a $19.2 million decrease in fuel recovery revenues and the
impact of final interim rate refunds in the second quarter of 2022,
partially offset by increased transmission services revenue,
increased rider revenue, and higher commercial and industrial
sales. The decrease in fuel recovery revenues was primarily the
result of lower purchased power costs arising from decreased market
energy costs. A planned outage at Coyote Station in the second
quarter of 2022 resulted in higher purchased power volumes in 2022.
Our Minnesota rate case was finalized in May 2022, which included a
determination of the final interim rate refund and resulted in an
increase in revenues during the second quarter of 2022 of $4.1
million. Rider revenue increases included recovery of costs related
to our Hoot Lake Solar project and our recently purchased Ashtabula
III wind farm.
Net Income increased $0.8 million primarily due to
increased operating revenues from our rate-base investments and
sales volume increases, as well as lower pension costs, partially
offset by increased operating and maintenance expenses, such as
higher labor costs, increased maintenance costs at our wind farm
facilities, and increased interest expense due to higher interest
rates on our short-term variable rate debt.
Manufacturing Segment
Three Months Ended June
30,
(in thousands)
2023
2022
$ Change
% Change
Operating Revenues
$
102,475
$
103,196
$
(721
)
(0.7
)%
Net Income
5,969
7,555
(1,586
)
(21.0
)
Operating Revenues decreased $0.7 million primarily due
to decreased steel prices, which impacted revenues at BTD
Manufacturing, as well as decreased sales volumes at T.O. Plastics.
Steel prices declined compared to the second quarter of 2022,
resulting in a 15% decrease in material costs, which are passed
through to customers. The impact of decreased steel prices was
offset by a 14% increase in sales volumes, driven by strong
customer and end market demand in the construction, agriculture,
and energy markets, as well as sales price increases which were
implemented in response to labor and non-steel material cost
inflation. Lower scrap metal prices also impacted operating
revenues as scrap metal revenues decreased $0.5 million from the
previous year. Operating revenues at T.O. Plastics decreased
primarily due to decreased sales volumes of horticulture products
in response to changing market conditions as order and delivery
lead times began to normalize.
Net Income decreased $1.6 million due to unfavorable cost
absorption and increased operating expenses compared to the same
period last year. Increased labor costs and lower productivity
contributed to unfavorable cost absorption and lower profit
margins. The increase in labor costs and lower level of
productivity during the quarter resulted from increased shift
incentives and overtime wages combined with increased staffing
levels to meet higher production volumes and the time required for
new employees to achieve peak productivity.
Plastics Segment
Three Months Ended June
30,
(in thousands)
2023
2022
$ Change
% Change
Operating Revenues
$
121,478
$
165,895
$
(44,417
)
(26.8
)%
Net Income
55,392
63,959
(8,567
)
(13.4
)
Operating Revenues decreased $44.4 million primarily due
to a 26% decrease in sales volumes compared to the same period last
year. Sales volume decreases in the second quarter were driven by
general end market softness and distributors continuing to manage
inventory levels. Sales prices declined 1% from the second quarter
of 2022 but remained elevated compared to pre-2021 levels.
Net Income decreased $8.6 million primarily due to
decreased operating revenues resulting from lower sales volumes, as
described above. The impact of decreased sales volumes was
partially offset by increased operating margins as our sales price
to resin spread remains elevated. PVC resin and other input
material costs decreased 37% compared to the same period in the
previous year as the unique supply and demand conditions, which
caused significant increases in resin costs, have subsided and
resin costs have stabilized.
Corporate Costs
Three Months Ended June
30,
(in thousands)
2023
2022
$ Change
% Change
Net Income (Loss)
$
974
$
(4,435
)
$
5,409
n/m
Net Income (Loss) at our corporate cost center increased
primarily due to non-taxable death benefit proceeds from corporate
owned life insurance and market gains on our corporate-owned life
insurance policy investments in the second quarter of 2023 compared
to losses in the same period last year, increased investment income
earned on our short-term cash equivalent investments and decreased
employee health care costs.
