Alliant Energy Q4 Earnings Surpass Estimates, Sales Increase Y/Y

Core Insights - Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT) reported fourth-quarter 2025 operating earnings of 60 cents per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 58 cents by 3.45%, but down 14.29% from 70 cents in the same quarter last year [1] - The company achieved total revenues of $1.06 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.94 billion by 13.45%, and reflecting a year-over-year increase of 9.01% from $0.98 billion [2] - Adjusted earnings for 2025 were reported at $3.22 per share, a 5.92% increase from $3.04 in 2024 [1] Financial Performance - Total operating expenses rose to $868 million, a 15.12% increase from $754 million in the previous year, primarily due to higher costs in electric production fuel and purchased power [3] - Operating income decreased to $196 million, down 11.71% from $222 million in the year-ago period [3] - Interest expenses increased by 16.7% to $140 million compared to the prior year [4] Sales and Production - Total utility electric sales were reported at 7,907 thousand megawatt-hours, a decrease of 2.58% from the previous year [4] - Total utility gas sold and transported increased to 46,558 thousand dekatherms, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 4.63% [4] Cash Flow and Debt - As of December 31, 2025, cash and cash equivalents stood at $556 million, a significant increase from $81 million as of December 31, 2024 [5] - Long-term debt rose to $10.95 billion from $8.68 billion in the previous year [5] - Cash flow from operating activities was reported at $1.169 billion, slightly up from $1.167 billion in the prior year [5] Future Guidance - For 2026, Alliant Energy expects earnings per share to be in the range of $3.36 to $3.46, with long-term EPS growth projected at 5-7% for 2027-2029 [8] - The company anticipates a 1% growth in retail sales, driven by data center construction and commissioning sales [9] - Planned capital expenditures for 2026 are estimated at $3 billion, with a total of $13.4 billion earmarked for the period from 2026 to 2029 [9]