New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR) today reported results for the
first quarter of fiscal 2009 and increased its net financial
earnings guidance for the year to a range of $2.32 to $2.42 per
basic share from a range of $2.30 to $2.40 per basic share.
A reconciliation of net income to net financial earnings for the
first quarter of fiscal years 2009 and 2008 is provided below:
� �
Three Months Ended December 31, (Thousands) � �
2008 � 2007 Net income
$11,776 � $30,185 Add:
Unrealized loss on derivative instruments, net of taxes
4,122 3,080
Realized loss from derivative
instruments relatedto natural gas inventory, net of taxes
� �
16,580 � � 3,042 Net financial earnings � �
$32,478 � � $36,307 � Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
Basic
42,170 41,678 Diluted � �
42,495 � � 41,928 �
Basic earnings per share $0.28 � � $0.72
Basic net
financial earnings per share $0.77 � � $0.87
Net financial earnings is a financial measure not calculated in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) of
the United States as it excludes all unrealized, and certain
realized, gains and losses associated with derivative instruments.
For further discussion of this financial measure, as well as a
reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP measure, please see the
explanation below under �Additional Non-GAAP Financial
Information.�
- NJR Increases Fiscal 2009 Net
Financial Earnings Guidance
Subject to the factors discussed at the end of this release
under �Forward-Looking Statements,� NJR is increasing its fiscal
2009 net financial earnings guidance to a range of $2.32 to $2.42
per basic share from a range of $2.30 to $2.40 per basic share.
�The company�s conservative business model has provided access
to capital and continued steady performance, even in the face of
the current global economic crisis,� said Laurence M. Downes,
chairman and CEO of NJR. �The fact that we are able to increase our
net financial earnings guidance for fiscal 2009 speaks volumes
about the consistent performance of our company.�
The company is increasing its net financial earnings guidance
due to stronger-than-expected utility results, driven primarily by
the positive impact of its base rate case, higher gross margin from
incentive programs and reduced borrowing costs as a result of lower
interest rates.
- New Jersey Natural Gas
Reports Strong Earnings
New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), the company�s utility subsidiary,
recorded a strong performance and achieved a 38 percent increase in
earnings. Net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 was $23.1
million compared with $16.7 million in the same period last year.
The increase was driven by the resolution of the base rate case and
higher gross margin from incentive programs while customer growth
remained steady. During the first quarter, NJNG added 1,763 new
customers, of which approximately half came from conversions, a
trend the company expects to continue. Furthermore, an additional
162 existing non-heat customers converted to natural gas heat and
other services. These new customers and conversions are expected to
contribute approximately $1.1 million annually to utility gross
margin.
- 10.7 Percent Dividend
Increase Takes Effect
In November 2008, NJR�s board of directors announced a 10.7
percent increase to the dividend, raising the quarterly rate to
$.31 per share from $.28 per share, and establishing a new annual
rate of $1.24 per share. NJR�s new annual dividend rate was
effective with the dividend payable on January 2, 2009 to
shareowners of record on December 15, 2008.
- NJR Energy Services
Forecasted to Contribute 30 to 35 Percent of Net Financial
Earnings
Net financial earnings at NJR Energy Services (NJRES), NJR�s
wholesale energy subsidiary, were $9.4 million during the first
quarter of fiscal 2009 compared with $19.1 million in the same
period last year. The expected decrease was due primarily to
narrower winter storage spreads and less contracted transportation
capacity in the Northeast. NJRES� results are seasonal in nature
and the company forecasts its net financial earnings to account for
between 30 and 35 percent of total net financial earnings for the
year. This level would be the third-highest in its history. NJRES
continues its efforts to enhance its portfolio to capture
opportunities in the changing marketplace.
Other recent highlights include:
- NJNG Proposes Economic
Stimulus Programs
On January 20, 2009, NJNG submitted a filing with the New Jersey
Board of Public Utilities (BPU) for approval of two new programs
aimed at stimulating the local economy through energy efficiency,
job creation and infrastructure spending. The Accelerated
Infrastructure Program would allow NJNG to expedite previously
planned capital improvement projects and create up to 100 jobs
while ensuring the safety and reliability of its distribution
system. The second filing, if approved, would provide programs for
customers that would promote energy efficiency and create or
sustain approximately 100 jobs while supporting the state�s effort
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the goals of the Energy
Master Plan. As proposed, each program would increase the average
residential customer�s bill by one half of 1 percent, or
approximately $9 annually. Both programs include the recovery of
NJNG�s overall cost of capital.
- Second Highest Send Out in
Company History
NJNG reported its second highest send out of natural gas in the
56-year history of the company on January 16, 2009. Due in part to
the utility�s disciplined spending on capital improvements, no
problems were experienced on the utility�s distribution system as
622,990 decatherms of natural gas were delivered to customers with
the highest-ever capacity flowing through the company�s
pipelines.
