PEG Public Service Enterprise Group Inc

Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PEG) or PSEG, reported second quarter 2011 operating earnings per share of 59 cents, comfortably beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4 cents. However, earnings came in lower than the year-ago figure of 63 cents.

In the reported quarter, GAAP EPS was 63 cents, up from 44 cents in the year-ago period. The variance between GAAP and operating earnings was due to a gain of 3 cents on a Nuclear Decommissioning Trust (‘’NDT’’) Fund Related Activity and a mark-to-market gain of 1 cent.

Operational Performance

Revenue in the reported quarter was $2.5 billion, up from the year-ago figure of $2.4 billion. The top-line was also $108 million above the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

Public Service Enterprise Group generated operating income of $621 million compared with $431 million in the second quarter of 2010. Net income for the reported quarter however declined to $301 million from $321 million in the year-ago period.

Segment Performance

PSEG Power: Segment operating earnings were $186 million in the quarter versus $229 million in the prior-year period. The results reflect a decline in realized energy and capacity prices, increase in customer migration, higher depreciation expense, and greater operation and maintenance expense. However, this was partially offset by a decline in trading related losses.

PSE&G: The segment generated operating earnings of $105 million versus $75 million in the year-ago quarter driven by rate relief and improved returns on higher levels of capital investment and a decline in operating and maintenance expense. This was, however, partially offset by an increase in depreciation expense.

PSEG Energy Holdings: Segment operating earnings were $5 million compared with $12 million the prior-year period. The downside reflects the absence of tax benefits recognized in the prior-year quarter associated with the start-up of solar projects in Ohio and Florida.

Outlook

Public Service reaffirmed its fiscal 2011 earnings per share guidance range of $2.50–$2.75. However, it increased its capital expenditure plan to $6.9 billion for the period 2011 through 2013 versus its previous expectation of $6.7 billion.

At the Peer

Yesterday, one of PSEG's competitors, FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) announced second-quarter 2011 operating earnings of 65 cents per share, falling short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 74 cents per share and year-ago earnings of 82 cents per share.

Our Take

Public Service Enterprise Group’s investment program and operational excellence position it as a reliable supplier of low-cost, clean energy over the long term. Going forward, the company’s earnings growth will be driven by a low-cost nuclear fleet, assumed rate relief and added generating capacities.

However, the increasing cost of coal, higher pension and financial costs, power-price volatility and challenges from the Internal Revenue Service are areas of concern. Therefore, the company presently retains a short-term Zacks #3 Rank (Hold) that corresponds with our long-term Neutral recommendation on the stock.

Public Service Enterprise Group, based in Newark, New Jersey, is a diversified utility holding company. Its operations are mostly located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic parts of the U.S.  Public Service Enterprise principally operates through three key subsidiaries: Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), PSEG Power LLC (PSEG Power) and PSEG Energy Holdings LLC (PSEG Energy).

 
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