Group 1: HP Inc. - HP has a history of increasing dividends for nine consecutive years, with the latest quarterly payout raised from $0.2894 to $0.30, resulting in an annual figure of $1.20 per share [3] - The current dividend yield for HP is 4.93% [3] - HP's annual revenue as of July 31 is reported at $54.71 billion, with Q4 2025 revenues of $14.64 billion, slightly below the consensus estimate of $14.70 billion, while EPS of $0.93 exceeded the consensus of $0.92 [3] Group 2: Black Hills Corp. - Black Hills has increased its dividends for 55 consecutive years, with the most recent quarterly payout raised from $0.65 to $0.676 per share, equating to an annual figure of $2.70 per share [5] - The current dividend yield for Black Hills stands at 3.76% [5] - The company's annual revenue as of September 30 is $2.27 billion, with Q3 2025 revenues of $430.20 million, which missed the consensus estimate of $440.96 million, while EPS of $0.45 surpassed the consensus of $0.42 [6] Group 3: First Merchants Corp. - First Merchants is a financial holding company that owns First Merchants Bank, providing various financial services including commercial and consumer banking, wealth management, and mortgage lending [7]

Core Insights - The investment community is preparing for the gradual withdrawal of Warren Buffett from the forefront of investing, acknowledging the end of an era in which his influence has been significant [1] Group 1 - Buffett's investment lessons are expected to endure and continue to provide guidance for investors even as he steps back [1]

Core Insights - Black Hills Corporation (NYSE:BKH) is recognized as one of the 15 overlooked dividend stocks to consider for investment [1] - Scotiabank upgraded Black Hills from Sector Perform to Outperform, raising the price target from $66 to $81, highlighting the strong growth potential from data centers in Wyoming [2] - The analyst noted that the Crusoe/Tallgrass project could enhance earnings by approximately 35% [2] - Despite concerns regarding a pending merger, the downside risk is considered limited, and the current risk/reward profile of the stock is viewed positively [3] Financial and Strategic Developments - In its Q3 2025 earnings report, Black Hills outlined a five-year strategy targeting 500 MW of data center demand by 2029, supported by partnerships with Microsoft and Meta [4] - The company is expanding its data center load pipeline from over 1 GW to more than 3 GW, which is expected to drive significant earnings growth through innovative tariffs and investments in new projects [4] - Black Hills aims to enhance its position as a customer-focused, growth-driven utility company committed to becoming the energy partner of choice [5]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q3 2025, the company reported GAAP EPS of $0.34, including $0.10 of merger-related costs, resulting in an adjusted EPS of $0.45 compared to $0.35 for Q3 2024, reflecting a year-over-year increase [10][11] - Year-to-date EPS was reported at $2.58, including $0.11 of merger-related costs, leading to an adjusted EPS of $2.68, a 6.3% increase from $2.52 in the same period last year [12][14] - The company reaffirmed its 2025 earnings guidance with an adjusted EPS range of $4-$4.20, indicating a 5% growth rate at the midpoint over 2024 EPS [6][15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Regulatory efforts contributed $0.21 per share of new rates and rider recovery margin for Q3 2025, offsetting unfavorable weather and increased operating costs [10][11] - Customer growth, particularly from large load customers like data centers, is positively impacting earnings, with ongoing negotiations for over 3 gigawatts of demand [6][18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is experiencing strong economic conditions in its service territories, with no significant indicators of weakness noted [32] - The merger with Northwestern Energy is expected to enhance competitive positioning and create additional value for customers and shareholders [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is executing a $1 billion capital plan to support key projects and has made significant progress on regulatory and growth initiatives [4][5] - The merger with Northwestern Energy is anticipated to be finalized in the second half of next year, which will provide increased scale and new opportunities [9][24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving long-term growth targets, supported by a $4.7 billion capital plan and strong customer demand [7][15] - The company is on track to complete major projects, including the Ready Wyoming transmission expansion and the Lang 2 generation project, which are expected to enhance service reliability and support growth [20][21] Other Important Information - The company has maintained a healthy balance sheet with a net debt to total capitalization target of 55% and a strong liquidity position [14] - The company has a long-standing commitment to dividends, targeting a payout ratio of 55%-65% [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Data center resource requirements and equipment reservations - Management confirmed they have reservations in place and are utilizing a flexible service model to meet growing demand [26][27] Question: Concerns about the approval process in Montana - Management is closely monitoring the situation and remains optimistic about the approval process [29] Question: Fourth-quarter issues that might impact guidance - Management indicated no significant operational or financial issues, with weather being the primary concern [30][31] Question: Indicators of economic weakness in service areas - Management reported no signs of weakness in their service territories, with conditions remaining strong [32] Question: EPS upside from data center projects - Management acknowledged the potential for significant EPS growth from data centers, but emphasized the variability in contractual agreements [40][41] Question: Strategic considerations for coal mine assets - Management is keeping options open regarding the coal mine, aware of potential rare earth minerals but not expecting significant monetization in the near term [45]

