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8-K - WEC ENERGY Q22017 EARNINGS RELEASE 8-K - WEC ENERGY GROUP, INC.a2017q2wecearningsrelease8k.htm
Exhibit 99

wecenergylogoa05.jpg
From:    Brian Manthey (news media)
414-221-4444
brian.manthey@we-energies.com

Beth Straka (investment community)
414-221-4639
beth.straka@wecenergygroup.com

July 26, 2017                

WEC Energy Group posts second-quarter results

MILWAUKEE - WEC Energy Group (NYSE: WEC) recorded net income of $199.1 million, or $0.63 per share, for the second quarter of 2017 - up from $181.4 million, or $0.57 per share, for the second quarter of 2016.

For the first six months of 2017, WEC Energy Group reported net income of $555.7 million, or $1.75 per share - up from $527.6 million, or $1.66 per share, for the first six months of 2016.

The company is reaffirming 2017 earnings guidance of $3.06 to $3.12, with an expectation of being in the upper end of the range.

Consolidated revenue was $1.6 billion for the second quarter of 2017, which was level with the second quarter of 2016. Consolidated revenue was $3.9 billion for the first six months of 2017, compared to $3.8 billion for the same period in 2016.

“Our continued focus on controlling costs contributed to our results in the second quarter," said Allen Leverett, chief executive officer. "We achieved those results while safely and reliably restoring power in the wake of relentless storm activity."

At the end of June, the WEC Energy Group utilities were serving approximately 9,000 more electric and 13,000 more natural gas customers than they did at the same time a year ago. 

For the first six months of 2017, retail deliveries of electricity for the Wisconsin and Michigan utilities - excluding the iron ore mines in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula - decreased 0.9 percent compared to the same period last year. Residential electricity usage decreased 1.1 percent. Electricity consumption by small commercial and industrial customers decreased 1.0 percent.

Electricity use by large commercial and industrial customers - excluding the iron ore mines - decreased 0.5 percent for the first six months of 2017 compared to the same period last year.

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Exhibit 99


On a weather-normal basis, retail deliveries of electricity - excluding the iron ore mines - decreased 0.2 percent.

Earnings per share listed in this news release are on a fully diluted basis.

Conference call

A conference call is scheduled for 1 p.m. Central time on Wednesday, July 26. The call will review 2017 second-quarter earnings and will discuss the company's outlook for the future.

All interested parties, including stockholders, news media and general public, are invited to listen. Access the call at 844-840-1623 up to 15 minutes before it begins. The number for international callers is 631-625-3204. The conference ID is 43642520.

Conference call access also is available at wecenergygroup.com. Select ‘Second Quarter Earnings Release and Conference Call’ and then select ‘Webcast.’ In conjunction with this earnings announcement, WEC Energy Group will post on its website a package of detailed financial information on its second-quarter performance. The materials will be available at 6:30 a.m. Central time on Wednesday, July 26.

Replay

A replay will be available on the website and by phone after the call. Access to the webcast replay will be available on the website about two hours after the call. Access to a phone replay also will be available approximately two hours after the call and remain accessible through Aug. 8, 2017. Domestic callers should dial 855-859-2056. International callers should dial 404-537-3406. The replay conference ID is 43642520.

WEC Energy Group (NYSE: WEC), based in Milwaukee, is one of the nation’s premier energy companies, serving 4.4 million customers in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota.

The company’s principal utilities are We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service, Peoples Gas, North Shore Gas, Michigan Gas Utilities, Minnesota Energy Resources and Upper Michigan Energy Resources. The company's other major subsidiary, We Power, designs, builds and owns electric generating plants.

WEC Energy Group (wecenergygroup.com), a component of the S&P 500, has approximately $30 billion of assets, 8,500 employees and 55,000 stockholders of record.

