NEW ORLEANS, July 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) today reported second quarter 2014 as-reported earnings of $189.4 million, or $1.05 per share, compared with $163.7 million, or 92 cents per share, for second quarter 2013. Operational earnings per share were 10 percent higher than the same quarter a year ago. On an operational basis, Entergy's second quarter 2014 earnings were $200.3 million, or $1.11 per share, compared with $179.7 million, or $1.01 per share, in second quarter 2013.

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"Our focus on operational excellence allowed us to continue to deliver on our commitments in the second quarter. At the Utility, we saw strong quarter-over-quarter industrial sales growth of 5.3 percent, and at Entergy Wholesale Commodities, solid performance was driven largely by improved fleet operations and no refueling outages, which allowed us to provide extended periods of uninterrupted power to the market," said Entergy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Leo Denault. "These results are further evidence of the progress we've made on many fronts over the past 18 months. The state of Entergy's business is strong."



    Consolidated Earnings - Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures

    Second Quarter and Year-to-Date 2014 vs. 2013
    ---------------------------------------------

    (Per share in U.S. $)

                                           Second Quarter            Year-to-Date
                                           --------------            ------------

                                            2014        2013             Change            2014      2013  Change
                                            ----        ----             ------            ----      ----  ------

    As-Reported
     Earnings                               1.05        0.92                       0.13     3.29      1.82            1.47

    Less Special
     Items                                (0.06)     (0.09)                      0.03   (0.11)   (0.13)           0.02
                                           -----       -----                       ----    -----     -----            ----

    Operational
     Earnings                               1.11        1.01                       0.10     3.40      1.95            1.45
    -----------                             ----        ----                       ----     ----      ----            ----


    *GAAP refers to United
     States generally accepted
     accounting principles.

Operational Earnings Per Share Highlights for Second Quarter 2014


    --  Entergy Wholesale Commodities earnings increased, driven by higher net
        revenue, and partially offset by higher income tax and depreciation
        expenses.
    --  Utility results were essentially flat. Higher net revenue and lower
        non-fuel operation and maintenance expense were offset by higher
        depreciation expense and a higher effective income tax rate.
    --  Parent & Other results matched the prior period.

Other Business Highlights


    --  River Bend was rated in the "excellence" category as compared to peers.
    --  Since June, the Utility has signed economic development projects
        totaling approximately 100 megawatts.
    --  J.D. Power's 2014 satisfaction study of electric utility residential
        customers results show that all Entergy utility operating companies
        improved their performance by several points over last year.
    --  Corporate Responsibility Magazine named Entergy one of America's 100
        Best Corporate Citizens.

A teleconference will be held at 10 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, July 29, 2014, to discuss Entergy's second quarter 2014 earnings announcement and the company's financial performance. The teleconference may be accessed by visiting Entergy's website at www.entergy.com or by dialing (719) 325-2115, confirmation code 6761108, no more than 15 minutes prior to the start of the call. The presentation slides are also on Entergy's website concurrent with this release, which was issued before market open on the day of the call. A replay of the teleconference will be available on Entergy's website at www.entergy.com and by telephone. The telephone replay will be available through noon CDT on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014, by dialing (719) 457-0820, confirmation code 6761108. This release and presentation slides are also available on the Entergy Investor Relations mobile web app at enter.gy/ir.

Utility

In second quarter 2014, Utility earnings were $207.8 million, or $1.15 per share, on an as-reported basis and $211.3 million, or $1.17 per share, on an operational basis, compared to $196.2 million, or $1.10 per share, on an as-reported basis and $211.1 million, or $1.18 per share, on an operational basis for second quarter 2013. Higher net revenue and lower non-fuel O&M expense were offset by higher depreciation expense and a higher effective income tax rate.

The increase in Utility net revenue was driven largely by pricing adjustments from recent rate actions. The contribution attributable to volume was slightly negative. Higher weather-adjusted billed sales volume, particularly sales to industrial customers, was offset by the effects of weather, including milder weather in late June 2014 reflected in the unbilled period.

