Fortis(US:FTS) Globenewswire·2025-11-04 11:00Core Insights - Fortis Inc. reported third quarter net earnings of $409 million, or $0.81 per common share, a decrease of $11 million compared to the same period in 2024, primarily due to income taxes and closing costs related to the sale of FortisTCI [4][6][10] - The company announced a new five-year capital plan totaling $28.8 billion, an increase of $2.8 billion from the previous plan, driven by higher transmission investments and customer growth [3][12][20] - Fortis expects annual dividend growth of 4-6% through 2030, supported by a robust rate base growth projected to increase from $41.9 billion in 2025 to $57.9 billion by 2030 [3][20][22] Financial Performance - Net earnings attributable to common equity shareholders for Q3 2025 were $409 million, or $0.81 per share, down from $0.85 per share in Q3 2024 [4][8] - Adjusted net earnings per common share increased to $0.87, up from $0.85 in the same quarter of 2024 [8][10] - Year-to-date net earnings increased by $114 million, or $0.18 per share, compared to the same period in 2024, driven by rate base growth and favorable exchange rates [6][10] Capital Expenditures and Investments - Capital expenditures for 2025 are expected to be approximately $5.6 billion, up from a previous estimate of $5.2 billion, primarily due to increased transmission investments [11][12] - The new capital plan includes significant investments in transmission and distribution to support load growth and reliability, with only 21% related to major capital projects [12][22] - Fortis has identified additional growth opportunities beyond the five-year plan, including investments associated with the MISO long-range transmission plan [14][22] Dividends and Shareholder Value - The Board of Directors declared a 4.1% increase in the common share dividend for the fourth quarter of 2025, reflecting the company's commitment to shareholder returns [3][16] - The dividend reinvestment plan is expected to provide common equity proceeds to support the capital plan [13][20] Regulatory and Market Developments - The New York State Public Service Commission approved a three-year rate plan for Central Hudson, which includes a 9.5% allowed return on equity [19] - Fortis is experiencing interest from potential new large retail customers in sectors such as manufacturing and data centers, indicating potential for future energy demand growth [15][22] Environmental and Strategic Outlook - Fortis aims to achieve interim greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets of 50% by 2030 and 75% by 2035, although challenges remain [23] - The company remains committed to a coal-free generation mix by 2032 and a net-zero goal by 2050 [23]