Classified in: Environment, Business
Subjects: EARNINGS, Conference Call, Webcast

New Jersey Resources Reports Fiscal 2024 Second-Quarter Results

Today, New Jersey Resources Corporation (NYSE: NJR) reported results for the second quarter of fiscal 2024. Highlights include:

• Consolidated net income of $120.8 million, compared with $110.2 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2023
• Consolidated net financial earnings (NFE), a non-GAAP financial measure, of $138.6 million, or $1.41 per share, compared to $112.3 million, or $1.16 per share, in the second quarter of fiscal 2023
• Re-affirmed fiscal 2024 net financial earnings per share (NFEPS) guidance range of $2.85 to $3.00, which was increased by $0.15 in February 2024 as a result of strong performance from Energy Services
• Maintained long-term projected NFEPS growth rate of 7 to 9 percent⁽¹⁾
• On January 31, 2024, New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) filed a rate case with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU), seeking a $222.6 million increase in delivery rates

Second-quarter fiscal 2024 net income totaled $120.8 million, or $1.23 per share, compared with $110.2 million, or $1.14 per share, for the same period in fiscal 2023. Fiscal 2024 year-to-date net income totaled $210.2 million, or $2.14 per share, compared with $226.2 million, or $2.34 per share, for the same period in fiscal 2023.

Second-quarter fiscal 2024 NFE totaled $138.6 million, or $1.41 per share, compared with $112.3 million, or $1.16 per share, for the same period in fiscal 2023. Fiscal 2024 year-to-date NFE totaled $211.0 million, or $2.15 per share, compared with $222.6 million, or $2.30 per share, for the same period in fiscal 2023.

Management Commentary
Steve Westhoven, President and CEO of New Jersey Resources, stated, "In February, we raised our fiscal 2024 NFEPS guidance range by $0.15 as a result of Energy Services capitalizing on natural gas price volatility at the beginning of our second quarter, and we continued to make solid progress on our organic growth initiatives. These accomplishments reflect the strength of our diversified business model as well as our commitment to delivering value for our shareholders."

Key Performance Metrics

A reconciliation of net income to NFE for the three and six months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, is provided below.

NFE is a measure of earnings based on the elimination of timing differences to effectively match the earnings effects of the economic hedges with the physical sale of natural gas, Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) and foreign currency contracts. Consequently, to reconcile net income and NFE, current-period unrealized gains and losses on the derivatives are excluded from NFE as a reconciling item. Realized derivative gains and losses are also included in current-period net income. However, NFE includes only realized gains and losses related to natural gas sold out of inventory, effectively matching the full earnings effects of the derivatives with realized margins on physical natural gas flows. NFE also excludes certain transactions associated with equity method investments, including impairment charges, which are non-cash charges, and return of capital in excess of the carrying value of our investment. These are not indicative of the Company's performance for its ongoing operations. Included in the tax effects are current and deferred income tax expense corresponding with the components of NFE.

A table detailing NFE for the three and six months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, is provided below.

Net financial earnings (loss) by business unit

Fiscal 2024 NFE Guidance:

NJR re-affirmed its fiscal 2024 NFEPS guidance range of $2.85 to $3.00, which was increased by $0.15 in February 2024, subject to the risks and uncertainties identified below under "Forward-Looking Statements."

In fiscal 2024, NJR expects Energy Services will represent a higher percentage of NFEPS than in prior years due to contributions from the Asset Management Agreements signed in 2020*. The following chart represents NJR's current expected contributions from its business segments for fiscal 2024:

In providing fiscal 2024 NFE guidance, management is aware there could be differences between reported GAAP earnings and NFE due to matters such as, but not limited to, the positions of our energy-related derivatives. Management is not able to reasonably estimate the aggregate impact or significance of these items on reported earnings and, therefore, is not able to provide a reconciliation to the corresponding GAAP equivalent for its operating earnings guidance without unreasonable efforts.

New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG)

NJNG reported second-quarter fiscal 2024 NFE of $107.1 million, compared to NFE of $100.7 million during the same period in fiscal 2023. Fiscal 2024 year-to-date NFE were $158.5 million, compared to NFE of $155.4 million during the same period in fiscal 2023. NJNG reported higher utility gross margin for the second quarter of fiscal 2024, driven by higher contribution from BGSS incentive programs, partially offset by increased depreciation and operating expenses, while year-to-date utility gross margin improved as a result of continued customer growth.

Customer Growth:

• NJNG added 4,058 new customers during the first six months of fiscal 2024, compared with 4,064 during the same period of fiscal 2023. NJNG expects these new customers to contribute approximately $3.4 million of incremental utility gross margin on an annualized basis.

