NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) today reported third quarter 2014 as-reported earnings of $230.0 million, or $1.27 per share, compared with $239.9 million, or $1.34 per share, for third quarter 2013. On an operational basis, Entergy's third quarter 2014 earnings were $304.4 million, or $1.68 per share, compared with $430.4 million, or $2.41 per share, in third quarter 2013.

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"We're pleased to report that the Utility posted its fifth straight quarter-over-quarter of industrial sales growth - and the second straight quarter over 5 percent, exceeding our expectations for the year," said Entergy Chairman and CEO Leo Denault. "Our nuclear plants also operated well - we posted a 90 percent capacity factor at EWC, for example - and had fewer unplanned outage days. And as it has been for some time, our strategy is sound and our path is clear. Entergy's long-term value is intact."




    Consolidated Earnings - Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures

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

    (Per share in U.S. $)

                                            Third Quarter            Year-to-Date
                                            -------------            ------------

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

    As-Reported
     Earnings                               1.27        1.34                     (0.07)    4.56      3.16            1.40

    Less Special
     Items                                (0.41)     (1.07)                      0.66   (0.52)   (1.20)           0.68
                                           -----       -----                       ----    -----     -----            ----

    Operational
     Earnings                               1.68        2.41                     (0.73)    5.08      4.36            0.72
    -----------                             ----        ----                      -----     ----      ----            ----

    *GAAP refers to United States generally accepted accounting principles.

Operational Earnings Highlights for Third Quarter 2014


    --  Utility results were down driven by a higher effective income tax rate,
        higher other operation and maintenance expense and a regulatory charge;
        these decreases were partially offset by higher net revenue.
    --  Entergy Wholesale Commodities earnings declined due to increased
        depreciation expense and a higher effective income tax rate on
        operational earnings. These items were partially offset by lower other
        O&M expense.
    --  Parent & Other results declined due primarily to higher income tax
        expense.

Other business highlights for the quarter included the following:


    --  In a move designed to attract industry and jobs to the state, Entergy
        Louisiana, LLC and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C. asked the
        Louisiana Public Service Commission for permission to become a single
        utility.
    --  We also made progress on our rate case in Mississippi, and reached a
        constructive settlement with the Mississippi Public Utilities Staff -
        one which aligns customer, regulator and state objectives with our own.
    --  For the seventh consecutive year, Site Selection magazine named Entergy
        one of the nation's top 10 utilities in economic development, citing the
        more than 9,000 new jobs created and nearly $21 billion in corporate
        facility investment.
    --  James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant completed its 21st refueling
        outage in 44 days, including a complete retube of the plant's main
        condenser to improve the plant's capacity factor.

A teleconference will be held at 10 a.m. CST on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014, to discuss Entergy's third 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 posted to 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 CST on Nov. 11, 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 third quarter 2014, Utility earnings were $310.9 million, or $1.72 per share, on an as-reported basis and $311.2 million, or $1.72 per share, on an operational basis, compared to $348.0 million, or $1.95 per share, on an as-reported basis and $363.3 million, or $2.04 per share, on an operational basis for third quarter 2013. The quarter-over-quarter decrease in operational earnings was driven by several factors including a regulatory charge at Entergy Mississippi, Inc., higher other O&M and a higher effective income tax rate. These decreases were partially offset by higher net revenue.

In third quarter 2014, EMI recorded a regulatory charge related to a proposed settlement with the MPUS of EMI's general rate case. The settlement, subject to approval by the Mississippi Public Service Commission, includes EMI's agreement not to pursue recovery of EMI's regulatory asset for new nuclear generation development costs. This charge reduced operational earnings per share by approximately $(0.23).

Other O&M was higher quarter-over-quarter. The increase was driven by nuclear generation spending and Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. regional transmission organization administration fees. Energy efficiency spending and storm reserve accruals were also higher than the comparable quarter a year ago. These expense increases were partially offset by lower compensation and benefits expenses.

