Black Hills Corp. Reports 2025 Third-Quarter Results and Reaffirms 2025 Adjusted Earnings Guidance

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]