Wednesday, April 27, 2011

ITC Holdings Reports Increased First Quarter 2011 Results

NOVI, Mich., April 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Highlights

  • Net income for the first quarter of $42.0 million, or $0.81 per diluted common share
  • Capital investments of $128.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011
  • Reaffirmed 2011 earnings per share guidance of $3.20 to $3.30 per share and capital expenditure guidance of $560 to $640 million

 

(in thousands, except per share data)

Three months ended
March 31,

2011

2010

OPERATING REVENUES

$   179,386

$   161,288

NET INCOME

$     42,002

$     34,204

DILUTED EPS

$         0.81

$         0.67

ITC Holdings Corp. (NYSE: ITC) today announced its first quarter results for the period ended March 31, 2011.  Net income for the quarter was $42.0 million, or $0.81 per diluted common share, compared to $34.2 million, or $0.67 per diluted common share for the first quarter of 2010.  

For the three months ended March 31, 2011, ITC invested $128.9 million in capital projects at its operating companies, including $14.6 million, $33.7 million, $67.7 million and $12.9 million at ITCTransmission, METC, ITC Midwest and ITC Great Plains, respectively.

"We remain very pleased with our overall performance and execution," said Joseph L. Welch, chairman, president and CEO of ITC. "During the first quarter of 2011, we made solid progress in advancing our capital investment program that is expected to deliver value to both our customers and shareholders.  In addition, we remain encouraged by the continued positive momentum around the regulatory and policy reforms critical to supporting regional transmission expansion, which further underscores our confidence in our long-term capital investment plans."  

Reported net income for the first quarter of 2011 increased $7.8 million, or $0.14 per diluted common share, compared to the same period in 2010.  Key drivers that contributed to year-over-year variances for the quarter include:

  • Higher net income due to higher rate base at all operating companies.
  • An increase in net income of $1.3 million due to the recognition of a regulatory asset associated with the Kansas V-Plan project.
  • These increases in net income for the quarter were partially offset by higher interest expense resulting from higher borrowing levels to finance capital expenditures.  

 

EPS and Capital Expenditure Guidance

For 2011, ITC is reaffirming its full year earnings per share guidance of $3.20 to $3.30.  Capital investment guidance for 2011 is also being maintained at $560 to $640 million, which includes $60 to $75 million, $155 to $170 million, $225 to $250 million and $120 to $145 million for ITCTransmission, METC, ITC Midwest and ITC Great Plains, respectively.

First Quarter 2011 Financial Results Detail

ITC's operating revenues for the first quarter increased to $179.4 million from $161.3 million for the same period last year.  This increase was primarily due to higher network revenues attributable to higher rate base at our regulated operating subsidiaries and higher recoverable expenses associated with operation and maintenance expenses.  In addition, the increase resulted from higher regional cost sharing revenues due primarily to additional capital projects that have been identified by the Midwest ISO and the Southwest Power Pool as eligible for regional cost sharing.  These increases in revenues were partially offset by lower point-to-point revenues resulting from a decrease in scheduled transmission flow over our transmission systems.  

Operation and maintenance expenses of $26.3 million were $2.6 million higher during the first quarter of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010.  This increase was primarily due to higher vehicle and equipment expenses, due in part to higher fuel costs, as well as higher field operations expense and additional field relay maintenance activity.

General and administrative (G&A) expenses of $16.6 million were $1.2 million lower compared to the same period in 2010.  This decrease was primarily due to the recognition of a regulatory asset associated with development and pre-construction costs for the Kansas V-Plan project which reduced G&A expenses by $1.9 million.  This decrease was partially offset by higher development expenses in first quarter of 2011, largely associated with the Kansas V-Plan project, prior to the recognition of the regulatory asset.

Depreciation and amortization expenses of $23.1 million increased by $1.0 million during the first quarter of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010.  This increase was primarily due to a higher depreciable asset base resulting from property, plant and equipment additions.  

Taxes other than income taxes of $13.6 million were $1.3 million higher for the first quarter of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010.  This increase was due to 2010 capital additions at our regulated operating subsidiaries, which are included in the tax base for 2011 personal property taxes.