Utility net revenue was higher than the same quarter last year with several contributing factors, both positive and negative. Weather-adjusted sales growth and price contributed to the increase. A portion of the price variance was offset in other line items outside of net revenue, including O&M. The effect of milder-than-normal weather in the current quarter partially offset the increase.

Billed retail sales increased 2.0 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 due largely to expansions in the chemicals, refining and primary metals segments as well as growth from small industrial customers.

Residential sales in third quarter 2014, on a weather-adjusted basis, decreased 0.2 percent compared to third quarter 2013. Commercial and governmental sales, on a weather-adjusted basis, increased 0.8 percent and 1.8 percent, respectively, quarter over quarter. Industrial sales in the third quarter increased 5.3 percent compared to the same quarter of 2013.

Entergy Wholesale Commodities

EWC reported a loss of $33.2 million, or 18 cents per share, on an as-reported basis and earnings of $40.8 million, or 23 cents per share, on an operational basis for third quarter 2014. This compares to an as-reported loss of $92.8 million, or 52 cents per share, and operational earnings of $82.3 million, or 46 cents per share, in third quarter 2013. The decrease in operational earnings was driven by a higher effective income tax rate and higher depreciation expense. These items were partially offset by lower other O&M, as noted below.

EWC 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 was $165 million in third quarter 2014, flat from the same period a year ago. Other O&M decreased quarter-over-quarter due primarily to lower compensation and benefits expenses. Offsetting the other O&M variance were several other individually insignificant items

Contribution to third 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 essentially neutral.

Parent & Other

Parent & Other reported a loss of $47.7 million, or 27 cents per share, on an as-reported and operational basis for third quarter 2014, compared to a loss of $15.3 million, or 9 cents per share, on an as-reported and operational basis for third quarter 2013. The quarter-over-quarter decline was due primarily to higher income tax expense.

Earnings Guidance

Entergy affirmed its previously-issued 2014 operational earnings guidance to be in the range of $5.55 to $6.75 per share. Current indications point to full-year results below the midpoint of the guidance range. However, absent the third quarter charge associated with the Mississippi rate case settlement, full-year expectations would be around the midpoint.

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 Nov. 4, 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) changes in decommissioning trust fund values or earnings or in the timing or cost of decommissioning Vermont Yankee or any of Entergy's other nuclear plant sites; (f) legislative and regulatory actions and risks and uncertainties associated with claims or litigation by or against Entergy and its subsidiaries; and (g) 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

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

    (Per share in U.S. $)

                                             Third Quarter           Year-to-Date
                                             -------------           ------------

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

    As-Reported

    Utility                                    1.72        1.95                     (0.23)       4.00        3.74                       0.26

    Entergy Wholesale
     Commodities                             (0.18)     (0.52)                      0.34        1.30           -                      1.30

    Parent & Other                           (0.27)     (0.09)                    (0.18)     (0.74)     (0.58)                    (0.16)
                                              -----       -----                      -----       -----       -----                      -----

      Consolidated As-
       Reported Earnings                       1.27        1.34                     (0.07)       4.56        3.16                       1.40


    Less Special Items

    Utility                                       -     (0.09)                      0.09      (0.03)     (0.21)                      0.18

    Entergy Wholesale
     Commodities                             (0.41)     (0.98)                      0.57      (0.49)     (0.99)                      0.50

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

      Consolidated Special
       Items                                 (0.41)     (1.07)                      0.66      (0.52)     (1.20)                      0.68


    Operational

    Utility                                    1.72        2.04                     (0.32)       4.03        3.95                       0.08

    Entergy Wholesale
     Commodities                               0.23        0.46                     (0.23)       1.79        0.99                       0.80

    Parent & Other                           (0.27)     (0.09)                    (0.18)     (0.74)     (0.58)                    (0.16)
                                              -----       -----                      -----       -----       -----                      -----

      Consolidated
       Operational
       Earnings                                1.68        2.41                     (0.73)       5.08        4.36                       0.72




    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

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

    ($ in millions)

                                               Third Quarter           Year-to-Date
                                               -------------           ------------

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

    Net income                                    (33)      (93)                        60        235          1                      234