Base Rate Filing:

• On January 31, 2024, NJNG filed a base rate case with the BPU, seeking a $222.6 million increase to its base rates. The filing is based on an overall return of 7.57 percent with a return on equity of 10.42 percent. The proposed increase reflects a 55.42 percent common equity component.

Infrastructure Update:

• NJNG's Infrastructure Investment Program (IIP) is a five-year, $150 million accelerated recovery program that began in fiscal 2021. IIP consists of a series of infrastructure projects designed to enhance the safety and reliability of NJNG's natural gas distribution system. During the first six months of fiscal 2024, NJNG spent $13.7 million under the program on various distribution system reinforcement projects.
  
  On March 28, 2024, NJNG submitted its annual IIP filing to the BPU requesting a rate increase for capital expenditures of $43.5 million through June 30, 2024, which will result in a $5.6 million revenue increase, with a proposed effective date of October 1, 2024.

Basic Gas Supply Service (BGSS) Incentive Programs:

BGSS incentive programs contributed $7.9 million to utility gross margin in the second quarter of fiscal 2024, compared with $5.8 million during the same period of fiscal 2023. This increase for the second quarter was due primarily to higher margins from off-system sales. During the first six months of fiscal 2024, these programs contributed $13.3 million to utility gross margin, compared with $14.5 million during the same period in fiscal 2023.

For more information on utility gross margin, please see "Non-GAAP Financial Information" below.

Energy-Efficiency Programs:

SAVEGREENtm invested $33.4 million year-to-date in fiscal 2024 in energy-efficiency upgrades for customers' homes and businesses. NJNG recovered $15.1 million of its outstanding investments during the first six months of fiscal 2024 through its energy efficiency rate.

Clean Energy Ventures (CEV)

CEV reported second-quarter fiscal 2024 net financial loss of $(5.6) million, compared with a net financial loss of $(9.4) million during the same period in fiscal 2023. The decrease in net financial loss for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 was largely due to the recognition of Investment Tax Credits associated with solar sale leaseback financing transactions. Fiscal 2024 year-to-date NFE was $4.9 million, compared with a net financial loss of $(13.0) million during the same period in fiscal 2023. The increase in fiscal 2024 year-to-date NFE was due primarily to higher SREC and TREC revenue for the period.

Solar Investment Update:

• As of March 31, 2024, CEV had approximately 474MW of solar capacity in service in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Indiana, and Michigan.

Storage and Transportation

Storage and Transportation reported second-quarter fiscal 2024 NFE of $2.0 million, compared with NFE of $2.4 million during the same period in fiscal 2023. Fiscal 2024 year-to-date NFE were $5.6 million, compared with NFE of $8.7 million during the same period in fiscal 2023. NFE for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 remained largely flat when compared to the prior year, while the year-to-date decrease in NFE was largely due to higher operating revenues in the prior year period.

Energy Services

Energy Services reported second-quarter fiscal 2024 NFE of $37.6 million compared with NFE of $21.1 million for the same period in fiscal 2023. The increase in the second quarter of fiscal 2024 was due to higher natural gas price volatility in January, allowing Energy Services to capture additional financial margin. Fiscal 2024 year-to-date NFE were $45.5 million, compared with NFE of $73.7 million during the same period in fiscal 2023. The decrease in fiscal 2024 year-to-date NFE was due primarily to higher natural gas price volatility in the prior year period, largely as a result of Winter Storm Elliott.

Home Services and Other Operations

Home Services and Other Operations reported second-quarter fiscal 2024 NFE of $0.4 million, compared to NFE of $0.8 million for the same period in fiscal 2023. Fiscal 2024 year-to-date net financial loss was $(0.2) million, compared with NFE of $0.8 million during the same period in fiscal 2023.

Capital Expenditures and Cash Flows:

NJR is committed to maintaining a strong financial profile:

• During the first six months of fiscal 2024, capital expenditures were $232.6 million, including accruals, compared with $253.7 million during the same period of fiscal 2023. The decrease in capital expenditures was primarily due to lower solar capital expenditures during the period as a result of the timing of several projects being placed into service in the prior year.