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  These statements are based upon management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the statements.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements.  Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning management's expectations and projections regarding earnings and future results.  In some cases, forward-looking statements

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Exhibit 99

may be identified by reference to a future period or periods or by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "guidance," "intends," "may," "objectives," "plans" "possible," "potential," "projects," "should," “targets,” “will” or similar terms or variations of these terms.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions, including business and competitive conditions in the company's service territories; timing, resolution and impact of rate cases and other regulatory decisions; the company’s ability to continue to successfully integrate the operations of its subsidiaries; availability of the company’s generating facilities and/or distribution systems; unanticipated changes in fuel and purchased power costs; key personnel changes; varying weather conditions; continued industry consolidation; continued adoption of distributed generation by the company’s customers; energy conservation efforts; cyber-security threats and data security breaches; construction risks; equity and bond market fluctuations; changes in the company’s and its subsidiaries’ ability to access the capital markets; the impact of any legislative and regulatory changes, including changes to environmental standards and tax laws; political developments; current and future litigation and regulatory investigations; changes in accounting standards; the financial performance of the American Transmission Company; goodwill and its possible impairment; and other factors described under the heading "Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity and Capital Resources" in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and under the headings “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information” and "Risk Factors" contained in the company’s Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2016 and in subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company expressly disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.

Tables follow



3

Exhibit 99

WEC ENERGY GROUP, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
June 30
 
June 30
(in millions, except per share amounts)
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Operating revenues
 
$
1,631.5

 
$
1,602.0

 
$
3,936.0

 
$
3,796.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of sales
 
541.8

 
508.3

 
1,482.9

 
1,347.2

Other operation and maintenance
 
479.8

 
522.0

 
981.7

 
1,053.5

Depreciation and amortization
 
197.7

 
190.0

 
392.3

 
377.9

Property and revenue taxes
 
50.0

 
49.6

 
99.6

 
96.8

Total operating expenses
 
1,269.3

 
1,269.9

 
2,956.5

 
2,875.4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income
 
362.2

 
332.1

 
979.5

 
921.4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity in earnings of transmission affiliate
 
41.8

 
30.9

 
83.7

 
69.4

Other income, net
 
13.1

 
32.4

 
28.8

 
65.1

Interest expense
 
101.9

 
100.1

 
206.6

 
201.0

Other expense
 
(47.0
)
 
(36.8
)
 
(94.1
)
 
(66.5
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income before income taxes
 
315.2

 
295.3

 
885.4

 
854.9

Income tax expense
 
115.8

 
113.6

 
329.1

 
326.7

Net income
 
199.4

 
181.7

 
556.3

 
528.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock dividends of subsidiary
 
0.3

 
0.3

 
0.6

 
0.6

Net income attributed to common shareholders
 
$
199.1

 
$
181.4

 
$
555.7

 
$
527.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
0.63

 
$
0.57

 
$
1.76

 
$
1.67

Diluted
 
$
0.63

 
$
0.57

 
$
1.75

 
$
1.66

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
315.6

 
315.6

 
315.6

 
315.6

Diluted
 
317.4

 
317.0

 
317.4

 
317.0

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dividends per share of common stock
 
$
0.5200

 
$
0.4950

 
$
1.0400

 
$
0.9900



4

Exhibit 99

WEC ENERGY GROUP, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
(in millions, except share and per share amounts)
 
June 30, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Assets
 
 
 
 
Current assets
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
36.5

 
$
37.5

Accounts receivable and unbilled revenues, net of reserves of $111.6 and $108.0, respectively
 
1,004.3

 
1,241.7

Materials, supplies, and inventories
 
510.0

 
587.6

Prepayments
 
181.6

 
204.4

Other
 
47.3

 
97.5

Current assets
 
1,779.7

 
2,168.7

 
 
 
 
 
Long-term assets
 
 
 
 
Property, plant, and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $8,433.2 and $8,214.6, respectively
 
