Spire Reports FY22 4th Quarter and Full-Year Results

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Spire Inc. (NYSE: SR) today reported results for its fiscal 2022 fourth quarter and full year ended September 30. Highlights include:

• A narrower fourth quarter loss of $7.1 million ($0.20 per diluted share) compared to a loss of $9.9 million ($0.26 per share) in fiscal 2021. On a net economic earnings (NEE) per share basis, the fourth quarter losses were $0.66 this year and $0.32 a year ago. 
  
  
• Parties filed settlement in Spire Missouri's rate review
  
  
• Launching 10-year capital expenditure target of $7.0 billion
  
  
• Board of Directors raises quarterly common stock dividend 5.1% to $0.72 per share

"Fiscal 2022 was another year of challenges and opportunities, and in the end we delivered for our customers and achieved strong operating performance including further gains in the safety, integrity and environmental sustainability of our natural gas distribution system," said Suzanne Sitherwood, president and chief executive officer of Spire. "We successfully met important challenges head on, including settling issues in our Missouri rate review that's now on a path to a timely resolution, and managing the impact of higher gas costs and inflationary pressures on our customers. We continued our robust investment in infrastructure upgrades and technology to achieve higher service levels and an even better experience for the 1.7 million homes and businesses we serve. Moving forward, we are increasing our capital investments, including the expansion of Spire Storage, to continue on our path of long-term growth and adding value for our customers, communities, and shareholders," she added.

Due to the seasonal nature of natural gas demand and the timing of regulatory recovery in our gas utility business, we typically incur a loss in our fiscal fourth quarter ended September 30. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, we reported a consolidated net loss of $7.1 million ($0.20 per diluted share), compared with a net loss of $9.9 million ($0.26 per share) last year. 

On an NEE basis, the quarterly loss was $31.4 million ($0.66 per share) compared to a loss of $13.1 million ($0.32 per share) last year. Prior year results include several unusual transactions surrounding Winter Storm Uri and the 2021 Missouri rate order. Net of these items, prior year NEE was a loss of $27.1 million (or $0.59 per share), and the difference between the two years reflects a wider seasonal loss in Gas Utility partially offset by improved results from Gas Marketing.

NEE excludes from net income the impacts of fair value accounting and timing adjustments associated with energy-related transactions, the impacts of acquisition, divestiture and restructuring activities, and the largely non-cash impacts of other non-recurring or unusual items such as impairments and certain regulatory, legislative, or GAAP standard-setting actions.

Gas Utility

The Gas Utility segment includes the regulated distribution operations of our five gas utilities across Alabama, Mississippi and Missouri. For the fourth quarter, Gas Utility reported a loss on an NEE basis of $37.9 million compared to a loss of $17.8 million in the prior year. The $20.1 million higher loss reflects changes in rate design in Missouri and the spread of cost savings benefits over multiple years in Alabama. 

Contribution margin decreased $38.9 million over the prior-year period, reflecting a shift in Spire Missouri Utility rate design from the 2021 rate order that pushed more of the recovery into the winter heating season and out of our fiscal third and fourth quarters. Spire Alabama margins were lower due to the extension of recovery of shared costs savings under the Cost Control Measure to future periods in order to lower the impact to customer bills during this period of higher commodity costs. 

Operation and maintenance (O&M) expenses of $106.8 million were down $5.2 million from last year. However, they were slightly higher by $1.4 million after removing the impacts from the 2021 Spire Missouri rate order, Winter Storm Uri impacts and non-service cost transfer to other income (no earnings impact).

Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $3.3 million from last year, reflecting continued capital investment. Taxes, other than income taxes, decreased by $7.1 million mostly due to the timing of recovery of property taxes from Missouri customers.

Gas Marketing

The Gas Marketing segment includes the results of Spire Marketing, which provides natural gas marketing services throughout the United States. Fourth quarter NEE was $11.7 million, up from $9.1 million in the prior year. Results this year reflect a higher margin as improved basis differentials more than offset the prior-year impact of Winter Storm Uri.

Other

Other gas-related operations and corporate costs on an NEE basis for the fourth quarter were $5.2 million in fiscal 2022, compared to $4.4 million in the prior-year quarter. The decrease is due to lower results from Spire Storage as certain market opportunities did not recur this year.

Regulatory Update

Missouri Rate Review

On November 4, 2022, Spire Missouri and other parties to the case, notably the Staff of the Missouri Public Service Commission (MoPSC) and the Office of Public Counsel, reached a settlement in the rate review Spire Missouri filed April 1, 2022. The parties to the case filed a Stipulation and Agreement with the MoPSC for their review and approval.