    Add back: interest
     expense                                         4          4                          -        12         11                        1

    Add back: income tax
     expense                                         2      (107)                       109        141       (65)                     206

    Add back: depreciation
     and amortization                               72         55                         17        213        155                       58

    Subtract: interest and
     investment income                              29         21                          8         77         72                        5

    Add back:
     decommissioning expense                        35         32                          3        104         92                       12
                                                   ---        ---                        ---        ---        ---                      ---

    Adjusted EBITDA                                 51      (130)                       181        627        122                      505

    Add back: special item
     for HCM implementation
     expenses (pre-tax)                              1          3                        (2)         3          5                      (2)

    Add back: special item
     resulting from the
     decision to close VY
     (pre-tax)                                     113        292                      (179)       134        292                    (158)
                                                   ---

    Operational adjusted
     EBITDA                                        165        165                          -       764        419                      345


    Totals may not foot due to rounding




                             Entergy Corporation

                        Consolidated Income Statement

                         Three Months Ended Sept. 30

                               (in thousands)


                                                         2014            2013
                                                         ----            ----

                                                      (unaudited)

    Operating Revenues:

         Electric                                  $2,824,055      $2,704,800

         Natural gas                                   28,039          26,113

         Competitive businesses                       606,016         621,046
                                                      -------         -------

                          Total                     3,458,110       3,351,959
                                                    ---------       ---------

    Operating Expenses:

        Operation and maintenance:

             Fuel, fuel-related expenses,
              and gas purchased for resale            858,901         818,254

             Purchased power                          465,106         392,545

             Nuclear refueling outage
              expenses                                 71,651          64,758

             Other operation and maintenance          841,939         839,348

         Asset write-off, impairments,
          and related charges                         163,835         291,505

         Decommissioning                               68,370          60,848

         Taxes other than income taxes                159,735         156,950

         Depreciation and amortization                332,079         325,149

         Other regulatory charges
          (credits) - net                               3,635          13,708
                                                        -----          ------

                          Total                     2,965,251       2,963,065
                                                    ---------       ---------

    Operating Income                                  492,859         388,894
                                                      -------         -------

    Other Income (Deductions):

         Allowance for equity funds used
          during construction                          16,737          17,676

         Interest and investment income                49,547          23,430

         Miscellaneous - net                          (6,644)       (10,214)
                                                       ------         -------

                          Total                        59,640          30,892
                                                       ------          ------

    Interest Expense:

         Interest expense                             164,482         157,504

         Allowance for borrowed funds
          used during construction                    (8,664)        (6,453)

                          Total                       155,818         151,051
                                                      -------         -------

    Income Before Income Taxes                        396,681         268,735

    Income Taxes                                      161,765          24,553
                                                      -------          ------

    Consolidated Net Income                           234,916         244,182

    Preferred Dividend Requirements
     of Subsidiaries                                    4,879           4,332
                                                        -----           -----

    Net Income Attributable to
     Entergy Corporation                             $230,037        $239,850
                                                     ========        ========



    Earnings Per Average Common Share

         Basic                                          $1.28           $1.35

         Diluted                                        $1.27           $1.34


    Average Number of Common Shares
     Outstanding - Basic                          179,610,067     178,283,721

    Average Number of Common Shares
     Outstanding - Diluted                        180,527,116     178,652,210






                             Entergy Corporation

                        Consolidated Income Statement

                         Nine Months Ended Sept. 30

                               (in thousands)



                                                         2014            2013
                                                         ----            ----

                                                      (unaudited)

    Operating Revenues:

         Electric                                  $7,424,360      $6,831,290

         Natural gas                                  141,727         113,315

         Competitive businesses                     2,097,516       1,754,436
                                                    ---------       ---------

                          Total                     9,663,603       8,699,041
                                                    ---------       ---------

    Operating Expenses:

        Operation and maintenance:

             Fuel, fuel-related expenses,
              and gas purchased for resale          2,006,811       1,818,194

             Purchased power                        1,557,631       1,251,418

             Nuclear refueling outage
              expenses                                197,692         191,940

