A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Dominion Energy (D). Shares have lost about 8.7% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Dominion Energy due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let’s take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
Dominion Q3 Earnings Surpass Estimates, Revenues Miss
Dominion Energy Inc. reported third-quarter 2020 operating earnings of $1.08 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8%. Operating earnings, however, decreased 6.1% year over year. The quarterly earnings were above the guidance range of 85 cents to $1.05 per share.
GAAP earnings were 41 cents per share compared with $1.17 in the year-ago quarter. The difference between GAAP and operating earnings was primarily attributable to the recognition of a customer credit reinvestment offset for the benefit of customers in Virginia, charges associated with long-term contracted renewable portfolio outside the company’s core service areas, along with net gains on nuclear decommissioning trust funds.
Total Revenues
Dominion’s total revenues came in at $3,607 million, which lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,642 million by 1% and declined 4.6% from $3,782 million in the year-ago quarter.
Highlights of the Release
Total operating expenses increased 33.7% year over year to $3,580 million due to an increase in operating and maintenance costs.
Interest and related charges for the reported quarter were $306 million, down 17.3% from the year-ago period.
Adjusted net income for the reported quarter was $916 million, down from $946 million in the year-ago quarter.
Dominion has registered 1.4% and 2.1% increase in electric customers in Virginia and South Carolina, respectively, year to date. The company has registered 2.7%, 3.8%, and 1.5% increase in gas customers in Utah, North Carolina, and Ohio, respectively, in the same period.
Segment Details
Dominion Energy Virginia
: Net income from this segment was $613 million, down 2.5% year over year.
Gas Distribution
: Net income from this segment was $64 million, up 48.8% on a year-over-year basis.
Dominion Energy South Carolina
: Net income from this segment was $157 million, down 5.4% year over year.
Contracted Generation
: The segment’s net income was $112 million, up 30.2% year over year.
Corporate and Other
: The segment’s net loss was $30 million against earnings of $22 million in the year-ago quarter.
Financial Highlights
As of Sep 30, 2020, Dominion had cash and cash equivalents of $413 million, up from $135 million on Dec 31, 2019.
Total long-term debt as of Sep 30, 2020 was $33,145 million, up from $28,998 million on Dec 31, 2019.
For the first nine months of 2020, cash provided from operating activities was $4,810 million, up 29.7% from $3,709 million in the comparable year-ago period.
Guidance
For fourth-quarter 2020, Dominion expects operating earnings within 73-87 cents per share. The company reported earnings of $1.18 per share in the year-ago period. The midpoint of the above guided range is 80 cents, lower than the current Zacks Consensus Estimate for the period of 85 cents.
Dominion reaffirmed its 2020 earnings guidance in the range of $3.37-$3.63 per share. The company recorded earnings of $4.24 per share in 2019. The current Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2020 is pegged at $3.64.
It expects 2021 earnings per share in the range of $3.85-$3.90.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in estimates revision. The consensus estimate has shifted -23.14% due to these changes.
VGM Scores
At this time, Dominion Energy has an average Growth Score of C, a grade with the same score on the momentum front. Following the exact same course, the stock was allocated a grade of C on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren’t focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Outlook
Estimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Notably, Dominion Energy has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
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