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8-K Filing
New Jersey Resources (NJR) 8-KResults of Operations and Financial Condition
Filed: 6 Feb 06, 12:00am
Date: February 6, 2006 | Media Contact: | |
Michael Kinney | ||
732-938-1031 | ||
mkinney@njresources.com | ||
Investor Contact: | ||
Dennis Puma | ||
732-938-1229 | ||
dpuma@njresources.com |
• | NJR’s first quarter 2006 earnings increase 14 percent over last year to $1.24 per basic share | |
• | Board approves 1 million share increase in share repurchase plan | |
• | Earnings guidance for fiscal 2006 remains at $2.75 to $2.85 per basic share |
• | Net Income and Basic Earnings per Share | |
For the three months ended December 31, 2005, NJR earned $34.3 million, or $1.24 per basic share, compared with $30.2 million, or $1.09 per basic share, last year. Prior year’s earnings included a gain on the sale of a commercial office building of $.21 per basic share by NJR’s commercial real estate subsidiary, Commercial Realty and Resources (CR&R), and a charge of $.05 per basic share associated with an early retirement program for officers offered as part of an overall restructuring plan for the organization. | ||
NJNG earned $18.7 million in the quarter, compared with $17.8 million last year. Last year’s earnings included its share of the charge for an early retirement program for officers. Net of this item, NJNG earned $18.7 million last year. The flat earnings were due primarily to lower-than-expected customer usage, which offset the impact of higher gross margin from its incentive programs. The company believes that the lower usage was due primarily to the impact of higher wholesale natural gas prices, which offset continued strong customer growth. |
NJR’s unregulated wholesale energy services subsidiary, NJR Energy Services (NJRES), reported earnings of $14.9 million, compared with $6.6 million last year. This increase was due primarily to higher gross margin generated by its portfolio of storage and transportation capacity assets. Gross margin for NJRES is defined as natural gas revenues and management fees less natural gas costs. | ||
• | Customer Growth Remains Strong | |
In the first quarter of fiscal 2006, NJNG added 3,424 new customers, 36 percent of which converted from other fuels. This growth is expected, assuming normal usage, to generate approximately .5 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of new throughput, which is estimated to generate about $1.5 million in annual gross margin. NJNG anticipates continuing to maintain an annual customer growth rate of about 2.3 percent in fiscal 2006, adding, assuming normal usage, approximately 1.8 Bcf of firm sales, which would represent approximately $5.4 million of annual gross margin. About one-third of the anticipated new customers are expected to convert from other fuels. | ||
NJNG’s gross margin is defined as natural gas revenues less natural gas costs; sales tax; a Transitional Energy Facilities Assessment (TEFA), which is included in Energy and other taxes on the Consolidated Statements of Income; and regulatory rider expenses. Management believes that gross margin provides a more meaningful basis for evaluating utility operations than revenue since natural gas costs, sales tax, TEFA and regulatory rider expenses are passed through to customers, and therefore, has no effect on gross margin. Natural gas costs are charged to operating expenses on the basis of therm sales at the prices approved by the BPU through NJNG’s Basic Gas Supply Service (BGSS) tariff. The BGSS allows NJNG to recover natural gas costs. Sales tax is calculated at 6 percent of revenue and excludes sales to cogeneration facilities, other utilities, off-system sales and federal accounts. TEFA is calculated on a per-therm basis and excludes sales to cogeneration facilities, other utilities and off-system sales. Regulatory rider expenses are calculated on a per-therm basis. NJNG’s gross margin also includes benefits received by shareowners under its BGSS incentive programs. | ||
