NOVI, Mich., May 1, 2014 --
Highlights
- First quarter 2014 operating earnings of $0.44 per diluted common share; first quarter 2014 reported earnings of $0.43
per diluted common share
- Capital investments of $200.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014
- Reaffirmed 2014 operating earnings per share guidance of $1.83 to $1.90 per diluted share and capital expenditure
guidance of $730 to $840 million
(1) Per share data reflects three-for-one stock split effective February 28, 2014
ITC Holdings Corp. (NYSE: ITC) announced today its results for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. Reported net income for
the period, measured in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), was $69.1 million, or $0.43 per
diluted common share, compared to $50.2 million, or $0.32 per diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2013.
Operating earnings for the first quarter were $69.8 million, or $0.44 per diluted common share, compared to operating earnings
of $58.8 million, or $0.37 per diluted common share for the first quarter of 2013. Operating earnings are non-GAAP measures
that exclude the impact of after-tax expenses associated the Entergy Corporation transaction of approximately $0.6 million, or
$0.01 per diluted common share, and $8.5 million, or $0.05 per diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2014 and 2013,
respectively. In addition, operating earnings for both the first quarter of 2014 and 2013 exclude approximately $0.1 million
associated with certain acquisition accounting adjustments for ITC Midwest, ITCTransmission and METC resulting from the
FERC audit order on ITC Midwest issued in May 2012.
Operating earnings for the first quarter of 2014 increased by $11.0 million, or $0.07 per diluted common share, compared with
the same period last year. The increase was largely attributable to higher income associated with increased rate base at our
operating companies.
ITC invested $200.4 million in capital projects at its operating companies during the three months ended March 31, 2014,
including $72.8 million at ITCTransmission, $41.8 million at METC, $50.4 million at ITC Midwest and $35.4 million at ITC Great
Plains.
"We had very solid performance in the first quarter of 2014 despite the challenging weather conditions that impacted much of
our operating region," said Joseph L. Welch, chairman, president and CEO of ITC. "I am very pleased with how our systems
performed during the severe winter weather that we experienced this year, which reflects one of the important benefits of
investing in a robust and resilient transmission system. Importantly, we also made good progress with respect to our annual
capital investment plan during the quarter and are on track to achieve our overall objectives for the year."
EPS and Capital Expenditure Guidance
For 2014, ITC is reaffirming its full year operating earnings per share guidance in the range of $1.83 to $1.90. ITC is also
reaffirming its 2014 capital guidance of $730 to $840 million, which includes $250 to $285 million for
ITCTransmission, $130 to
$150 million for METC, $255 to $290 million for ITC Midwest and $95 to $115 million for ITC Great Plains, respectively.
First Quarter 2014 Operating Earnings Financial Results Detail
ITC's operating revenues for the first quarter of 2014 increased to $258.6 million compared to $217.3 million for the first
quarter of 2013. This increase was primarily due to higher revenue requirements attributable to higher rate base at our
regulated operating subsidiaries, as well as an increase in regional cost sharing revenues resulting from additional capital
projects being placed in-service that have been identified by the Midcontinent ISO (MISO) as eligible for regional cost sharing.
Operation and maintenance (O&M) expenses of $24.9 million were consistent with the same period in 2013.
General and administrative (G&A) expenses of $27.0 million were $3.1 million higher compared to the same period in 2013.
Amounts reported for the first quarter 2014 and 2013 exclude $1.0 million and $11.0 million, respectively, of pre-tax expenses
related to the Entergy transaction. The increase in G&A expenses was primarily due to higher compensation-related expenses
resulting from personnel additions and increases in other professional fees associated with information technology and
engineering services.
Depreciation and amortization expenses of $31.4 million increased by $2.9 million compared to the same period in 2013 due to
a higher depreciable asset base resulting from property, plant and equipment additions.
Taxes other than income taxes of $21.2 million were $4.5 million higher than the same period in 2013. This increase was due to
2013 capital additions at our regulated operating subsidiaries, which are included in the tax base for 2014 personal property
tax calculations.
Interest expense of $45.2 million increased by $6.4 million compared to the same period in 2013. Amounts reported for the first
quarter 2014 and 2013 exclude $0.1 million and $0.3 million respectively, of pre-tax expenses related to the adjustments to
operating earnings. The increase was due primarily to higher borrowing levels to finance capital investments.
The effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2014 was 38.3 percent compared to 36.8 percent for the same period last
year. Amounts reported for the first quarter of 2014 and 2013 exclude approximately $0.4 million and $2.7 million, respectively,
associated with adjustments to operating earnings.
First Quarter Conference Call and Webcast
Joseph L. Welch, chairman, president and CEO and Cameron M. Bready, executive vice president and CFO will discuss the
first quarter results in a conference call at 11 a.m. Eastern on Thursday, May 1, 2014. Individuals wishing to participate in the
conference call may 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. The conference call replay, available through May 6, 2014, and can be accessed by dialing 855-
859-2056 (toll free) or 404-537-3406, passcode 30786383. The webcast will be archived on the ITC website.
Other Available Information
More detail about first quarter 2014 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. Paper copies can
also be made available by contacting us through our website.
About ITC Holdings Corp.
ITC Holdings Corp. (NYSE: ITC) is the nation's largest independent electric transmission company. Based in Novi, Michigan,
ITC invests in the electric transmission grid to improve reliability, expand access to markets, lower the overall cost of delivered
energy and allow new generating resources to interconnect to its transmission systems. ITC's regulated operating subsidiaries
include
ITCTransmission, Michigan Electric Transmission Company, ITC Midwest and ITC Great Plains. Through these
subsidiaries, ITC owns and operates high-voltage transmission facilities in Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas
and Oklahoma, serving a combined peak load exceeding 26,000 megawatts along 15,000 circuit miles of transmission line.
Through ITC Grid Development and its subsidiaries, the company also focuses on expansion in areas where significant
transmission system improvements are needed. For more information, please visit ITC's website at www.itc-holdings.com. (ITCitc-
F)
GAAP v. Non-GAAP Measures
ITC's reported earnings are prepared in accordance with GAAP and represent earnings as reported to the Securities and
Exchange Commission. ITC's management believes the company's operating earnings, or GAAP earnings adjusted for specific
items as described in the release, provide a more meaningful representation of the company's fundamental earnings power.
However, such measures should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for results prepared in accordance with GAAP.
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 forwardlooking
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
Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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. 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.
SOURCE ITC Holdings Corp.
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