Constellation Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Results
Earnings Release Highlights
-
GAAP Net Loss of
($36) million and Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) of$1,137 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. GAAP Net Income of$1,623 million and Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) of$4,025 million for the full year 2023, exceeding the top end of our guidance range of$3,800 million to$4,000 million -
Delivered on our commitments to shareholders:
-
Expanded the nation's largest, highly reliable, carbon-free nuclear fleet by acquiring a partial ownership stake in the
South Texas Project Nuclear Generating Station -
Completed our initial
$1 billion of share repurchases and authorized an additional$1 billion in continuation of the program, reinforcing our commitment to return value to shareholders - Our issuer credit rating was upgraded by Standard & Poor’s (S&P) for the second time since separation, from BBB to BBB+, reflecting our improving financial measures and risk profile
- Doubled the annual per share dividend from the 2022 level
-
Commenced our
$350 million project to expand our renewable energy portfolio by completing the repowering of Criterion and beginning the repowering of ourMissouri wind generation facilities
-
Expanded the nation's largest, highly reliable, carbon-free nuclear fleet by acquiring a partial ownership stake in the
-
Recognized by
Just Capital in its "Just 100" annual ranking that reflects the performance of America’s largest publicly traded companies based on a variety of key factors - Ranked the No. 1 producer of carbon-free energy and have the lowest rate of carbon dioxide emissions for the 10th consecutive year amongst our peer group
-
Received the
Community Partnership Award fromThe Center for Energy Workforce Development for our work in building a skilled energy workforce that represents the diverse communities we serve -
Earned
2023 Great Place to Work® certification based on positive ratings from our employees on their experience working at Constellation
“We had extremely strong financial and operational performance as our nuclear fleet continued to achieve unmatched reliability, allowing us to deliver carbon-free energy to our customers in all hours of the day under some of the harshest weather conditions in decades,” said
“Our high investment grade balance sheet and the competitive advantage of our integrated generation and commercial business delivered exceptional financial performance in 2023, earning
Investor and Analyst Webcast Information
We will host a virtual investor and analyst event via webcast to highlight Constellation’s business and earnings outlook for 2024 and beyond, scheduled for tomorrow at
Fourth Quarter 2023
Our GAAP Net Loss for the fourth quarter of 2023 was
Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) in the fourth quarter of 2023 primarily reflects:
- Favorable market and portfolio conditions partially offset by unfavorable labor, contracting, and materials, decreased ZEC revenues, decreased capacity revenues, and unfavorable impacts of nuclear outages
Full Year 2023
Our GAAP Net Income for 2023 was
Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) for the full year 2023 primarily reflects:
- Favorable market and portfolio conditions partially offset by unfavorable labor, contracting, and materials, decreased capacity revenues, and unfavorable impacts of nuclear outages
Recent Developments and 2023 Highlights
-
Delivering on Our Capital Allocation Promises: Through our strong free cash flows we delivered on our commitments announced last year to grow the business and return capital to shareholders. We grew our nuclear fleet with our acquisition of an undivided ownership interest in the
South Texas Project Nuclear Generating Station , a 2,645-megawatt, dual-unit nuclear plant located about 90 miles southwest ofHouston , for$1.65 billion , further expanding our contribution to a carbon-free future. We completed our initial$1 billion of share repurchases, buying back nearly 10.6 million shares. In December our Board of Directors approved expanding the program for an additional$1 billion , reinforcing our continued commitment to return value to shareholders. We received our second issuer credit rating upgrade from S&P since separation, from BBB to BBB+, reflecting their view that the financial risk has significantly improved with the nuclear production tax credit (PTC). We doubled our dividend from the 2022 level. During the year we also commenced our previously announced$350 million effort to increase the output and lifespan of our renewable energy portfolio, beginning with the repowering of our Criterion andMissouri wind facilities.
-
No. 1 Producer of Carbon-Free Energy: For the 10th consecutive year we are the nation’s largest producer of carbon-free energy and have the lowest rate of carbon dioxide emissions among the 20 largest private, investor-owned power producers in
the United States , according to an independent analysis based on publicly reported 2021 air emissions data. The annual Benchmarking Air Emissions of the 100 Largest Electric Power Producers inthe United States report showed that the next cleanest company among the group of 20 had more than four-and-a-half times the rate of carbon dioxide emissions as Constellation.
-
Just Capital "Just 100":
Just Capital recognized Constellation in its “Just 100,” an annual ranking that reflects the performance of America’s largest publicly traded companies based on a variety of issues deemed by Americans to be most important in business today. Key factors for selection range from how a company invests in its employees and communities, to how it treats customers and minimizes environmental impact.
-
Community Partnership Award: We received theCommunity Partnership Award fromThe Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD) for our work in building a skilled energy workforce that represents the diverse communities we serve. The award recognizes our multi-faceted efforts to establish lasting and impactful relationships with our local community — including educators, minority facing organizations, workforce development nonprofits and others — to fuel the energy talent pipeline. We also teamed up with CEWD to sponsor its Energy Industry Fundamentals 2.0 program. The interactive, 120-hour curriculum for high school and technical school students aims to provide expanded energy education and career awareness to 500,000 students over the next decade.