2023 BUSINESS OUTLOOK
We are increasing our 2023 diluted earnings per share range to
$5.70 to $6.00. We expect our earnings mix in 2023, based on our
updated guidance, to be approximately 35% from our Electric segment
and 65% from our Manufacturing and Plastics segments, net of
corporate costs. This anticipated mix deviates from our long-term
expected earnings mix of approximately 65% Electric/35%
non-electric as we expect Plastics segment earnings in 2023 to
remain elevated.
The segment components of our 2023 diluted earnings per share
guidance compared with actual earnings for 2022 are as follows:
2022 EPS
by Segment
2023 EPS Guidance
May 1, 2023
2023 EPS Guidance
July 31, 2023
Low
High
Low
High
Electric
$
1.91
$
2.00
$
2.04
$
2.00
$
2.04
Manufacturing
0.50
0.47
0.51
0.47
0.51
Plastics
4.66
2.30
2.49
3.40
3.59
Corporate
(0.29
)
(0.22
)
(0.19
)
(0.17
)
(0.14
)
Total
$
6.78
$
4.55
$
4.85
$
5.70
$
6.00
Return on Equity
25.6
%
14.9
%
15.7
%
18.4
%
19.2
%
The following items contributed to our revised 2023 earnings
guidance:
Electric Segment - We are maintaining our May 1, 2023
guidance, expecting earnings to increase 6% over 2022.
Manufacturing Segment - We are maintaining our May 1,
2023 guidance.
- Backlog for the manufacturing companies as of June 30, 2023 was
approximately $200 million, compared with $245 million one year
ago.
Plastics Segment - We are increasing our Plastics segment
guidance based on:
- Continued strength in our product sales prices and related
margins. While sales prices and margins have begun to recede from
historic highs, the rate of decline is slower than our previous
expectations. The impact of higher sales prices and margins is
partially offset by a decrease in expected sales volumes over the
remainder of 2023.
- Our guidance reflects lower second half earnings as compared to
the first half of 2023 as we expect sales prices and margins to
decline modestly over the remainder of 2023. Should pricing and
margins remain elevated relative to our expectations, there could
be further upside to our current year earnings.
Corporate Costs - We are decreasing our Corporate cost
guidance based on the following:
- The results in the second quarter of 2023 were better than
expected due to gains on our corporate-owned life insurance
policies, including death benefit proceeds, earnings on our cash
balance investments and lower employee healthcare costs.
- Increased earnings on our cash balance investments over the
remainder of the year due to a higher balance of invested funds and
a higher yield.
- These items are partially offset by an increase in our
operating and maintenance expenses.
CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST
The corporation will host a live webcast on Tuesday, August 1,
2023, at 10:00 a.m. CDT to discuss its financial and operating
performance.
The presentation will be posted on our website before the
webcast. To access the live webcast, go to
www.ottertail.com/presentations and select “Webcast.” Please allow
time prior to the call to visit the site and download any software
needed to listen in. An archived copy of the webcast will be
available on our website shortly after the call.
If you are interested in asking a question during the live
webcast, visit and follow the link provided in the press release
announcing the upcoming conference call.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Except for historical information contained here, the statements
in this release are forward-looking and made pursuant to the safe
harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,”
“expect,” “future,” “goal,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “outlook,”
“plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “probable,”
“projected,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar words
and expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and
expectations of management. Forward-looking statements made herein,
which may include statements regarding 2023 earnings and earnings
per share, long-term earnings, earnings per share growth and
earnings mix, anticipated levels of energy generation from
renewable resources, anticipated reductions in carbon dioxide
emissions, future investments and capital expenditures, rate base
levels and rate base growth, future raw materials costs, future raw
materials availability and supply constraints, future operating
revenues and operating results, and expectations regarding
regulatory proceedings, as well as other assumptions and
statements, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that
may cause our actual results in current or future periods to differ
materially from the forecasted assumptions and expected results.