Customer Base and Operations - The company serves over 1.35 million customers across 800+ communities in eight states, focusing on operational excellence and growth[126] Financial Performance - For the three months ended September 30, 2025, Electric Utilities' operating income decreased by $2.7 million to $62.4 million, while Gas Utilities' operating income increased by $9.9 million to $20.8 million[141] - For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, Electric Utilities' operating income decreased by $10.3 million to $165.7 million, while Gas Utilities' operating income increased by $43.1 million to $207.7 million[141] - The company’s net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was $191.1 million, an increase of $8.5 million compared to the same period in 2024[141] - Electric Utilities revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2025, was $249.7 million, an increase of 7.4% compared to $232.5 million in the same period of 2024[148] - Total revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was $706.3 million, up from $659.8 million in 2024, reflecting a 7.0% increase[154] - Gas Utilities revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2025, was $184.4 million, up 6.2% from $173.6 million in 2024[162] - The total revenue for Gas Utilities for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was $979.9 million, an increase of 10.8% from $884.2 million in 2024[162] Margins and Expenses - Electric Utility margin (non-GAAP) for the three months ended September 30, 2025, increased by $2.3 million to $179.9 million from $177.6 million in 2024[149] - The Electric Utility margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, increased by $10.0 million to $514.1 million compared to $504.1 million in 2024[149] - Operations and maintenance expenses rose by $4.7 million to $69.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, compared to $65.1 million in 2024[148] - Operations and maintenance expenses for Gas Utilities decreased by $4.5 million in Q3 2025 compared to Q3 2024, primarily due to lower employee-related expenses[163] Energy Generation and Demand - Wyoming Electric set a new all-time peak load of 379 MW on June 20, 2025, surpassing the previous peak of 314 MW set in January 2024[140] - Coal generation decreased to 556.8 GWh for the three months ended September 30, 2025, from 645.7 GWh in 2024, primarily due to unplanned outages[155] - Total purchased energy increased to 734.8 GWh for the three months ended September 30, 2025, compared to 516.1 GWh in 2024, driven by increased demand[156] - Total generated electricity for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was 3,856.7 GWh, a decrease of 2.9% from 3,971.3 GWh in 2024[157] - Total purchased electricity for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was 2,225.3 GWh, a 30.8% increase from 1,701.3 GWh in 2024[157] Debt and Capital Expenditures - Interest expense increased by $17.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, primarily due to higher interest rates on long-term debt[142] - Capital expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, totaled $(550.2) million, an increase of $19.7 million compared to $(530.5) million in 2024, primarily due to the Ready Wyoming and Lange II projects[180] - The company completed a public debt offering of $450 million on October 2, 2025, with net proceeds intended to repay $300 million of senior unsecured notes due January 2026[175] Equity and Liquidity - Total stockholders' equity as of September 30, 2025, was $3,768.0 million, compared to $3,501.5 million as of December 31, 2024, indicating a growth in equity[174] - Available liquidity as of September 30, 2025, was $642.0 million, slightly up from $628.8 million as of December 31, 2024[174] - The company's debt to capitalization ratio improved to 53.7% as of September 30, 2025, down from 55.6% at the end of 2024[174] Tax and Other Expenses - Income tax expense increased by $2.9 million primarily due to higher pre-tax income[147] - The effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2025, was 13.5%, up from 10.0% in 2024, primarily due to non-deductibility of certain merger-related expenses[177] Merger Activity - The company is in the process of a merger with NorthWestern, which was agreed upon on August 18, 2025[130] - Operating loss for the three months ended September 30, 2025, increased to $(4.5) million, compared to $(0.2) million for the same period in 2024, primarily due to $8.4 million of NorthWestern merger-related costs[171] Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility - The company published its 2024 Corporate Sustainability Report, highlighting progress on major projects and climate goals[140]