Billed retail sales increased 2.6 percent on a weather-adjusted basis. The increase was attributable largely to 5.3 percent growth in the industrial customer class. The industrial increase was led by the refining, chemicals and small industrial segments and was aided by expansions. Growth in Entergy Texas, Inc. and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C. service areas accounted for approximately 85 percent of the total industrial quarter-over-quarter increase.

Residential sales in second quarter 2014, on a weather-adjusted basis, increased 0.2 percent compared to second quarter 2013. Commercial and governmental sales, on a weather-adjusted basis, increased 1.5 percent and 0.4 percent, respectively, quarter over quarter. Industrial sales in the second quarter increased 5.3 percent compared to the same quarter of 2013.

Utility non-fuel O&M was lower than the same quarter a year ago. The decrease reflected lower compensation and benefits costs from fewer employees and lower post-retirement benefit costs.

Entergy Wholesale Commodities

EWC reported as-reported earnings of $25.9 million, or 14 cents per share, and operational earnings of $33.4 million, or 18 cents per share, for second quarter 2014, compared to second quarter 2013 earnings of $11.5 million, or 6 cents per share, on an as-reported basis and $12.7 million, or 7 cents per share, on an operational basis. The increase in operational earnings was driven by higher operational adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization and interest and investment income excluding decommissioning expense and other than temporary impairment losses on decommissioning trust fund assets. The increase was partially offset by higher depreciation and income tax expenses.

EWC operational adjusted EBITDA was $145 million in second quarter 2014, compared to $61 million in the same period a year ago. The quarter-over-quarter increase was attributable to net revenue. EWC's nuclear fleet capacity factor improved on no refueling outages in second quarter 2014 as well as 37 fewer unplanned outage days. Higher realized price, driven by improved Northeast capacity prices, also contributed to the net revenue increase. The realized price for EWC's nuclear fleet was approximately $50 per MWh in the second quarter of this year, compared to $46.40 in the comparable quarter a year ago.

Contribution to second quarter 2014 operational adjusted EBITDA from the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station, scheduled to be closed later this year at the end of its current operating cycle, was approximately $12 million.

Parent & Other

Parent & Other reported a loss of $44.3 million, or 24 cents per share, on an as-reported and operational basis for second quarter 2014, compared to a loss of $44.0 million, or 24 cents per share, on an as-reported and operational basis for second quarter 2013. No line items were individually significant.

Earnings Guidance

Entergy affirmed its previously issued 2014 operational earnings guidance to be in the range of $5.55 to $6.75 per share.

Three-Year Financial Outlook

Entergy's current three-year financial outlook for 2014 through 2016 is summarized below.

Utility operational net income outlook of $1 billion to $1.050 billion by 2016, or 5 to 7 percent compound annual growth rate off 2013 base, through a combination of rate base growth and return on equity improvement. Three major aspects of the Utility growth strategy which support the outlook, include:


    --  Productive investment to meet existing and potential demand growth as
        well as reliability improvements,
    --  Unique economic development opportunity driving 3.5 to 3.75 percent
        retail sales growth (CAGR off 2013 weather-adjusted results) to support
        rate stability and help fund productive investment and
    --  Ongoing engagement and collaboration with regulators on initiatives to
        benefit customers.

EWC operational adjusted EBITDA estimates will experience volatility based on commodity market activities at specific points in time. The EWC strategy is to preserve optionality and manage risks in that business. Cornerstones of that strategy include:


    --  Operational excellence and disciplined cost management,
    --  Robust hedging strategy to position the business to take advantage of
        price volatility,
    --  Continued pursuit of fair and competitive wholesale markets that provide
        proper compensation for needed plants and
    --  Ongoing efforts to educate parties on Indian Point's critical role in
        the community and to continue along multiple paths to advocate for
        continued operations at that plant.

Parent and Other operational earnings per share outlook of $(1.10) to $(1.20) in 2016. Key drivers include level of borrowings as well cost of debt, level of affiliate preferred investments and effective income tax rate.