-
2023 Great Place to Work Certification: In the third quarter we were Certified™ by Great Place To Work®. The designation is based on how our employees rate their experience working at Constellation. In a survey of about 5,000 of our employees, 81% of those who responded said it is a great place to work – about 24 points higher than the averageU.S. company. Great Place To Work® is acknowledged worldwide as a global benchmark for workplace culture, employee experience and the leadership behaviors proven to deliver strong market performance, employee retention and increased innovation.
-
Nuclear Operations: Our nuclear fleet, including our owned output from the
Salem andSouth Texas Project (STP) Generating Stations, produced 45,563 gigawatt-hours (GWhs) in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared with 44,436 GWhs in the fourth quarter of 2022. ExcludingSalem and STP, our nuclear plants at ownership achieved a 95.1% capacity factor for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared with 95.4% for the fourth quarter of 2022. There were 56 planned refueling outage days in the fourth quarter of 2023 and 65 in the fourth quarter of 2022. There were seven non-refueling outage days in the fourth quarter of 2023 and three in the fourth quarter of 2022.
- Natural Gas, Oil, and Renewables Operations: The dispatch match rate for our gas and hydro fleet was 97.5% in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared with 96.1%1 in the fourth quarter of 2022. Energy capture for the wind and solar fleet was 96.3% in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared with 96.7%1 in the fourth quarter of 2022.
GAAP/Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) Reconciliation
Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) for the three and twelve months ended
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Twelve Months Ended
|
||||||||||||
(in millions) |
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
GAAP Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Common Shareholders |
$ |
(36 |
) |
|
$ |
34 |
|
|
$ |
1,623 |
|
|
$ |
(160 |
) |
Income Tax (Benefit) Expense |
|
158 |
|
|
|
133 |
|
|
|
840 |
|
|
|
(339 |
) |
Depreciation and Amortization |
|
288 |
|
|
|
272 |
|
|
|
1,096 |
|
|
|
1,091 |
|
Interest Expense, Net |
|
139 |
|
|
|
64 |
|
|
|
431 |
|
|
|
251 |
|
Unrealized Loss (Gain) on Fair Value Adjustments |
|
1,002 |
|
|
|
413 |
|
|
|
658 |
|
|
|
1,058 |
|
Asset Impairments |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
71 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Plant Retirements and Divestitures |
|
— |
|
|
|
(7 |
) |
|
|
(28 |
) |
|
|
(11 |
) |
Decommissioning-Related Activities |
|
(439 |
) |
|
|
(306 |
) |
|
|
(716 |
) |
|
|
820 |
|
Pension & OPEB Non-Service Credits |
|
(14 |
) |
|
|
(31 |
) |
|
|
(54 |
) |
|
|
(116 |
) |
Separation Costs |
|
17 |
|
|
|
41 |
|
|
|
101 |
|
|
|
140 |
|
Acquisition Related Costs |
|
9 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
12 |
|
|
|
— |
|
ERP System Implementation Costs |
|
5 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
25 |
|
|
|
22 |
|
Change in Environmental Liabilities |
|
15 |
|
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
|
43 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
Prior Merger Commitment |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(50 |
) |
Noncontrolling Interests |
|
(7 |
) |
|
|
(12 |
) |
|
|
(77 |
) |
|
|
(49 |
) |
Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) |
$ |
1,137 |
|
|
$ |
605 |
|
|
$ |
4,025 |
|
|
$ |
2,667 |
|
________
1Prior year dispatch match and energy capture was previously reported as 96.6% and 95.9%, respectively. The update reflects a change to include the
About Constellation
A Fortune 200 company headquartered in
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In analyzing and planning for our business, we supplement our use of net income as determined under generally accepted accounting principles in
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Words such as “could,” “may,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “will,” “targets,” “goals,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “predicts,” and variations on such words, and similar expressions that reflect our current views with respect to future events and operational, economic, and financial performance, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.
The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made by
Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, which apply only as of the date of this press release. Neither of the Registrants undertakes any obligation to publicly release any revision to its forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.