Interest expense of $36.3 million for the first quarter of 2011 increased $1.2 million compared to the same period in 2010 due primarily to higher borrowing levels to finance capital expenditures.  

The effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2011 was 37.1 percent compared to 36.3 percent for the same period last year.

First Quarter Conference Call

ITC will conduct a conference call to discuss the first quarter results on Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 11 a.m. Eastern time.  Joseph L. Welch, chairman, president and CEO, will provide a business overview, and Cameron M. Bready, executive vice president, treasurer and CFO, will discuss the financial results.  Individuals wishing to participate in the conference call can dial toll-free 877-644-1296 (domestic) or 914-495-8555 (international); there is no passcode.  A listen-only live webcast of the conference call, including accompanying slides and the earnings release, will be available on the company's investor information page at http://investor.itc-holdings.com/events.cfm.  The conference call replay, available through Tuesday, May 3, 2011, can be accessed by dialing toll-free 800-642-1687 (domestic) or 706-645-9291 (international), passcode 58450121. The webcast will also be archived on the ITC website at http://investor.itc-holdings.com/events.cfm.

Other Available Information

More detail about the 2011 first quarter results may be found in ITC's Form 10-Q filing. Once filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, an electronic copy of our 10-Q can be found at our website, http://investor.itc-holdings.com. Written copies can also be made available by contacting us either through our website or the phone numbers below.

About ITC Holdings Corp.

ITC Holdings Corp. (NYSE: ITC) invests in the electricity transmission grid to improve electric reliability, expand access to markets, lower the overall cost of delivered energy and allow new generating resources to interconnect to its transmission systems. The largest independent electricity transmission company in the country, ITC currently operates high-voltage transmission systems and assets in Michigan's Lower Peninsula and portions of Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois , Missouri and Kansas, serving a combined peak load in excess of 25,000 megawatts through its regulated operating subsidiaries, ITCTransmission, Michigan Electric Transmission Company (METC), ITC Midwest and ITC Great Plains. ITC also focuses on further expansion in areas where significant transmission system improvements are needed through ITC Grid Development and its subsidiaries.  For more information, please visit: http://www.itc-holdings.com. (itc-ITC)

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains certain statements that describe our management's beliefs concerning future business conditions, plans and prospects, growth opportunities and the outlook for our business and the electricity transmission industry based upon information currently available. Such statements are "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Wherever possible, we have identified these forward-looking statements by words such as "will," "may," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "expects," "projects" and similar phrases. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions our management believes are reasonable.  Such forward looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause our actual results, performance and achievements to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these statements, including, among others, the risks and uncertainties disclosed in our annual report on Form 10-K and our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.

Because our forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions that are subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control or are subject to change, actual results could be materially different and any or all of our forward-looking statements may turn out to be wrong.  Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and can be affected by assumptions we might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many factors mentioned in our discussion in this release and in our annual and quarterly reports will be important in determining future results. Consequently, we cannot assure you that our expectations or forecasts expressed in such forward-looking statements will be achieved. Actual future results may vary materially. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any of our forward-looking or other statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

ITC HOLDINGS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except per share data)

Three months ended

March 31,

2011

2010

OPERATING REVENUES

$  179,386

$161,288

OPERATING EXPENSES

   Operation and maintenance

26,284

23,729

   General and administrative

16,580

17,781

   Depreciation and amortization

23,088

22,115

   Taxes other than income taxes

13,608

12,308

   Other operating income and expense — net

(149)

7

       Total operating expenses

79,411

75,940

OPERATING INCOME

99,975

85,348

OTHER EXPENSES (INCOME)

   Interest expense

36,277

35,029

   Allowance for equity funds used during construction

(3,510)

(3,143)

   Other income

(275)

(626)

   Other expense

722

384

       Total other expenses (income)

33,214

31,644

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

66,761

53,704

INCOME TAX PROVISION

24,759

19,500

NET INCOME

$   42,002

$   34,204

Basic earnings per common share

$      0.83

$      0.68

Diluted earnings per common share

$      0.81

$      0.67

Dividends declared per common share

$    0.335

$    0.320

ITC HOLDINGS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except share data)