             Other operation and maintenance        2,392,590       2,437,801

         Asset write-off, impairments,
          and related charges                         167,772         291,505

         Decommissioning                              201,418         179,342

         Taxes other than income taxes                466,939         452,934

         Depreciation and amortization                992,544         923,541

         Other regulatory charges
          (credits) - net                             (7,010)         22,914
                                                       ------          ------

                          Total                     7,976,387       7,569,589
                                                    ---------       ---------

    Operating Income                                1,687,216       1,129,452
                                                    ---------       ---------

    Other Income (Deductions):

         Allowance for equity funds used
          during construction                          46,654          46,675

         Interest and investment income               109,040         102,277

         Miscellaneous - net                         (33,026)       (36,992)
                                                      -------         -------

                          Total                       122,668         111,960
                                                      -------         -------

    Interest Expense:

         Interest expense                             491,359         466,422

         Allowance for borrowed funds
          used during construction                   (24,199)       (18,432)

                          Total                       467,160         447,990
                                                      -------         -------

    Income Before Income Taxes                      1,342,724         793,422

    Income Taxes                                      507,474         214,202
                                                      -------         -------

    Consolidated Net Income                           835,250         579,220

    Preferred Dividend Requirements
     of Subsidiaries                                   14,656          14,247
                                                       ------          ------

    Net Income Attributable to
     Entergy Corporation                             $820,594        $564,973
                                                     ========        ========



    Earnings Per Average Common Share

         Basic                                          $4.58           $3.17

         Diluted                                        $4.56           $3.16


    Average Number of Common Shares
     Outstanding - Basic                          179,256,975     178,170,339

    Average Number of Common Shares
     Outstanding - Diluted                        179,867,018     178,520,063




                                                   Entergy Corporation

                                        Utility Electric Energy Sales & Customers


                                               Three Months Ended Sept. 30
                                               ---------------------------


                                                                                               2014      2013      %          %

                                                                                                               Change   Weather-
                                                                                                                        Adjusted


                                                                                  (Millions of kWh)

    Electric Energy Sales:

    Residential                                                                              10,869    11,359     (4.3)      (0.2)

    Commercial                                                                                8,281     8,393     (1.3)        0.8

    Governmental                                                                                659       648       1.7         1.8

    Industrial                                                                               11,620    11,038       5.3         5.3

        Total to Ultimate Customers                                                          31,429    31,438         -        2.0

    Wholesale                                                                                 2,075       667     211.1
                                                                                              -----       ---

        Total Sales                                                                          33,504    32,105       4.4
                                                                                             ======    ======



                                               Nine Months Ended Sept. 30
                                               --------------------------


                                                                                               2014      2013      %          %

                                                                                                               Change   Weather-
                                                                                                                        Adjusted


                                                                                  (Millions of kWh)

    Electric Energy Sales:

    Residential                                                                              28,162    27,080       4.0         0.5

    Commercial                                                                               21,844    21,498       1.6         1.4

    Governmental                                                                              1,829     1,814       0.8         0.8

    Industrial                                                                               32,635    31,264       4.4         4.4

        Total to Ultimate Customers                                                          84,470    81,656       3.4         2.2

    Wholesale                                                                                 6,357     1,887     236.9
                                                                                              -----     -----

        Total Sales                                                                          90,827    83,543       8.7
                                                                                             ======    ======



                                                        Sept. 30
                                                        --------


                                                                                               2014      2013      %

                                                                                                              Change
                                                                                                              ------

    Electric Customers (End of period):

    Residential                                                                           2,411,773 2,397,877       0.6

    Commercial                                                                              344,436   342,291       0.6

    Governmental                                                                             17,314    16,941       2.2

    Industrial                                                                               50,770    48,709       4.2
                                                                                             ------    ------

        Total Ultimate Customers                                                          2,824,293 2,805,818       0.7

    Wholesale                                                                                     9        25    (64.0)
                                                                                                ---       ---

        Total Customers                                                                   2,824,302 2,805,843       0.7
                                                                                          ========= =========

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SOURCE Entergy Corporation