The Company’s risks and uncertainties include, among other things,
uncertainty of future investments and capital expenditures, rate
base levels and rate base growth, risks associated with energy
markets, the availability and pricing of resource materials,
inflationary cost pressures, attracting and maintaining a qualified
and stable workforce, changing macroeconomic and industry
conditions, long-term investment risk, seasonal weather patterns
and extreme weather events, counterparty credit risk, future
business volumes with key customers, reductions in our credit
ratings, our ability to access capital markets on favorable terms,
assumptions and costs relating to funding our employee benefit
plans, our subsidiaries’ ability to make dividend payments, cyber
security threats or data breaches, the impact of government
legislation and regulation including foreign trade policy and
environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, the impact
of climate change including compliance with legislative and
regulatory changes to address climate change, expectations
regarding regulatory proceedings, and operational and economic
risks associated with our electric generating and manufacturing
facilities. These and other risks are more fully described in our
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our
most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated in
subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as applicable.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made,
and we expressly disclaim any obligation to update any
forward-looking information.
Category: Earnings
About the Corporation: Otter Tail Corporation, a member
of the S&P SmallCap 600 Index, has interests in diversified
operations that include an electric utility and manufacturing
businesses. Otter Tail Corporation stock trades on the Nasdaq
Global Select Market under the symbol OTTR. The latest investor and
corporate information is available at www.ottertail.com.
Corporate offices are in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and Fargo, North
Dakota.
OTTER TAIL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended June
30,
Six Months Ended June
30,
(in thousands, except per-share
amounts)
2023
2022
2023
2022
Operating Revenues
Electric
$
113,763
$
130,949
$
265,671
$
261,365
Product Sales
223,953
269,091
411,126
513,579
Total Operating Revenues
337,716
400,040
676,797
774,944
Operating Expenses
Electric Production Fuel
14,833
14,714
26,326
29,567
Electric Purchased Power
5,212
24,162
47,037
44,691
Electric Operating and Maintenance
Expense
45,522
42,379
91,070
86,659
Cost of Products Sold (excluding
depreciation)
120,658
152,466
233,027
304,225
Other Nonelectric Expenses
16,870
17,252
35,568
34,457
Depreciation and Amortization
24,232
23,566
48,089
47,113
Electric Property Taxes
4,336
4,435
8,957
8,866
Total Operating Expenses
231,663
278,974
490,074
555,578
Operating Income
106,053
121,066
186,723
219,366
Other Income and (Expense)
Interest Expense
(9,696
)
(8,991
)
(19,111
)
(17,939
)
Nonservice Components of Postretirement
Benefits
2,421
751
4,833
772
Other Income (Expense), net
3,253
(889
)
5,370
(629
)
Income Before Income Taxes
102,031
111,937
177,815
201,570
Income Tax Expense
20,062
26,000
33,365
43,630
Net Income
$
81,969
$
85,937
$
144,450
$
157,940
Weighted-Average Common Shares
Outstanding:
Basic
41,678
41,597
41,655
41,573
Diluted
42,053
41,944
42,035
41,907
Earnings Per Share:
Basic
$
1.97
$
2.07
$
3.47
$
3.80
Diluted
$
1.95
$
2.05
$
3.44
$
3.77
OTTER TAIL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)
June 30,
December 31,
(in thousands)
2023
2022
Assets
Current Assets
Cash and Cash Equivalents
$
150,578
$
118,996
Receivables, net of allowance for credit
losses
194,951
144,393
Inventories
144,441
145,952
Regulatory Assets
19,058
24,999
Other Current Assets
15,084
18,412
Total Current Assets
524,112
452,752
Noncurrent Assets
Investments
59,882
54,845
Property, Plant and Equipment, net of
accumulated depreciation
2,316,246
2,212,717
Regulatory Assets
96,128
94,655
Intangible Assets, net of accumulated
amortization
7,393
