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AES(AES) - 2025 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-08-01 15:02
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported adjusted EBITDA of $681 million for Q2 2025, an increase from $658 million in the previous year, driven by growth from new renewables projects and cost reductions [25][26] - Adjusted EPS increased by 34% to $0.51 per share compared to $0.38 in the prior year, supported by higher U.S. renewable tax attributes [26][32] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Renewables Strategic Business Unit (SBU) saw adjusted EBITDA of $240 million, representing a 56% growth year-over-year, attributed to 3.2 gigawatts of new projects added to the portfolio [10][27] - The Utilities SBU experienced lower adjusted pretax contributions due to planned outages and the sell-down of AES Ohio, but significant growth is expected driven by new investments [29][31] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has a backlog of 12 gigawatts of signed Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), with 4.1 gigawatts international and 7.9 gigawatts in the U.S., with plans to place 6 gigawatts in service by the end of 2027 [13][40] - Demand for electricity in the U.S. is growing rapidly, with expectations of over 600 terawatt hours of additional power needed by the end of the decade, primarily driven by data centers [19][20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to maintain its position as a leading provider of renewables to data centers, with over 11 gigawatts of agreements signed to date [18][41] - The strategy focuses on delivering energy solutions that meet customer demands for renewables and storage, while also maintaining flexibility to adapt to market changes [21][38] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the strength of the backlog of renewables and energy storage projects, emphasizing that recent U.S. policy changes are largely inconsequential to their operations [12][36] - The company expects strong demand for electricity to continue, with a robust growth outlook even as tax credits expire [18][35] Other Important Information - The company is on track to invest approximately $1.4 billion in U.S. utilities in 2025, focusing on improving customer reliability and supporting economic development [22][24] - The company has implemented a supply chain strategy that mitigates risks from potential future tariffs and ensures compliance with U.S. manufacturing requirements [16][36] Q&A Session Summary Question: Project online timing and EPS/EBITDA recognition - Management confirmed that most of the remaining 1.3 gigawatts will be commissioned by the end of the year, with tax attributes expected to be split between the third and fourth quarters [46][47] Question: Value of the underlying business and potential acquisition - Management believes the company has been undervalued and highlighted the strength of their backlog and execution capabilities [51][52] Question: Risk to safe harboring from executive orders - Management expressed confidence in their robust position, noting that most projects are not exposed to potential changes in treasury guidance [58][60] Question: Load updates and demand in service territories - There is strong interest and demand in their utility sectors, particularly from data centers, with about 2 gigawatts of additional demand signed [64] Question: Details on signed PPAs - The company signed 1.6 gigawatts of new PPAs, primarily with data center customers, skewed towards solar plus batteries [70] Question: Gas generation build-out capabilities - Management confirmed ongoing capabilities to build gas plants as needed, particularly for data centers, while focusing primarily on renewables [101][102] Question: Consolidation in the renewable industry - Management anticipates opportunities for acquisitions of smaller developers and advanced-stage projects due to the current market environment [103]