- NJNG Customers Receive Bill
Credit
In December 2008, NJNG notified the BPU that it would implement
a bill credit totaling approximately $30 million for residential
and small commercial sales customers, due to the decline in
wholesale natural gas prices. The bill credit is in effect for
natural gas usage between January 1, 2009, and February 28, 2009,
and is expected to save the average customer approximately 11.7
percent over the 2-month period.
Webcast
Information
NJR will host a live webcast to discuss its financial results
today at 9 a.m. ET. A few minutes prior to the webcast, go to
www.njliving.com and select �New Jersey Resources� from the top
navigation bar. Choose �Investor Relations,� then click just below
the microphone under the heading �Latest Webcast� on the Investor
Relations home page.
Forward-Looking
Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
NJR cautions readers that the assumptions forming the basis for
forward-looking statements include many factors that are beyond
NJR�s ability to control or estimate precisely, such as estimates
of future market conditions and the behavior of other market
participants. Other factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from the company�s expectations include, but are
not limited to, weather, economic conditions and demographic
changes in NJNG�s service territory, rate of customer growth,
volatility of natural gas commodity prices and its impact on
customer usage and NJR Energy Services operations, changes in
rating agency requirements and/or credit ratings and their effect
on availability and cost of capital to the company, conditions in
the credit markets and their potential impact on the company�s
access to capital and borrowing costs, increased interest costs
resulting from failures in the market for auction rate securities,
the impact of the company�s risk management efforts, including
commercial and wholesale credit risks, changes in the costs of
providing pension and post-employment benefits to current and
former employees, the company�s ability to obtain governmental
approvals, property rights and/or financing for the construction,
development and operation of its non-regulated energy investments,
risks associated with the management of the company�s joint
ventures and partnerships, the impact of regulation (including the
regulation of rates), the outcome of any future base rate cases,
fluctuations in energy-related commodity prices, customer
conversions, other marketing efforts, actual energy usage patterns
of NJNG�s customers, the pace of deregulation of retail gas
markets, access to adequate supplies of natural gas, the regulatory
and pricing policies of federal and state regulatory agencies,
changes due to legislation at the federal and state level, an
adequate number of appropriate counterparties, sufficient liquidity
in the energy trading market, the disallowance of recovery of
environmental-related expenditures, environmental and other
litigation and other uncertainties, the effects and impacts of
inflation, change in accounting pronouncements issued by the
appropriate standard setting bodies and terrorist attacks or
threatened attacks on energy facilities or unrelated energy
companies. NJR does not, by including this paragraph, assume any
obligation to review or revise any particular forward-looking
statement referenced herein in light of future events. More
detailed information about these factors is set forth under the
heading �Risk Factors� in NJR�s filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) including its most recent Form 10-K.
Non-GAAP Financial
Information
This press release includes the non-GAAP measures net financial
earnings (losses), financial margin and utility gross margin. A
reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most
directly comparable financial measures calculated and reported in
accordance with GAAP, can be found below. As an indicator of the
company�s operating performance, these measures should not be
considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, operating
income as determined in accordance with GAAP.
Net financial earnings (losses) and financial margin exclude
unrealized gains or losses on derivative instruments related to the
company�s unregulated subsidiaries and certain realized gains and
losses on derivative instruments related to natural gas that has
been placed into storage at NJRES. Volatility associated with the
change in value of these financial and physical commodity contracts
is reported in the income statement in the current period. In order
to manage its business, NJR views its results without the impacts
of the unrealized gains and losses, and certain realized gains and
losses, caused by changes in value of these financial instruments
and physical commodity contracts prior to the completion of the
planned transaction because it shows changes in value currently as
opposed to when the planned transaction ultimately is settled.
NJNG�s utility gross margin represents the results of revenues less
natural gas costs, sales and other taxes and regulatory rider
expenses, which are key components of the company�s operations that
move in relation to each other. Management uses these non-GAAP
financial measures as supplemental measures to other GAAP results
to provide a more complete understanding of the company�s
performance. Management believes these non-GAAP measures are more
reflective of the company�s business model, provide transparency to
investors and enable period-to-period comparability of financial
performance. A reconciliation of all non-GAAP financial measures to
the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and
reported in accordance with GAAP, can be found below. For a full
discussion of NJR�s non-GAAP financial measures, please see NJR�s
most recent Form 10-K, Item 7.
About New Jersey
Resources
New Jersey Resources, a Fortune 1000 company, provides natural
gas and clean energy services to customers in New Jersey and in
states from the Gulf Coast to New England, and Canada. With over $3
billion in annual revenues, NJR safely and reliably delivers
natural gas through more than 6,500 miles of main to nearly half a
million customers; develops and manages a diverse portfolio of more
than 740,000 dth/d of transportation capacity and nearly 27 Bcf of
storage capacity; and provides appliance installation and service
to approximately 150,000 homes and businesses. NJR has also made
significant investments in the midstream asset sector through
equity partnerships, including Steckman Ridge and Iroquois. Through
Conserve to Preserve�, NJR is helping customers use less energy and
save money. For more information about NJR, visit
www.njliving.com.