March 31,

December 31,

2011

2010

ASSETS

   Current assets

       Cash and cash equivalents

$   63,381

$   95,109

       Accounts receivable

68,116

80,417

       Inventory

40,695

42,286

       Deferred income taxes

5,810

       Regulatory assets revenue accruals, including accrued interest

22,486

28,637

       Other

6,618

5,293

           Total current assets

207,106

251,742

   Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation and

amortization of $1,143,068 and $1,129,669, respectively)

2,969,065

2,872,277

   Other assets

       Goodwill

950,163

950,163

       Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $12,952 and $12,176,

         respectively)

49,209

49,985

       Regulatory assets revenue accruals, including accrued interest

12,126

3,947

       Other regulatory assets

140,059

138,152

       Deferred financing fees (net of accumulated amortization of $12,493 and

        $11,750, respectively)

20,762

19,949

       Other

22,273

21,658

           Total other assets

1,194,592

1,183,854

TOTAL ASSETS

$ 4,370,763

$ 4,307,873

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

   Current liabilities

       Accounts payable

$   61,776

$   66,953

       Accrued payroll

8,337

18,606

       Accrued interest

22,788

42,725

       Accrued taxes

20,663

19,461

       Regulatory liabilities — revenue deferrals, including accrued interest

24,052

17,658

       Refundable deposits from generators for transmission network upgrades

12,698

10,492

       Revolving credit agreements maturing within one year

24,400

       Other

2,695

6,509

           Total current liabilities

177,409

182,404

   Accrued pension and postretirement liabilities

37,281

35,811

   Deferred income taxes

340,703

314,979

   Regulatory liabilities — revenue deferrals, including accrued interest

34,101

43,202

   Regulatory liabilities — accrued asset removal costs

89,852

90,987

   Refundable deposits from generators for transmission network upgrades

10,545

14,515

   Other

12,209

11,646

   Long-term debt

2,513,713

2,496,896

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

       Common stock, without par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 50,996,817 and 50,715,805 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively

898,601

886,808

       Retained earnings

254,432

229,437

       Accumulated other comprehensive income

1,917

1,188

           Total stockholders' equity

1,154,950

1,117,433

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

$ 4,370,763

$ 4,307,873

ITC HOLDINGS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands)

Three Months Ended

March 31,

2011

2010

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

   Net income

$  42,002

$   34,204

   Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

       Depreciation and amortization expense

23,088

22,115

       Recognition of and refund and collection of revenue accruals and deferrals — including accrued interest

(4,735)

13,577

       Deferred income tax expense

16,796

17,808

       Allowance for equity funds used during construction

(3,510)

(3,143)

       Other

2,950

2,503

       Changes in assets and liabilities, exclusive of changes shown separately:

           Accounts receivable

12,612

4,775

           Inventory

1,591

(1,220)

           Other current assets

(1,325)

(1,932)

           Accounts payable

(3,280)

(7,093)

           Accrued payroll

(8,024)

(5,086)

           Accrued interest

(19,937)

(15,120)

           Accrued taxes

1,202

(4,971)

           Other current liabilities

(3,418)

(208)

           Other non-current assets and liabilities, net

1,504

1,545

               Net cash provided by operating activities

57,516

57,754

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

   Expenditures for property, plant and equipment

(118,491)

(71,816)

   Proceeds from sale of securities

14,576

   Purchases of securities

(14,587)

   Other

4

(78)

               Net cash used in investing activities

(118,487)

(71,905)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

   Issuance of long-term debt

40,000

   Borrowings under revolving credit agreements

196,300

142,104

   Repayments of revolving credit agreements

(155,200)

(161,041)

   Issuance of common stock

8,995

574

   Dividends on common stock

(17,007)

(16,034)

   Refundable deposits from generators for transmission network upgrades

3,113

3,957

   Repayment of refundable deposits from generators for transmission network upgrades

(4,876)

(2,866)

   Other

(2,082)

(327)

               Net cash provided by financing activities

29,243

6,367

NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

(31,728)

(7,784)

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — Beginning of period

95,109

74,853

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — End of period

$   63,381

$   67,069

SOURCE ITC Holdings Corp.

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