• During the first six months of fiscal 2024, cash flows from operations were $338.6 million, which was largely consistent with cash flows from operations of $343.1 million during the same period of fiscal 2023.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This earnings release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and 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. Words such as "anticipates," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "may," "will," "intends," "plans," "believes," "should" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements and such forward-looking statements are made based upon management's current expectations, assumptions and beliefs as of this date concerning future developments and their potential effect upon NJR. There can be no assurance that future developments will be in accordance with management's expectations, assumptions and beliefs or that the effect of future developments on NJR will be those anticipated by management. Forward-looking statements in this earnings release include, but are not limited to, certain statements regarding NJR's NFEPS guidance for fiscal 2024, projected NFEPS growth rates and our guidance range, NFEPS Contributions, forecasted contribution of business segments to NJR's NFE for fiscal 2024, customer growth at NJNG and their expected contributions, expected contributions from Asset Management Agreements, infrastructure programs and investments, future decarbonization opportunities including IIP, Energy Efficiency programs, including BGSS, the outcome or timing of our Base Rate Case with the BPU, and other legal and regulatory expectations.

Additional information and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from NJR's expectations are contained in NJR's filings with the SEC, including NJR's Annual Reports on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other SEC filings, which are available at the SEC's web site, http://www.sec.gov. Information included in this earnings release is representative as of today only and while NJR periodically reassesses material trends and uncertainties affecting NJR's results of operations and financial condition in connection with its preparation of management's discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition contained in its Quarterly and Annual Reports filed with the SEC, NJR does not, by including this statement, assume any obligation to review or revise any particular forward-looking statement referenced herein in light of future events.

Non-GAAP Financial Information:

This earnings release includes the non-GAAP financial measures NFE/net financial loss, NFE per basic share, 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 NJR's operating performance, these measures should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income or operating revenues as determined in accordance with GAAP. This information has been provided pursuant to the requirements of SEC Regulation G.

NFE and financial margin exclude unrealized gains or losses on derivative instruments related to NJR's unregulated subsidiaries and certain realized gains and losses on derivative instruments related to natural gas that has been placed into storage at Energy Services, net of applicable tax adjustments as described below. Financial margin also differs from gross margin as defined on a GAAP basis as it excludes certain operations and maintenance expense and depreciation and amortization as well as the effects of derivatives as discussed above. Volatility associated with the change in value of these financial instruments and physical commodity reported on 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 instead of when the planned transaction ultimately is settled. An annual estimated effective tax rate is calculated for NFE purposes and any necessary quarterly tax adjustment is applied to NJR Energy Services Company.

NJNG's utility gross margin is defined as operating revenues less natural gas purchases, sales tax, and regulatory rider expense. This measure differs from gross margin as presented on a GAAP basis as it excludes certain operations and maintenance expense and depreciation and amortization. Utility gross margin may also not be comparable to the definition of gross margin used by others in the natural gas distribution business and other industries. Management believes that utility gross margin provides a meaningful basis for evaluating utility operations since natural gas costs, sales tax and regulatory rider expenses are included in operating revenues and passed through to customers and, therefore, have no effect on utility gross margin.

Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures as supplemental measures to other GAAP results to provide a more complete understanding of NJR's performance. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures are more reflective of NJR'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 Report on Form 10-K, Item 7.

About New Jersey Resources

New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR) is a Fortune 1000 company that, through its subsidiaries, provides safe and reliable natural gas and clean energy services, including transportation, distribution, asset management and home services. NJR is composed of five primary businesses:

• New Jersey Natural Gas, NJR's principal subsidiary, operates and maintains natural gas transportation and distribution infrastructure to serve approximately 582,000 customers in New Jersey's Monmouth, Ocean, Morris, Middlesex, Sussex and Burlington counties.

• Clean Energy Ventures invests in, owns and operates solar projects with a total capacity of approximately 474 megawatts, providing residential and commercial customers with low-carbon solutions.

• Energy Services manages a diversified portfolio of natural gas transportation and storage assets and provides physical natural gas services and customized energy solutions to its customers across North America.

• Storage and Transportation serves customers from local distributors and producers to electric generators and wholesale marketers through its ownership of Leaf River and the Adelphia Gateway Pipeline, as well as our 50% equity ownership in the Steckman Ridge natural gas storage facility.

• Home Services provides service contracts as well as heating, central air conditioning, water heaters, standby generators, solar and other indoor and outdoor comfort products to residential homes throughout New Jersey.

NJR and its over 1,300 employees are committed to helping customers save energy and money by promoting conservation and encouraging efficiency through Conserve to Preserve® and initiatives such as The SAVEGREEN Project® and The Sunlight Advantage®.

For more information about NJR:
www.njresources.com.

Follow us on X.com (Twitter) @NJNaturalGas.
"Like" us on facebook.com/NewJerseyNaturalGas.

 

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