The MoPSC approved a $10.5 million annualized increase in Infrastructure System Replacement Surcharge (ISRS) revenues for Spire Missouri, effective October 21, 2022, reflecting infrastructure upgrade improvements for January 1 – June 30, 2022. This brings annualized ISRS revenues to $19.0 million.

Alabama Rate Filings

In October 2022, Spire Alabama and Spire Gulf made their annual RSE rate filings with the Alabama Public Service Commission (APSC), presenting the utilities' budgets for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, including net income and a calculation of allowed return on average common equity. The filings are currently being reviewed by the APSC, and we anticipate that new rates will be effective in early December 2022.

Spire STL Pipeline

Spire STL Pipeline continues to operate under a temporary certificate while the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) considers approval of a new permanent certificate under a court-ordered remand. As part of the remand, the FERC indicated that it would prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on Spire STL Pipeline. Following the issuance of a positive EIS by the staff of the FERC in June, the FERC approved the EIS effective in October.

Dividend Increased 5.1%

Reflecting our solid performance and expectations for growth, the board of directors of Spire increased the quarterly common stock dividend to $0.72 per share, an increase of 5.1%. This raises the annualized rate by $0.14 per share to $2.88 per share. The dividend is payable on January 4, 2023, to shareholders of record on December 12, 2022. Spire has continuously paid a cash dividend since 1946, and 2023, will mark the 20th consecutive year that the dividend has increased.

The Spire board of directors also declared the regular quarterly dividend of $0.36875 per depositary share on Spire's 5.90% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, payable February 15, 2023, to holders of record on January 25, 2023.

For fiscal 2022, we reported consolidated net income of $220.8 million ($3.95 per diluted share) compared to $271.7 million ($4.96 per share) in the prior-year period. On an NEE basis, Spire reported $216.3 million ($3.86 per share), down from $266.3 million ($4.86 per share) a year ago. As a reminder, prior-year results included the benefit of Winter Storm Uri, largely at Spire Marketing, which we estimated to be between $0.65 and $0.70 per share. Excluding these nonrecurring impacts (at the midpoint of $0.68 per share), NEE was lower by $0.32 per share reflecting warmer weather and net adjustments related to the 2021 Missouri rate order.

Gas Utility

For fiscal 2022, Gas Utility reported NEE of $202.7 million compared $230.6 million in the prior year. The $27.9 million decrease reflects the lower rate of return from the 2021 Missouri rate order as well as warmer weather that was not fully mitigated by rate design in Alabama.

Fiscal 2022 contribution margin decreased by $16.0 million, reflecting a $26.3 million decrease in off-system sales a year ago and $9.2 million in lower volumetric usage, the result of last year's extreme cold weather conditions during Winter Storm Uri and ineffective weather mitigation in Alabama. Temperatures were 9% warmer than normal in the territories served by our gas utilities. Current year margins benefitted from higher rates in Missouri (+$18.1 million) and net regulatory adjustments and off-system sales in Alabama (+$5.3 million).

O&M expenses in fiscal 2022 decreased by $8.9 million compared to the prior-year period. The lower costs reflect a $4.4 million year-over-year reclassification of certain postretirement benefit costs to other income (no impact on net income) and $9.0 million related to the reversal of a portion of pension costs disallowed in the Spire Missouri 2018 rate order that occurred in fiscal 2021. Excluding these items, O&M expenses decreased by $13.5 million primarily due to Winter Storm Uri and 2021 Missouri rate order items that did not repeat. Depreciation and amortization expense rose $23.5 million due to ongoing capital investment across our utilities. Taxes, other than income taxes, were also $19.2 million higher.

Gas Marketing

Fiscal 2022 Gas Marketing NEE was $27.0 million, down from $47.0 million a year ago. Prior-year results reflect value created from optimization of transportation and storage positions during Winter Storm Uri. Current year results include the $6.2 million benefit from the current year settlement of commercial disputes that originated in Uri in 2021.

Other

Other gas-related operations and corporate costs on an NEE basis were $13.4 million, compared to $11.3 million, reflecting higher interest and other corporate expenses in the current year.

Balance Sheets and Cash Flow

In fiscal 2022, we maintained a solid capital structure and ample liquidity. Short-term borrowings outstanding at September 30, 2022, were $1,037.5 million, up from $672.0 million at fiscal 2021 year-end, reflecting higher seasonal borrowing levels, most notably the financing of higher natural gas cost. We retain significant capacity in our revolving credit facility and related commercial paper program to meet our liquidity needs.