20,524.3

 
19,915.5

Regulatory assets
 
3,108.4

 
3,087.9

Equity investment in transmission affiliate
 
1,544.0

 
1,443.9

Goodwill
 
3,053.5

 
3,046.2

Other
 
549.7

 
461.0

Long-term assets
 
28,779.9

 
27,954.5

Total assets
 
$
30,559.6

 
$
30,123.2

 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities and Equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities
 
 
 
 
Short-term debt
 
$
774.8

 
$
860.2

Current portion of long-term debt
 
708.4

 
157.2

Accounts payable
 
724.1

 
861.5

Accrued payroll and benefits
 
140.0

 
163.8

Other
 
440.0

 
388.9

Current liabilities
 
2,787.3

 
2,431.6

 
 
 
 
 
Long-term liabilities
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt
 
8,799.7

 
9,158.2

Deferred income taxes
 
5,416.1

 
5,146.6

Deferred revenue, net
 
554.6

 
566.2

Regulatory liabilities
 
1,574.0

 
1,563.8

Environmental remediation liabilities
 
622.6

 
633.6

Pension and OPEB obligations
 
451.0

 
498.6

Other
 
1,171.1

 
1,164.4

Long-term liabilities
 
18,589.1

 
18,731.4

 
 
 
 
 
Commitments and contingencies
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common shareholders' equity
 
 
 
 
Common stock – $.01 par value; 325,000,000 shares authorized; 315,576,571 and 315,614,941 shares outstanding, respectively
 
3.2

 
3.2

Additional paid in capital
 
4,290.1

 
4,309.8

Retained earnings
 
4,857.0

 
4,613.9

Accumulated other comprehensive income
 
2.5

 
2.9

Common shareholders' equity
 
9,152.8

 
8,929.8

 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock of subsidiary
 
30.4

 
30.4

Total liabilities and equity
 
$
30,559.6

 
$
30,123.2



5

Exhibit 99

WEC ENERGY GROUP, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
June 30
(in millions)
 
2017
 
2016
Operating Activities
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
556.3

 
$
528.2

Reconciliation to cash provided by operating activities
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
392.3

 
386.0

Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits, net
 
274.6

 
307.1

Contributions and payments related to pension and OPEB plans
 
(111.5
)
 
(19.5
)
Equity income in transmission affiliate, net of distributions
 
(14.5
)
 
(22.7
)
Change in –
 
 
 
 
Accounts receivable and unbilled revenues
 
247.3

 
130.1

Materials, supplies, and inventories
 
77.9

 
193.5

Other current assets
 
15.6

 
66.7

Accounts payable
 
(114.0
)
 
(112.4
)
Other current liabilities
 
18.3

 
(139.0
)
Other, net
 
(74.3
)
 
(93.9
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
1,268.0

 
1,224.1

 
 
 
 
 
Investing Activities
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
 
(790.0
)
 
(618.7
)
Acquisition of Bluewater
 
(226.0
)
 

Capital contributions to transmission affiliate
 
(50.5
)
 
(12.1
)
Proceeds from the sale of assets and businesses
 
20.7

 
161.0

Withdrawal of restricted cash from Rabbi trust for qualifying payments
 
17.2

 
22.5

Other, net
 
4.7

 
(1.8
)
Net cash used in investing activities
 
(1,023.9
)
 
(449.1
)
 
 
 
 
 
Financing Activities
 
 
 
 
Exercise of stock options
 
15.6

 
35.0

Purchase of common stock
 
(39.7
)
 
(94.2
)
Dividends paid on common stock
 
(328.3
)
 
(312.4
)
Issuance of long-term debt
 
210.0

 

Retirement of long-term debt
 
(14.6
)
 
(241.8
)
Change in short-term debt
 
(85.4
)
 
(167.2
)
Other, net
 
(2.7
)
 
(12.1
)
Net cash used in financing activities
 
(245.1
)
 
(792.7
)
 
 
 
 
 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
 
(1.0
)
 
(17.7
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
 
37.5

 
49.8

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
36.5

 
$
32.1



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