• | Impact of Weather and Usage | |
Weather in the first quarter was 1.6 percent warmer than normal and 1.5 percent colder than last year. “Normal” weather is based on 20-year average temperatures. The impact of the weather is significantly offset by NJNG’s weather-normalization clause (WNC), which is designed to smooth out year-to-year fluctuations on both NJNG’s gross margin and customers’ bills that may result from changing weather patterns. NJNG did not accrue or defer any margin under the WNC for the quarter ended December 31, 2005. However, gross margin was negatively impacted by lower-than-expected usage. NJNG believes that this resulted primarily from the impact of higher |
wholesale natural gas prices on consumer behavior. In December 2005, NJNG filed a proposal with the BPU which would replace the existing WNC with the Conservation and Usage Adjustment (CUA) that would capture variations related to weather and customer usage. A benchmark for customer usage would be established and NJNG would compare actual results to the benchmark on an annual basis. Any adjustments, positive or negative, would be made in the following year. | ||
• | Incentive Programs Continue to Provide Value for Customers and Shareowners | |
During the first quarter, NJNG’s gross margin-sharing incentive programs, which include off-system sales, capacity management, storage optimization and financial risk management programs, totaled 10.2 Bcf and $3.1 million of gross margin, compared with 14.5 Bcf and $1.6 million of gross margin for the same period last year. The increase in gross margin was due primarily to the off-system sales and storage incentive programs, both of which benefited from the volatile wholesale market. NJNG shares the gross margin earned from these incentive programs with customers and shareowners according to a gross margin-sharing formula in effect through October 2006. NJNG filed for an extension of these programs with the BPU through October 2007, and, in January 2006, NJNG, the BPU and the Division of the Ratepayer Advocate agreed to the 1-year extension of the incentive programs. A stipulation has been signed and is awaiting BPU action. During the quarter, customers saved approximately $15 million in natural gas costs through these programs. Since the establishment of these incentive programs in 1992, NJNG customers have saved nearly $281 million on their natural gas bills, or approximately 4 percent annually. | ||
• | Wholesale Energy Services Growth Continues | |
NJRES’ earnings of $14.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2006 were 127 percent higher than last year due primarily to higher gross margin generated by its diverse portfolio of pipeline and storage capacity. Specifically, in the first quarter of fiscal 2006, NJRES was able to take advantage of the increased volatility and unique pricing differentials between geographic regions that occurred in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. NJRES has developed a portfolio of storage and pipeline capacity in the Gulf Coast, Mid-Continent, Appalachia and Eastern Canada, which becomes more valuable when there are changing prices between these areas. This storage capacity is also more valuable when prices change between time periods. In addition to the impact of the hurricanes in the first fiscal quarter, gross margin from this portfolio is also generally greater during the winter months, while the fixed costs of these assets are spread throughout the year. Therefore, the results for the three months are not expected to be indicative of the results for the fiscal year. |
• | NJR Home Services and Other | |