7,943
Goodwill
37,572
37,572
Other Noncurrent Assets
52,653
41,177
Total Noncurrent Assets
2,569,874
2,448,909
Total Assets
$
3,093,986
$
2,901,661
Liabilities and Shareholders'
Equity
Current Liabilities
Short-Term Debt
$
50,197
$
8,204
Accounts Payable
104,661
104,400
Accrued Salaries and Wages
26,029
32,327
Accrued Taxes
31,900
19,340
Regulatory Liabilities
41,743
17,300
Other Current Liabilities
46,032
56,065
Total Current Liabilities
300,562
237,636
Noncurrent Liabilities and Deferred
Credits
Pensions Benefit Liability
33,198
33,210
Other Postretirement Benefits
Liability
47,364
46,977
Regulatory Liabilities
245,935
244,497
Deferred Income Taxes
231,910
221,302
Deferred Tax Credits
15,544
15,916
Other Noncurrent Liabilities
67,093
60,985
Total Noncurrent Liabilities and Deferred
Credits
641,044
622,887
Commitments and Contingencies
Capitalization
Long-Term Debt
823,941
823,821
Shareholders’ Equity
Common Shares
208,553
208,156
Additional Paid-In Capital
425,867
423,034
Retained Earnings
693,138
585,212
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
881
915
Total Shareholders' Equity
1,328,439
1,217,317
Total Capitalization
2,152,380
2,041,138
Total Liabilities and Shareholders'
Equity
$
3,093,986
$
2,901,661
OTTER TAIL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
June 30,
(in thousands)
2023
2022
Operating Activities
Net Income
$
144,450
$
157,940
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net
Cash Provided by Operating Activities:
Depreciation and Amortization
48,089
47,113
Deferred Tax Credits
(372
)
(373
)
Deferred Income Taxes
8,708
25,160
Discretionary Contribution to Pension
Plan
—
(20,000
)
Investment (Gains) Losses
(4,295
)
4,440
Stock Compensation Expense
6,484
5,511
Other, net
161
(164
)
Change in Operating Assets and
Liabilities:
Receivables
(50,558
)
(50,885
)
Inventories
2,396
2,889
Regulatory Assets
7,320
5,604
Other Assets
3,561
3,240
Accounts Payable
1,037
1,933
Accrued and Other Liabilities
(4,271
)
(3,394
)
Regulatory Liabilities
27,169
(3,859
)
Pension and Other Postretirement
Benefits
(5,382
)
475
Net Cash Provided by Operating
Activities
184,497
175,630
Investing Activities
Capital Expenditures
(151,516
)
(70,791
)
Proceeds from Disposal of Noncurrent
Assets
2,970
2,840
Purchases of Investments and Other
Assets
(5,079
)
(5,944
)
Net Cash Used in Investing
Activities
(153,625
)
(73,895
)
Financing Activities
Net Borrowings (Repayments) on Short-Term
Debt
41,993
(91,163
)
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-Term
Debt
—
90,000
Dividends Paid
(36,524
)
(34,372
)
Payments for Shares Withheld for Employee
Tax Obligations
(3,088
)
(2,942
)
Other, net
(1,671
)
(2,806
)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in)
Financing Activities
710
(41,283
)
Net Change in Cash and Cash
Equivalents
31,582
60,452
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning
of Period
118,996
1,537
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of
Period
$
150,578
$
61,989
OTTER TAIL CORPORATION
SEGMENT RESULTS (unaudited)
Three Months Ended June
30,
Six Months Ended June
30,
(in thousands)
2023
2022
2023
2022
Operating Revenues
Electric
$
113,763
$
130,949
$
265,671
$
261,365
Manufacturing
102,475
103,196
209,257
208,154
Plastics
121,478
165,895
201,869
305,425
Total Operating Revenues
$
337,716
$
400,040
$
676,797
$
774,944
Operating Income (Loss)
Electric
$
25,188
$
26,869
$
55,284
$
54,810
Manufacturing
8,320
10,700
17,829
16,637
Plastics
75,035
86,561
120,718
155,422
Corporate
(2,490
)
(3,064
)
(7,108
)
(7,503
)
Total Operating Income
$
106,053
$
121,066
$
186,723
$
219,366
Net Income (Loss)
Electric
$
19,634
$
18,858
$
42,854
$
38,091
Manufacturing
5,969
7,555
12,831
11,639
Plastics
55,392
63,959
89,078
114,806
Corporate
974
(4,435
)
(313
)
(6,596
)
Total Net Income
$
81,969
$
85,937
$
144,450
$
157,940
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230731691003/en/
Media Contact: Stephanie Hoff, Director of Corporate
Communications, (218) 739-8535 Investor Contact: Beth Osman,
Manager of Investor Relations, (701) 451-3571
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