NYSE$NWN

Northwest Natural Holding Company · Q4 2023 earnings

Q4 2023 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

NW Natural Holdings reported a decrease in net income for the fourth quarter of 2023, primarily due to higher operating and interest expenses, which was partially offset by new rates.

NW Natural Holdings reported a net income of $44.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, a decrease compared to $47.9 million in the same period of 2022. The decrease was mainly due to higher operating expenses and interest expense, partially offset by new rates in Oregon and Washington and higher interest income.

  • Net income decreased to $44.6 million (or $1.21 per share) compared to $47.9 million (or $1.36 per share) for the same quarter last year.
  • Natural gas distribution segment net income decreased by $0.6 million primarily due to higher operating expenses and interest expense, partially offset by new rates and higher interest income.
  • Margin increased by $6.5 million due to new rates and a higher gain from the Oregon gas cost incentive sharing mechanism, offset by lower usage from warmer weather.
  • NW Natural reaffirmed long-term earnings per share growth rate target of 4% to 6% compounded annually from 2022 through 2027 and initiated 2024 earnings guidance in the range of $2.20 to $2.40 per share.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$356M

Previous: $375M-5.2%
EPS (adj)

$1.21

Previous: $1.36-11.0%
Capital Expenditures

-$84.6M

Previous: $339M-125.0%
Net Income

$44.6M

Previous: $47.9M-6.9%
Operating Income

$75.2M

Previous: $81.2M-7.5%
Gross Profit

$103M

Previous: $128M-19.9%

Revenue & EPS history

NW Natural · Revenue · Quarterly

$356M

Q4 2023-5.2%vs Q4 2022
Beat estimate in 8 of 15 quarters(53%)
ActualEstimate

Forward guidance

NW Natural Holdings initiated 2024 earnings guidance in the range of $2.20 to $2.40 per share and reaffirmed its long-term earnings per share growth rate target of 4% to 6% compounded annually from 2022 through 2027.

Tailwinds

  • Continued customer growth is expected.
  • Capital expenditures are planned to support growth, safety, and technology upgrades.
  • Long-term earnings per share growth rate target of 4% to 6% is reaffirmed.
  • New rates are expected to be effective on Nov 1, 2024.
  • NW Natural Water is expected to invest approximately $40 million in 2024 related to maintenance capital expenditures

Headwinds

  • Regulatory lag from the natural gas distribution segment is impacting earnings.
  • Increased level of investment and elevated investment in technology is exacerbating the regulatory lag in 2024.
  • Inflationary pressures are increasing operating expenses.
  • Higher depreciation expense is expected due to shorter lived technology investments.
  • Guidance assumes average weather conditions, and significant changes in laws or regulations.

Historical earnings impact

How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.

Avg. return before/after earnings

Based on 20 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q4 2023

Historical avgQ4 2023

-0.4%

Avg return

Earnings day

+0.1%

Avg return

5 days after

-0.6%

Avg return

30 days after

36%

23 / 64 earnings

Positive

+10.7%

Q4 2021

Best reaction

-7.9%

Q4 2023

Worst reaction

Earnings price reactions
QuarterReport dateReaction (Day 0)+5 days+30 days
Q1 2026-7.7%-4.4%-5.5%
Q4 2025+5.7%+4.5%+5.1%
Q3 2025-1.3%+0.6%-1.0%
Q1 2025+0.0%-1.7%-8.6%
Q4 2024-0.6%+1.3%+3.6%
Q3 2024-0.4%-0.7%+0.3%
Q2 2024-5.6%-6.1%-0.3%
Q1 2024-0.7%+0.0%-4.5%
Q4 2023-7.9%-6.6%-9.7%
Q3 2023-2.2%-4.8%-3.3%
Q2 2023-1.8%-2.8%-7.5%
Q1 2023+2.0%+0.3%-6.1%
Q4 2022-0.8%-2.3%-3.6%
Q3 2022+1.0%+5.0%+6.4%
Q2 2022-1.4%-1.9%-10.9%
Q1 2022+3.7%+4.8%+16.7%
Q4 2021+10.7%+14.7%+17.2%
Q3 2021-1.0%-1.0%-3.6%
Q2 2021-0.7%-1.8%-5.2%
Q1 2021+1.2%+2.3%-0.5%
Q4 2020-1.1%-2.7%+7.9%
Q3 2020-1.0%+16.5%+10.1%
Q2 2020+1.3%+2.4%-6.8%
Q1 2020+0.3%-6.4%+1.5%
Q4 2019-1.1%+5.2%-14.9%
Q3 2019-2.1%-3.2%+2.7%
Q2 2019-0.3%-0.1%+1.3%
Q1 2019-1.9%+0.4%-1.0%
Q4 2018+2.0%+0.1%+2.2%
Q3 2018+2.3%+3.1%+0.3%
Q2 2018-3.6%-2.2%+2.5%
Q1 2018-3.1%-2.2%-6.9%
Q4 2017-1.8%-4.7%+1.3%
Q3 2017-0.1%+1.4%+3.5%
Q2 2017+0.5%+0.9%+3.6%
Q1 2017-0.5%+0.8%+3.9%
Q4 2016-2.1%-3.3%-3.5%
Q3 2016-1.5%+0.6%-0.5%
Q2 2016+0.3%-0.8%-7.6%
Q1 2016+4.9%
Q4 2015-5.2%
Q3 2015-0.3%
Q2 2015+1.0%
Q1 2015-3.7%
Q4 2014-2.8%
Q3 2014-0.7%
Q2 2014-0.2%
Q1 2014+0.9%
Q4 2013-1.9%
Q3 2013+0.1%
Q2 2013-1.5%
Q1 2013-0.7%
Q4 2012+3.5%
Q3 2012+0.0%
Q2 2012+0.2%
Q1 2012+0.9%
Q4 2011-0.1%
Q3 2011-2.6%
Q2 2011+2.0%
Q1 2011+0.2%
Q4 2010-0.4%
Q3 2010+1.5%
Q2 2010-1.2%
Q1 2010-0.0%

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