On October 13, 2022, Spire Alabama issued $90 million of 7-year notes (5.32% interest) and $85 million of 10-year notes bearing interest at 5.41%. Spire Gulf issued $30 million 15-year first mortgage bonds with a coupon of 5.61%. These issuances were made via private placements.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $55.0 million for the year ended September 30, 2022, down from $249.8 million for fiscal 2021. The decrease was largely driven by fluctuations in working capital balances from higher gas costs, as well as lower net income and higher depreciation and amortization.

Capital expenditures for fiscal 2022 were $552.2 million, down from $624.8 million in the prior year due mainly to planned lower investment in our gas utilities, as well as a reduction in capital expenditures for Spire Storage and Spire STL Pipeline. Gas utility investment of $528 million was focused on pipeline upgrades that enable us to further reduce methane emissions, as well as new business and technology upgrades.

For additional details on Spire's results for the fourth quarter and full year of fiscal 2022, please see the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, Balance Sheets, and Statements of Cash Flows.

Guidance and Outlook

We remain confident in our long-term ability to grow NEE per share 5-7% given our growth strategy across our businesses.

We are updating and expanding our targeted capital investment to include a 10-year period through fiscal 2032, with total expenditures expected to be $7.0 billion. The plan is driven by our commitment to invest in upgrades to our gas utility pipelines and infrastructure, comprising nearly all of the spend during that period. We expect our capital plan to drive 7-8% annual rate base growth for our utilities. This plan also includes the investment over the next two fiscal years to expand Spire Storage as outlined earlier in the year.

Capital expenditures for fiscal 2023 are expected to be approximately $700 million, including $150 million for our midstream businesses, primarily for the Spire Storage expansion.

Conference Call and Webcast

Spire will host a conference call and webcast today to discuss its fiscal 2022 fourth quarter and full-year financial results. To access the call, please dial the applicable number approximately 5-10 minutes prior to the start time.

The call will also be webcast and can be accessed at Investors.SpireEnergy.com under the Events & presentations tab. A replay of the call will be available at 11 a.m. CT (Noon ET) on November 16 until December 16, 2022, by dialing 877-344-7529 (U.S.), 855-669-9658 (Canada), or 412-317-0088 (international). The replay access code is 8323545.

About Spire

At Spire Inc. (NYSE: SR) we believe energy exists to help make people's lives better. It's a simple idea, but one that's at the heart of our company. Every day we serve 1.7 million homes and businesses making us the fifth largest publicly traded natural gas company in the country. We help families and business owners fuel their daily lives through our gas utilities serving Alabama, Mississippi and Missouri. Our natural gas-related businesses include Spire Marketing, Spire STL Pipeline and Spire Storage. We are committed to transforming our business through growing organically, investing in infrastructure, and advancing through innovation. Learn more at SpireEnergy.com.

Cautionary Statements on Forward-Looking Information and Non-GAAP Measures

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Spire's future operating results may be affected by various uncertainties and risk factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, including weather conditions, economic factors, the competitive environment, governmental and regulatory policy and action, and risks associated with acquisitions. More complete descriptions and listings of these uncertainties and risk factors can be found in the Company's annual (Form 10-K) filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

This news release includes the non-GAAP financial measures of "net economic earnings," "net economic earnings per share," and "contribution margin." Management also uses these non-GAAP measures internally when evaluating the Company's performance and results of operations. Net economic earnings exclude from net income the impacts of fair value accounting and timing adjustments associated with energy-related transactions, the impacts of acquisition, divestiture and restructuring activities and the largely non-cash impacts of impairments and other non-recurring or unusual items such as certain regulatory, legislative, or GAAP standard-setting actions. The fair value and timing adjustments, which primarily impact the Gas Marketing segment, include net unrealized gains and losses on energy-related derivatives resulting from the current changes in the fair value of financial and physical transactions prior to their completion and settlement, lower of cost or market inventory adjustments, and realized gains and losses on economic hedges prior to the sale of the physical commodity. Management believes that excluding these items provides a useful representation of the economic impact of actual settled transactions and overall results of ongoing operations. Contribution margin adjusts revenues to remove the costs that are directly passed on to customers and collected through revenues, which are the wholesale cost of natural gas and gross receipts taxes. These internal non-GAAP operating metrics should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, GAAP measures such as operating income, net income, or earnings per share.

Investor Contact:
Scott W. Dudley Jr.
314-342-0878
[email protected]

Media Contact:
Jessica B. Willingham
314-342-3300
[email protected]

SOURCE Spire Inc.

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