Financial Performance & Outlook - Black Hills Corp reaffirmed its full-year adjusted earnings guidance range of $400 to $420[14] - The company is targeting a long-term EPS growth of 4% to 6%, planning to deliver in the upper half of the range starting in 2026[14] - Black Hills Corp is forecasting $1 billion in capital investment for 2025 and $47 billion from 2025 to 2029[14] - The company completed a $220 million equity issuance in 2025[12] Strategic Initiatives & Merger - Black Hills Corp is progressing with its merger with NorthWestern Energy, having filed joint applications for transaction approval with regulatory commissions in Montana, Nebraska, and South Dakota[21, 22] - The company expects to file a joint application with FERC during Q4 2025[22] - Black Hills Corp is engaged with high-quality partners representing 3 GW+ of data center load requests[12] Capital Investments & Projects - The company's capital investment forecast is $47 billion from 2025-2029[16] - The Ready Wyoming transmission expansion project is on track to be placed in service by year-end, with the first phase completed in late 2024 at a cost of ~$40 million out of a total ~$350 million project[12, 58] - Construction has commenced on the 99 MW Lange II generation project in Rapid City, with an expected in-service date in the second half of 2026[12] Regulatory & Reliability - Black Hills Corp reached a settlement for the Nebraska Gas rate review[12] - The company was recognized by Escalent as the 2025 Most Trusted Utility Brand and 2025 Easiest Utilities to do Business With[12]

Financial Performance - Net income available for common stock for Q3 2025 was $24.9 million, compared to $24.4 million in Q3 2024, while year-to-date net income was $186.6 million, up from $175.0 million in the same period last year [2][20]. - Adjusted EPS for Q3 2025 was $0.45, excluding $0.10 of merger-related costs, compared to $0.35 in Q3 2024; year-to-date adjusted EPS was $2.68, up from $2.52 in 2024 [3][4][20]. - Revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2025, was $430.2 million, a 7.1% increase from $401.6 million in the same period of 2024 [22]. - Operating income for the three months ended September 30, 2025, was $78.7 million, compared to $75.8 million in 2024, reflecting a 3.8% increase [22]. - For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, total revenue was $1,674.5 million, up from $1,530.6 million in the same period of 2024, representing a 9.4% increase [27]. - Total revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, reached $706.3 million, up 7.0% from $659.8 million in 2024 [31]. Capital and Investment - The company is advancing a $4.7 billion five-year capital plan, which includes a 260-mile transmission expansion project expected to be completed by year-end 2025 [6][8]. - Black Hills Corp. completed a public debt offering of $450 million in Q3 2025, with proceeds used to repay $300 million of notes due in January 2026 [13]. - The company maintained solid investment-grade credit ratings, with Moody's affirming a Baa2 rating and S&P Global affirming a BBB+ rating [13]. Merger and Acquisition - The merger with NorthWestern Energy is anticipated to close in the second half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals filed in October 2025 [9][10]. - Black Hills plans to file a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC to register shares of common stock to be issued to NorthWestern stockholders in connection with the pending merger transaction [45]. - The definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to stockholders of both Black Hills and NorthWestern regarding the merger transaction [45]. - Investors are urged to read the registration statement and joint proxy statement/prospectus for important information about the pending merger transaction [46]. - Information about directors and executive officers of both companies will be included in the joint proxy statement/prospectus related to the merger [47]. - Additional information regarding the interests of participants in the merger will be included in the joint proxy statement/prospectus when available [47]. Revenue Breakdown - Electric Utilities' revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2025, was $249.7 million, compared to $232.5 million in 2024, marking a 7.0% increase [29]. - Gas Utilities' revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2025, was $184.4 million, up from $173.6 million in 2024, reflecting a 6.8% increase [29]. - Colorado Electric revenue increased to $79.6 million in Q3 2025, a 6.3% rise from $74.9 million in Q3 2024 [31]. - South Dakota Electric revenue rose to $90.6 million in Q3 2025, a 5.3% increase from $86.0 million in Q3 2024 [31]. - Total quantities sold for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, were 5,749.6 GWh, compared to 5,435.1 GWh in 2024, reflecting a growth of 5.8% [31]. - Total revenue from gas utilities for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was $979.9 million, a 10.8% increase from $884.2 million in 2024 [34]. Dividends and Shareholder Returns - A quarterly dividend of $0.676 per share was approved, representing 55 consecutive years of increases, the second-longest track record in the industry [13]. Operational Highlights - Electric Utilities' operating income decreased by $2.7 million primarily due to milder weather and higher operating expenses [26]. - Gas Utilities' operating income increased by $9.9 million, driven by new rates and rider recovery [26]. - The availability of coal generating facilities decreased to 77.3% in Q3 2025 from 90.7% in Q3 2024 [32]. - Retail revenue from residential customers increased to $86.0 million in Q3 2025, up 12.9% from $76.2 million in Q3 2024 [34]. Future Outlook - The company reaffirms its 2025 adjusted earnings guidance in the range of $4.00 to $4.20 per share, excluding merger-related costs [8][14]. - The company plans to discuss its financial results in a conference call on November 6, 2025 [38]. - Black Hills Corp. serves 1.35 million natural gas and electric utility customers across eight states [40].