This business segment consists of NJR Home Services (NJRHS), which provides service, sales and installation of appliances to over 141,000 customers; CR&R, which develops commercial real estate; and NJR Energy, which consists primarily of a 5.53 percent equity investment in Iroquois Gas Transmission System, L.P. Earnings for the quarter ended December 31, 2005, were $684,000, compared with $5.8 million last year. Last year’s first quarter earnings were $406,000, net of a gain on the sale of a commercial real estate property and this segment’s portion of the charge for an early retirement program for officers. | ||
• | Increased Dividend Paid to Shareowners | |
On October 27, 2005, NJR’s board of directors authorized a 5.9 percent increase in the company’s quarterly dividend rate to $.36 per share. The new rate became effective with the January 2006 dividend payment. NJR has increased its dividend in each of the last 11 years and has paid quarterly dividends since 1952. |
Three Months Ended | ||||||||
Thousands, except per share data | December 31, | |||||||
(Unaudited) | 2005 | 2004 | ||||||
Operating Revenues | $ | 1,164,576 | $ | 853,988 | ||||
Net Income | $ | 34,264 | $ | 30,202 | ||||
Earnings Per Common Share | ||||||||
Basic | $ | 1.24 | $ | 1.09 | ||||
Diluted | $ | 1.23 | $ | 1.06 | ||||
Average Shares Outstanding | ||||||||
Basic | 27,550 | 27,797 | ||||||
Diluted | 27,960 | 28,391 |
Three Months Ended | ||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
OPERATING REVENUES | $ | 1,164,576 | $ | 853,988 | ||||
OPERATING EXPENSES | ||||||||
Gas purchases | 1,038,475 | 738,426 | ||||||
Operation and maintenance | 27,731 | 28,663 | ||||||
Regulatory rider expenses | 9,458 | 9,128 | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 8,576 | 8,359 | ||||||
Energy and other taxes | 18,667 | 15,784 | ||||||
Total operating expenses | 1,102,907 | 800,360 | ||||||
OPERATING INCOME | 61,669 | 53,628 | ||||||
Other income | 1,642 | 1,684 | ||||||
Interest charges, net | 6,483 | 5,350 | ||||||
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES | 56,828 | 49,962 | ||||||
Income tax provision | 22,564 | 19,760 | ||||||
NET INCOME | $ | 34,264 | $ | 30,202 | ||||
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE | ||||||||
BASIC | $ | 1.24 | $ | 1.09 | ||||
DILUTED | $ | 1.23 | $ | 1.06 | ||||
DIVIDENDS PER COMMON SHARE | $ | 0.36 | $ | 0.34 | ||||
AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING | ||||||||
BASIC | 27,550 | 27,797 | ||||||
DILUTED | 27,960 | 28,391 | ||||||
Page 9 of 12
Three Months Ended | ||||||||
(Unaudited) | December 31, | |||||||
(Thousands, except per share data) | 2005 | 2004 | ||||||
Operating Revenues | ||||||||
New Jersey Natural Gas | $ | 394,346 | $ | 320,470 | ||||
NJR Energy Services | 763,195 | 516,871 | ||||||
NJR Home Services and Other | 7,103 | 16,671 | ||||||
Sub-total | 1,164,644 | 854,012 | ||||||
Intercompany Eliminations | (68 | ) | (24 | ) | ||||
Total | $ | 1,164,576 | $ | 853,988 | ||||
Operating Income | ||||||||
New Jersey Natural Gas | $ | 33,447 | $ | 31,796 | ||||
NJR Energy Services | 27,101 | 12,162 | ||||||
NJR Home Services and Other | 1,121 | 9,670 | ||||||
Total | $ | 61,669 | $ | 53,628 | ||||
Net Income | ||||||||
New Jersey Natural Gas | $ | 18,683 | $ | 17,833 | ||||
NJR Energy Services | 14,897 | 6,560 | ||||||
NJR Home Services and Other | 684 | 5,809 | ||||||
Total | $ | 34,264 | $ | 30,202 | ||||
Throughput (Bcf) | ||||||||
NJNG, Core Customers | 20.8 | 20.9 | ||||||
NJNG, Incentive Programs | 10.2 | 14.5 | ||||||
NJRES Fuel Mgmt. and Wholesale Sales | 57.5 | 69.7 | ||||||
Total | 88.5 | 105.1 | ||||||
Common Stock Data | ||||||||
Yield at December 31 | 3.4 | % | 3.1 | % | ||||
Market Price | ||||||||
High | $ | 46.95 | $ | 44.55 | ||||
Low | $ | 40.68 | $ | 40.54 | ||||
Close at December 31 | $ | 41.89 | $ | 43.34 | ||||
Shares Out. at December 31 | 27,555 | 27,704 | ||||||
Market Cap. at December 31 | $ | 1,154,279 | $ | 1,200,691 | ||||
Page 10 of 12
Three Months Ended | ||||||||
(Unaudited) | December 31, | |||||||
