Mixed Results from Questar - Analyst Blog
February 15 2012 - 5:45AM
Zacks
Natural gas-focused energy company,
Questar Corp. (STR) reported mixed fourth quarter
and full year 2011 results, reflecting strong transportation
revenues and well performing capital projects, partially offset by
steeper operating and maintenance costs.
Earnings per share came in at 34
cents, on par with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, comparing
year over year, earnings dropped 5.6% from 36 cents.
In full-year 2011, the company
earned $1.16 per share, up 2.6% from $1.13 in the prior year. The
reported results were a penny higher than our projection.
Total revenue came in at $354.8
million, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $330.0. On a
year-over-year basis, revenue dropped 2.2% from the year-ago level
of $362.7 million due to low contributions from the Questar Gas and
Questar Pipeline segments.
Questar generated revenues of
$1,194.4 million in fiscal 2011, compared with $1,123.6 million in
2010. The fiscal result, however, failed to meet the Zacks
Consensus Estimate of $1,303.0 million.
Segment
Analysis
Questar
Gas: The segment generated $297.8 million in revenue,
down 1.6% from the prior year. The segment registered an income of
$20.2 million, down 8.6% from $22.1 million in fourth quarter
2010.
As of December 31, 2011, Questar
Gas served 919,236 customers, up 9,666, or 1.1% year over year.
Wexpro:
Consolidated sales were up 5.0% year over year at $8.4 million in
the quarter. Segmental income from continuing operations increased
to $23.6 million from $22.7 million in the prior-year quarter,
driven by a higher average investment base.
However, Wexpro reported a 5.5%
growth in quarterly production of natural gas (13.4 billion cubic
feet (Bcf) from 12.7 Bcf in fourth quarter 2010).
Questar
Pipeline: Consolidated revenue of $48.6 million was
down 6.5% from the year-ago quarter and income from continuing
operations came in at $17.2 million, reflecting a decrease of 4.4%.
The quarter’s performance was impacted by lower natural gas liquids
sales revenue along with higher depreciation expense and other
taxes.
Total natural gas transportation
volumes in the quarter were 200.8 million decatherms, up from the
prior-year level of 174.5 decatherms.
Financials
As of December 31, 2011, Questar
had long-term debt (including current portion) of $1,084.5 million,
with a debt-to-capitalization ratio of 51.2%.
2012 Guidance
Management reiterated 2012 earnings
guidance in the range of $1.15 to $1.19 per average diluted
share.
Questar expects to register strong
growth in the coming months with a high investment base at Wexpro,
a multi-year pipeline-replacement program and strong customer
growth.
Our
Recommendation
We believe that Utah-based Questar
will be able to generate steady earnings and dividend growth, going
forward, through strong operational performances by its business
units. The company is expected to perform well in the coming
quarters given its benefits from the cost cutting initiatives,
focus on natural gas markets and long-term contracts.
However, we remain worried about
the current low natural gas price environment that is likely to
restrict near-term growth prospects at Questar Pipeline. Hence, we
maintain our long-term Neutral recommendation on the stock. We also
believe that Questar remains exposed to greater competitive risks
from Copano Energy LLC (CPNO) and Western
Gas Partners L.P. (WES) among its other peers.
COPANO EGY LLC (CPNO): Free Stock Analysis Report
QUESTAR (STR): Free Stock Analysis Report
WESTERN GAS PTR (WES): Free Stock Analysis Report
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