Entergy continues to reasonably believe that the company can achieve consolidated operational earnings per share growth of 2 to 4 percent CAGR by 2016 (2013 base year), based on factors described above and assuming realization of Entergy's point of view on market power prices.

Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including more than 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power, making it one of the nation's leading nuclear generators. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.8 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $11 billion and approximately 14,000 employees.

Additional information regarding Entergy's quarterly and annual results of operations, regulatory proceedings and other matters is available in Entergy's investor news release dated July 29, 2014, a copy of which has been filed today with the SEC on Form 8-K, and Entergy's quarterly presentation slides. These are available on Entergy's Investor Relations website at www.entergy.com/investor_relations and on Entergy's Investor Relations mobile web app at enter.gy/ir.

In this news release, and from time to time, Entergy Corporation makes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, Entergy undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. There are factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including (a) those factors discussed in this news release and in Entergy's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Entergy's other reports and filings made under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; (b) uncertainties associated with rate proceedings, formula rate plans and other cost recovery mechanisms; (c) uncertainties associated with efforts to remediate the effects of major storms and recover related restoration costs; (d) nuclear plant relicensing, operating and regulatory risks, including any changes resulting from the nuclear crisis in Japan following its catastrophic earthquake and tsunami; (e) legislative and regulatory actions and risks and uncertainties associated with claims or litigation by or against Entergy and its subsidiaries; and (f) economic conditions and conditions in commodity and capital markets during the periods covered by the forward-looking statements, in addition to other factors described elsewhere in this release and subsequent securities filings.

Appendix A provides a reconciliation of GAAP consolidated as-reported earnings to non-GAAP consolidated operational earnings.



    Table 1: Consolidated Earnings - Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures

    Second Quarter and Year-to-Date 2014 vs. 2013

    (Per share in U.S. $)

                                              Second Quarter            Year-to-Date
                                              --------------            ------------

                                               2014        2013             Change             2014       2013  Change
                                               ----        ----             ------             ----       ----  ------

    As-Reported

    Utility                                    1.15        1.10                       0.05      2.28       1.79            0.49

    Entergy Wholesale
     Commodities                               0.14        0.06                       0.08      1.49       0.52            0.97

    Parent & Other                           (0.24)     (0.24)                         -   (0.48)    (0.49)           0.01
                                              -----       -----                        ---    -----      -----            ----

      Consolidated As-
       Reported Earnings                       1.05        0.92                       0.13      3.29       1.82            1.47


    Less Special Items

    Utility                                  (0.02)     (0.08)                      0.06    (0.03)    (0.12)           0.09

    Entergy Wholesale
     Commodities                             (0.04)     (0.01)                    (0.03)   (0.08)    (0.01)         (0.07)

    Parent & Other                                -          -                         -        -         -              -
                                                ---        ---                       ---      ---       ---            ---

      Consolidated Special
       Items                                 (0.06)     (0.09)                      0.03    (0.11)    (0.13)           0.02


    Operational

    Utility                                    1.17        1.18                     (0.01)     2.31       1.91            0.40

    Entergy Wholesale
     Commodities                               0.18        0.07                       0.11      1.57       0.53            1.04

    Parent & Other                           (0.24)     (0.24)                         -   (0.48)    (0.49)           0.01
                                              -----       -----                        ---    -----      -----            ----

      Consolidated
       Operational
       Earnings                                1.11        1.01                       0.10      3.40       1.95            1.45

Appendix B provides a reconciliation of Entergy Wholesale Commodities GAAP net income to non-GAAP operational adjusted EBITDA.