Core Insights - Black Hills Corp. reported a net income of $24.9 million for Q3 2025, slightly up from $24.4 million in Q3 2024, with diluted EPS of $0.34 compared to $0.35 in the previous year [1][2] - Adjusted EPS for Q3 2025 was $0.45, benefiting from new rates and rider recovery, despite higher financing and depreciation costs [1][3] - The company reaffirmed its 2025 adjusted earnings guidance in the range of $4.00 to $4.20 per share, excluding merger-related costs [5][11] Financial Performance - Year-to-date GAAP EPS increased to $2.58 from $2.52 in 2024, while adjusted EPS rose to $2.68 from $2.52, driven by new rates and favorable weather [2][11] - Total revenue for Q3 2025 was $430.2 million, up from $401.6 million in Q3 2024, with operating income of $78.7 million compared to $75.8 million [18][26] - Operating expenses increased to $351.5 million in Q3 2025 from $325.8 million in Q3 2024, primarily due to higher fuel and maintenance costs [18][26] Strategic Initiatives - The company is advancing a $4.7 billion five-year capital plan focused on safety, reliability, and growth, including the completion of the 260-mile Ready Wyoming transmission expansion project by year-end 2025 [4][5] - Black Hills Corp. is preparing to file a new electric rate review in South Dakota and has secured a settlement for natural gas rates in Nebraska [3][5] - The planned merger with NorthWestern Energy is expected to close in the second half of 2026, enhancing the company's scale and growth opportunities [6][7] Operational Highlights - The Ready Wyoming project is expected to enhance system resiliency and support local economic growth, while the Lange II generation project in South Dakota will replace aging infrastructure [4][9] - The company is negotiating with partners to expand its data center load pipeline to over 3 GW, driven by demand from Microsoft and Meta [5][6] - Electric Utilities' operating income decreased due to milder weather and higher operating expenses, while Gas Utilities' operating income increased due to new rates and rider recovery [23][25][27]

Group 1 - The article does not provide any specific information or insights regarding a company or industry [1]

Core Points - Black Hills Corp. announced a quarterly dividend of $0.676 per share for common shareholders, payable on December 1, 2025, to those on record by November 17, 2025 [1] - The company will release its third-quarter earnings for 2025 after market close on November 5, 2025, followed by a live conference call and webcast on November 6, 2025, at 11 a.m. EST to discuss financial results [2] Company Overview - Black Hills Corp. is a growth-oriented utility company based in Rapid City, South Dakota, serving 1.35 million natural gas and electric utility customers across eight states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming [5]