� � �
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Performance Measures NEW
JERSEY RESOURCES � � � � �
A reconciliation of Net income at
NJR to net financial earnings, is as follows: �
Three Months
Ended December 31, (Thousands) � �
2008 � � 2007
Net income
$11,776 $30,185 Add: Unrealized loss on
derivative instruments, net of taxes
4,122 3,080 Realized
loss from derivative instruments related to natural gas inventory,
net of taxes � �
16,580 � � 3,042 Net financial earnings � �
$32,478 � � $36,307 Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic
42,170 41,678 Diluted � �
42,495 � � 41,928 �
Basic net financial earnings per share $0.77 � �
$0.87 � � � � � �
NJR ENERGY SERVICES � � � � �
The
following table is a computation of financial margin at NJRES:
�
Three Months Ended December 31, (Thousands) � �
2008 � � 2007 Operating revenues
$463,094 $520,211
Gas purchases
467,732 494,546 Add: Unrealized (gain) loss on
derivative instruments
(2,597 ) 4,922 Net realized
loss from derivative instruments related to natural gas inventory �
�
27,194 � � 5,163 Financial margin � �
$19,959 � �
$35,750 � �
A reconciliation of Operating income at NJRES, the
closest GAAP financial measurement, to the financial margin is as
follows: Three Months Ended December 31,
(Thousands) � �
2008 � � 2007 Operating (loss) income
($9,378 ) $22,563 Add: Operation and maintenance
expense
4,360 2,840 Depreciation and amortization
51
53 Other taxes � �
329 � � 209 Subtotal � Gross margin
(4,638 ) 25,665 Add: Unrealized (gain) loss on
derivative instruments
(2,597 ) 4,922 Net realized
loss from derivative instruments related to natural gas inventory �
�
27,194 � � 5,163 Financial margin � �
$19,959 � �
$35,750 �
A reconciliation of NJRES Net income to net financial
earnings, is as follows: �
Three Months Ended
December 31, (Thousands) � �
2008 � � 2007 Net (loss)
income
($5,614 ) $13,150 Add: Unrealized (gain) loss
on derivative instruments, net of taxes
(1,583 )
2,900 Realized loss from derivative instruments related to natural
gas inventory, net of taxes � �
16,580 � � 3,042 Net
financial earnings � �
$9,383 � � $19,092 � � � � � � �
RETAIL AND OTHER � � � � �
A reconciliation of Retail and
Other Net income to net financial earnings, is as follows: �
Three Months Ended December 31, (Thousands) � �
2008 � � 2007 Net (loss) income
($5,684 ) $365
Add: Unrealized loss on derivative instruments, net of taxes � �
5,705 � � 180 Net financial earnings � �
$21 � � $545
� � �
NEW JERSEY RESOURCES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
�
� � � � �
Three Months Ended December 31,
(Thousands, except per share
data)
�
2008 � � 2007
OPERATING REVENUES �
$801,304
� �
$811,138
�
OPERATING EXPENSES Gas purchases
698,145 684,694
Operation and maintenance
36,408 32,179 Regulatory rider
expenses
13,561
12,165
Depreciation and amortization
7,361 9,403 Energy and other
taxes �
23,633 � � 18,160 Total operating expenses �
779,108 � � 756,601 �
OPERATING INCOME 22,196
54,537 � Other income
1,277 1,528 � Interest expense, net �
6,966 � � 7,810 �
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
16,507 48,255 � Income tax provision
5,245 18,494 �
Equity in earnings, net of tax �
514 � � 424 �
NET
INCOME �
$11,776 � � $30,185 �
EARNINGS PER COMMON
SHARE BASIC $0.28 $0.72
DILUTED �
$0.28 � � $0.72 �
DIVIDENDS PER COMMON SHARE �
$0.31 � � $0.27 �
AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING
BASIC 42,170 41,678
DILUTED �
42,495 �
� 41,928 � � � �
NEW JERSEY RESOURCES � � � � � � �
Three
Months Ended (Unaudited)
December 31, (Thousands, except
per share data) � �
2008 � � � 2007 �
Operating
Revenues New Jersey Natural Gas
$340,908 $284,360 NJR
Energy Services
463,094 520,211 Retail and Other
(2,654 ) � � 6,631 �
Sub-total 801,348
� � � 811,202 � Intercompany Eliminations
(44 ) � �
(64 )
Total $801,304 � � � $811,138 �
�
� � � � � �
Operating Income (Loss) New Jersey Natural Gas
$42,186 $31,602 NJR Energy Services
(9,378 )
22,563 Retail and Other
(10,658 ) � � 372 �
Sub-total 22,150 � � � 54,537 � Intercompany
Eliminations
46 � � � � �
Total $22,196 � � �
$54,537 � � � � � � � �
Net Income (Loss) New Jersey Natural
Gas
$23,074 $16,670 NJR Energy Services
(5,614
) 13,150 Retail and Other
(5,684 ) � � 365 �
Total $11,776 � � � $30,185 �
�
� � � � �
�
Net Financial (Loss) Income New Jersey Natural Gas
$23,074 $16,670 NJR Energy Services
9,383 19,092
Retail and Other
21 � � � 545 �
Total $32,478
� � � $36,307 � � � � � � � �
Throughput (Bcf) NJNG, Core
Customers
20.4 19.9 NJNG, Off System/Capacity Management
12.2 9.7 NJRES Fuel Mgmt. and Wholesale Sales
71.1 �
� � 67.1 �
Total 103.7 � � � 96.7 � � � � � � � �
Common Stock Data Yield at December 31
3.2 %
3.2 % Market Price High
$40.22 $34.71 Low
$21.90 $31.00 Close at December 31
$39.35 $33.35
Shares Out. at December 31
42,257 41,724 Market Cap. at
December 31
$1,662,813 $1,391,356 � � � � � � � �
NEW
JERSEY NATURAL GAS � � � � � � � (Unaudited) (Thousands, except
customer & weather data) � �
2008 � � � 2007 �
Utility Gross Margin Operating revenues
$340,908
$284,360 Less: Gas purchases
230,452 190,148 Energy and
other taxes
21,587 16,363 Regulatory rider expense
13,561 � � � 12,165 �
Total Utility Gross Margin
$75,308 � � � $65,684 � � � � � � � �
Utility Gross
Margin and Operating Income Residential
$49,687 $45,400
Commercial, Industrial & Other
13,381 13,796 Firm
Transportation
8,432 � � � 4,934 �
Total Firm Margin
71,500 64,130 Interruptible
84 � � � 134 �
Total
System Margin 71,584 � � � 64,264 � Off System/Capacity
Management/FRM
3,724 � � � 1,420 �
TOTAL UTILITY GROSS
MARGIN 75,308 � � � 65,684 � Operation and maintenance
expense
24,950 23,879 Depreciation and amortization
7,161 9,233 Other taxes not reflected in gross margin
1,011 � � � 970 �
OPERATING INCOME $42,186 � �
� $31,602 � � � � � � � �
Throughput (Bcf) Residential
13.3 12.7 Commercial, Industrial & Other
3.2 2.8
Firm Transportation
3.0 � � � 2.8 �
Total Firm
Throughput 19.5 18.3 Interruptible
0.9 � � � 1.6
�
Total System Throughput 20.4 � � � 19.9 � Off
System/Capacity Management
12.2 � � � 9.7 �
TOTAL
THROUGHPUT 32.6 � � � 29.6 � � � � � � � �
Customers Residential
438,602 436,479 Commercial,
Industrial & Other
30,175 29,995 Firm Transportation
17,267 � � � 14,213 �
Total Firm Customers
486,044 480,687 Interruptible
45 � � � 45 �
Total
System Customers 486,089 � � � 480,732 � Off
System/Capacity Management
35 � � � 40 �
TOTAL
CUSTOMERS 486,124 � � � 480,772 � � � � � � � �
Degree Days Actual
1,700 1,545 Normal
1,670 �
� � 1,682 � Percent of Normal
101.8 % � � 91.9 % � �
� � � � �
NJR ENERGY SERVICES � � � � � �
Three Months
Ended (Unaudited)
December 31, (Thousands, except
customer) � �
2008 � � � 2007 �
Operating Revenues
$463,094 $520,211 Gas Purchases
467,732 � � � 494,546
�
Gross (Loss) Margin (4,638 ) 25,665
Operation and maintenance expense
4,360 2,840 Depreciation
and amortization
51 53 Energy and other taxes
329 � �
� 209 �
Operating (Loss) Income ($9,378 ) � �
$22,563 � �
Net (Loss) Income ($5,614 ) � �
$13,150 � �
Financial Margin $19,959 � � � $35,750 �
�
Net Financial Earnings $9,383 � � � $19,092 � �
Gas Sold and Managed (Bcf) 71.1 � � � 67.1 � � � � �
� � � �
RETAIL AND OTHER � � � � � � �
Operating
Revenues ($2,654 ) � � $6,631 � �
Operating
(Loss) Income ($10,658 ) � � $372 � �
Net
(Loss) Income ($5,684 ) � � $365 � �
Net
Financial Earnings $21 � � � $545 � �
Total Customers
at December 31 143,821 � � � 143,502 �
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