    Appendix B:  Entergy Wholesale Commodities Operational Adjusted EBITDA - Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures

    Second Quarter and Year-to-Date 2014 vs. 2013
    ---------------------------------------------

    ($ in millions)

                                                 Second Quarter           Year-to-Date
                                                 --------------           ------------

                                                  2014       2013             Change              2014       2013        Change
                                                  ----       ----             ------              ----       ----        ------

    Net income                                      26         12                         14        269         94               175

    Add back: interest
     expense                                         3          4                        (1)         8          7                 1

    Add back: income tax
     expense                                        20       (15)                        35        138         42                96

    Add back: depreciation
     and amortization                               71         50                         21        141        100                41

    Subtract: interest and
     investment income                              22         22                          -        48         51               (3)

    Add back:
     decommissioning expense                        35         30                          5         69         61                 8
                                                   ---        ---                        ---        ---        ---               ---

    Adjusted EBITDA                                133         59                         74        577        253               324

    Add back: special item
     for HCM implementation
     expenses (pre-tax)                              1          2                        (1)         2          2                 -

    Add back: special item
     resulting from the
     decision to close VY
     (pre-tax)                                      11          -                        11         21          -               21
                                                   ---

    Operational adjusted
     EBITDA                                        145         61                         84        600        255               345


    Totals may not foot due
     to rounding



                                   Entergy Corporation

                              Consolidated Income Statement

                                Three Months Ended June 30

                                      (in thousands)



                                                         2014           2013
                                                         ----           ----

                                                     (unaudited)

    Operating Revenues:

         Electric                                  $2,373,842     $2,177,210

         Natural gas                                   35,469         33,881

         Competitive businesses                       587,339        527,117
                                                      -------        -------

                          Total                     2,996,650      2,738,208
                                                    ---------      ---------

    Operating Expenses:

        Operation and maintenance:

             Fuel, fuel-related expenses,
              and gas purchased for resale            604,081        489,608

             Purchased power                          517,898        485,744

             Nuclear refueling outage
              expenses                                 66,497         66,464

             Other operation and maintenance          816,609        844,195

         Decommissioning                               67,250         59,389

         Taxes other than income taxes                152,736        144,888

         Depreciation and amortization                331,742        297,516

         Other regulatory charges
          (credits) - net                            (14,640)         3,892
                                                      -------          -----

                          Total                     2,542,173      2,391,696
                                                    ---------      ---------

    Operating Income                                  454,477        346,512
                                                      -------        -------

    Other Income (Deductions):

         Allowance for equity funds used
          during construction                          14,788         16,249

         Interest and investment income                24,245         40,541

         Miscellaneous - net                         (14,675)      (13,157)
                                                      -------        -------

                          Total                        24,358         43,633
                                                       ------         ------

    Interest Expense:

         Interest expense                             164,327        155,768

         Allowance for borrowed funds
          used during construction                    (8,516)       (6,791)

                          Total                       155,811        148,977
                                                      -------        -------

    Income Before Income Taxes                        323,024        241,168

    Income Taxes                                      128,743         73,113
                                                      -------         ------

    Consolidated Net Income                           194,281        168,055

    Preferred Dividend Requirements
     of Subsidiaries                                    4,898          4,332
                                                        -----          -----

    Net Income Attributable to
     Entergy Corporation                             $189,383       $163,723
                                                     ========       ========



    Earnings Per Average Common Share

         Basic                                          $1.06          $0.92

         Diluted                                        $1.05          $0.92


    Average Number of Common Shares
     Outstanding - Basic                          179,354,103    178,196,525

    Average Number of Common Shares
     Outstanding - Diluted                        180,045,432    178,614,383



                                   Entergy Corporation

                              Consolidated Income Statement

                                 Six Months Ended June 30

                                      (in thousands)



                                                         2014           2013
                                                         ----           ----

                                                     (unaudited)

    Operating Revenues:

         Electric                                  $4,600,306     $4,126,490

         Natural gas                                  113,689         87,202

         Competitive businesses                     1,491,498      1,133,390
                                                    ---------      ---------

                          Total                     6,205,493      5,347,082
                                                    ---------      ---------

    Operating Expenses:

        Operation and maintenance:

             Fuel, fuel-related expenses,
              and gas purchased for resale          1,147,910        999,940

             Purchased power                        1,092,525        858,873

             Nuclear refueling outage
              expenses                                126,041        127,183