(Thousands, except customer & weather data) | 2005 | 2004 | ||||||
Operating Revenues | ||||||||
Residential | $ | 185,544 | $ | 161,169 | ||||
Commercial, Industrial & Other | 66,976 | 41,161 | ||||||
Firm Transportation | 8,355 | 8,761 | ||||||
Total Firm Revenues | 260,875 | 211,091 | ||||||
Interruptible | 2,809 | 4,136 | ||||||
Total System Revenues | 263,684 | 215,227 | ||||||
Incentive Programs | 130,662 | 105,243 | ||||||
TOTAL REVENUES | $ | 394,346 | $ | 320,470 | ||||
Gross Margin and Operating Income | ||||||||
Residential | $ | 44,242 | $ | 44,063 | ||||
Commercial, Industrial & Other | 8,427 | 8,393 | ||||||
Firm Transportation | 6,382 | 6,645 | ||||||
Total Firm Margin | 59,051 | 59,101 | ||||||
Interruptible | 306 | 307 | ||||||
Total System Margin | 59,357 | 59,408 | ||||||
Incentive Programs | 3,114 | 1,570 | ||||||
TOTAL GROSS MARGIN | 62,471 | 60,978 | ||||||
Operation and maintenance expense | 19,867 | 20,229 | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 8,423 | 8,117 | ||||||
Other taxes not reflected in gross margin | 734 | 836 | ||||||
OPERATING INCOME | $ | 33,447 | $ | 31,796 | ||||
Throughput (Bcf) | ||||||||
Residential | 12.7 | 12.6 | ||||||
Commercial, Industrial & Other | 3.7 | 3.3 | ||||||
Firm Transportation | 2.6 | 2.4 | ||||||
Total Firm Throughput | 19.0 | 18.3 | ||||||
Interruptible | 1.8 | 2.6 | ||||||
Total System Throughput | 20.8 | 20.9 | ||||||
Incentive Programs | 10.2 | 14.5 | ||||||
TOTAL THROUGHPUT | 31.0 | 35.4 | ||||||
Customers | ||||||||
Residential | 422,569 | 409,329 | ||||||
Commercial, Industrial & Other | 29,740 | 28,579 | ||||||
Firm Transportation | 13,380 | 16,023 | ||||||
Total Firm Customers | 465,689 | 453,931 | ||||||
Interruptible | 48 | 51 | ||||||
Total System Customers | 465,737 | 453,982 | ||||||
Incentive Programs | 42 | 37 | ||||||
TOTAL CUSTOMERS | 465,779 | 454,019 | ||||||
Page 11 of 12
Three Months Ended | ||||||||
(Unaudited) | December 31, | |||||||
(Thousands, except customer & weather data) | 2005 | 2004 | ||||||
Degree Days | ||||||||
Actual | 1,674 | 1,650 | ||||||
Normal | 1,701 | 1,692 | ||||||
Percent of Normal | 98.4 | % | 97.5 | % | ||||
Operating Revenues | $ | 763,195 | $ | 516,871 | ||||
Gas Purchases | 733,343 | 502,449 | ||||||
Gross Margin | $ | 29,852 | $ | 14,422 | ||||
Operating Income | $ | 27,101 | $ | 12,162 | ||||
Net Income | $ | 14,897 | $ | 6,560 | ||||
Gas Sold and Managed (Bcf) | 57.5 | 69.7 | ||||||
Operating Revenues | $ | 7,103 | $ | 16,671 | ||||
Operating Income | $ | 1,121 | $ | 9,670 | ||||
Net Income | $ | 684 | $ | 5,809 | ||||
Total Customers at December 31 | 141,415 | 138,884 | ||||||
Page 12 of 12
(Unaudited) | Three Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
(Thousands, except per share data) | December 31, 2004 | |||||||||||||||
NJNG | NJRES | NJRHS and | Total | |||||||||||||
Other | ||||||||||||||||
Net Income, as reported | $ | 17,833 | $ | 6,560 | $ | 5,809 | $ | 30,202 | ||||||||
Exclude: | ||||||||||||||||
Gain on sale of commercial office building | (5,972 | ) | (5,972 | ) | ||||||||||||
Charge for early retirement program | 915 | 8 | 569 | 1,492 | ||||||||||||
Net Income, as adjusted | $ | 18,748 | $ | 6,568 | $ | 406 | $ | 25,722 | ||||||||
Earnings per share basic, as reported | $ | 1.09 | ||||||||||||||
Exclude: | ||||||||||||||||
Gain on sale of commercial office building | (.21 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Charge for early retirement program | .05 | |||||||||||||||
Earnings per share basic, as adjusted | $ | .93 | ||||||||||||||
Earnings per share diluted, as reported | $ | 1.06 | ||||||||||||||
Exclude: | ||||||||||||||||
Gain on sale of commercial office building | (.21 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Charge for early retirement program | .05 | |||||||||||||||
*Earnings per share diluted, as adjusted | $ | .91 | ||||||||||||||
* | Amount does not foot due to rounding. |