             Other operation and maintenance        1,554,590      1,598,453

         Decommissioning                              133,049        118,494

         Taxes other than income taxes                307,204        295,983

         Depreciation and amortization                660,465        598,392

         Other regulatory charges
          (credits) - net                            (10,645)         9,207
                                                      -------          -----

                          Total                     5,011,139      4,606,525
                                                    ---------      ---------

    Operating Income                                1,194,354        740,557
                                                    ---------        -------

    Other Income (Deductions):

         Allowance for equity funds used
          during construction                          29,917         29,000

         Interest and investment income                59,493         78,847

         Miscellaneous - net                         (26,379)      (26,779)
                                                      -------        -------

                          Total                        63,031         81,068
                                                       ------         ------

    Interest Expense:

         Interest expense                             326,877        308,918

         Allowance for borrowed funds
          used during construction                   (15,535)      (11,979)

                          Total                       311,342        296,939
                                                      -------        -------

    Income Before Income Taxes                        946,043        524,686

    Income Taxes                                      345,709        189,648
                                                      -------        -------

    Consolidated Net Income                           600,334        335,038

    Preferred Dividend Requirements
     of Subsidiaries                                    9,777          9,915
                                                        -----          -----

    Net Income Attributable to
     Entergy Corporation                             $590,557       $325,123
                                                     ========       ========



    Earnings Per Average Common Share

         Basic                                          $3.30          $1.83

         Diluted                                        $3.29          $1.82


    Average Number of Common Shares
     Outstanding - Basic                          179,077,503    178,112,709

    Average Number of Common Shares
     Outstanding - Diluted                        179,547,020    178,534,201



                                                   Entergy Corporation

                                        Utility Electric Energy Sales & Customers


                                               Three Months Ended June 30
                                               --------------------------


                                                                                               2014      2013      %              %

                                                                                                               Change   Weather-Adjusted
                                                                                                              ------

                                                                                  (Millions of kWh)

    Electric Energy Sales:

    Residential                                                                               7,266     7,377     (1.5)                0.2

    Commercial                                                                                6,762     6,684       1.2                 1.5

    Governmental                                                                                587       583       0.6                 0.4

    Industrial                                                                               10,902    10,357       5.3                 5.3

        Total to Ultimate
         Customers                                                                           25,517    25,001       2.1                 2.6

    Wholesale                                                                                 2,048       590     247.1
                                                                                              -----       ---

        Total Sales                                                                          27,565    25,591       7.7
                                                                                             ======    ======



                                                Six Months Ended June 30
                                                ------------------------


                                                                                               2014      2013      %              %

                                                                                                               Change   Weather-Adjusted
                                                                                                              ------

                                                                                  (Millions of kWh)

    Electric Energy Sales:

    Residential                                                                              17,293    15,721      10.0                 1.1

    Commercial                                                                               13,563    13,105       3.5                 1.8

    Governmental                                                                              1,170     1,167       0.3                 0.2

    Industrial                                                                               21,015    20,225       3.9                 3.9

        Total to Ultimate
         Customers                                                                           53,041    50,218       5.6                 2.4

    Wholesale                                                                                 4,282     1,219     251.3
                                                                                              -----     -----

        Total Sales                                                                          57,323    51,437      11.4
                                                                                             ======    ======



                                                         June 30
                                                         -------


                                                                                               2014      2013      %

                                                                                                              Change
                                                                                                              ------

    Electric Customers (End of period):

    Residential                                                                           2,405,182 2,395,491       0.4

    Commercial                                                                              344,894   342,014       0.8

    Governmental                                                                             17,281    16,695       3.5

    Industrial                                                                               45,071    44,041       2.3
                                                                                             ------    ------

        Total Ultimate Customers                                                          2,812,428 2,798,241       0.5

    Wholesale                                                                                    11        29    (62.1)
                                                                                                ---       ---

        Total Customers                                                                   2,812,439 2,798,270       0.5
                                                                                          ========= =========

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SOURCE Entergy Corporation