GAAP Consolidated Statements of Operations and Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) Reconciling Adjustments (unaudited) (in millions, except per share data) |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Three Months Ended |
||||||||||||||||
|
GAAP (a) |
|
Non-GAAP
|
|
|
|
GAAP (a) |
|
Non-GAAP
|
|
|
||||||||
Operating revenues |
$ |
5,796 |
|
|
$ |
(84 |
) |
|
(b),(c) |
|
$ |
7,333 |
|
|
$ |
(713 |
) |
|
(b),(c) |
Operating expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Purchased power and fuel |
|
4,018 |
|
|
|
(898 |
) |
|
(b) |
|
|
5,708 |
|
|
|
(1,125 |
) |
|
(b) |
Operating and maintenance |
|
1,422 |
|
|
|
(83 |
) |
|
(c),(d),(f),(l),(n) |
|
|
1,375 |
|
|
|
(86 |
) |
|
(c),(d),(f),(g),(l) |
Depreciation and amortization |
|
288 |
|
|
|
(288 |
) |
|
(h) |
|
|
272 |
|
|
|
(272 |
) |
|
(h) |
Taxes other than income taxes |
|
134 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
138 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
Total operating expenses |
|
5,862 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,493 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Gain (loss) on sales of assets and businesses |
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
(12 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
Operating income (loss) |
|
(67 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(172 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Other income and (deductions) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Interest expense, net |
|
(139 |
) |
|
|
139 |
|
|
(i) |
|
|
(64 |
) |
|
|
64 |
|
|
(i) |
Other, net |
|
349 |
|
|
|
(326 |
) |
|
(b),(c),(e),(m) |
|
|
383 |
|
|
|
(367 |
) |
|
(b),(c),(d),(e),(f),(g),(j),(m) |
Total other income and (deductions) |
|
210 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
319 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Income (loss) before income taxes |
|
143 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
147 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Income tax (benefit) expense |
|
182 |
|
|
|
(182 |
) |
|
(j) |
|
|
116 |
|
|
|
(116 |
) |
|
(j) |
Equity in income (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
Net income (loss) |
|
(39 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
27 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests |
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
7 |
|
|
(k) |
|
|
(7 |
) |
|
|
12 |
|
|
(k) |
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders |
$ |
(36 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
34 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Effective tax rate |
|
127.3 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
78.9 |
% |
|
|
|
|
||||
Earnings per average common share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Basic |
$ |
(0.11 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.10 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Diluted |
$ |
(0.11 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.10 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Average common shares outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Basic |
|
320 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
328 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Diluted |
|
321 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
329 |
|
|
|
|
|
__________ | ||
(a) |
Results reported in accordance with GAAP. |
|
(b) |
Adjustment for mark-to-market on economic hedges and fair value adjustments related to gas imbalances and equity investments. |
|
(c) |
Adjustment for all gains and losses associated with NDTs, ARO accretion, ARO remeasurement, and any earnings neutral impacts of contractual offset for Regulatory Agreement Units. |
|
(d) |
Adjustment for certain incremental costs related to the separation (system-related costs, third-party costs paid to advisors, consultants, lawyers, and other experts assisting in the separation), including a portion of the amounts billed to us pursuant to the |
|
(e) |
Adjustment for Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefits (OPEB) Non-Service credits. |
|
(f) |
Adjustment for costs related to a multi-year ERP system implementation. |
|
(g) |
Adjustments related to plant retirements and divestitures. |
|
(h) |
Adjustment for depreciation and amortization expense. |
|
(i) |
Adjustment for interest expense. |
|
(j) |
Adjustment for income taxes. |
|
(k) |
Adjustment for elimination of the noncontrolling interest related to certain adjustments. |
|
(l) |
Adjustment for certain changes in environmental liabilities. |
|
(m) |
Adjustment includes amounts contractually owed to |
|
(n) |
Adjustment for acquisition related costs. |
GAAP Consolidated Statements of Operations and Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) Reconciling Adjustments (unaudited) (in millions, except per share data) |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Twelve Months Ended |
|
Twelve Months Ended |
||||||||||||||||
|
GAAP (a) |
|
Non-GAAP
|
|
|
|
GAAP (a) |
|
Non-GAAP
|
|
|
||||||||
Operating revenues |
$ |
24,918 |
|
|
$ |
(1,404 |
) |
|
(b),(c) |
|
$ |
24,440 |
|
|
$ |
1,184 |
|
|
(b),(c) |
Operating expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Purchased power and fuel |
|
16,001 |
|
|
|
(2,365 |
) |
|
(b) |
|
|
17,462 |
|
|
|
138 |
|
|
(b) |
Operating and maintenance |
|
5,685 |
|
|
|
(343 |
) |
|
(c),(d),(f),(l),(o),(p) |
|
|
4,841 |
|
|
|
(28 |
) |
|
(c),(d),(e),(f),(g),(l),(n) |
Depreciation and amortization |
|
1,096 |
|
|
|
(1,096 |
) |
|
(h) |
|
|
1,091 |
|
|
|
(1,091 |
) |
|
(h) |
Taxes other than income taxes |
|
553 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
552 |
|
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
(d) |
Total operating expenses |
|
23,335 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23,946 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Gain (loss) on sales of assets and businesses |
|
27 |
|
|
|
(27 |
) |
|
(g) |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
(g) |
Operating income (loss) |
|
1,610 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
495 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Other income and (deductions) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Interest expense, net |
|
(431 |
) |
|
|
431 |
|
|
(i) |
|
|
(251 |
) |
|
|
251 |
|
|
(i) |
Other, net |
|
1,268 |
|
|
|
1,184 |
|
|
(b),(c),(e),(m) |
|
|
(786 |
) |
|
|
845 |
|
|
(b),(c),(d),(e),(g),(j),(m) |
Total other income and (deductions) |
|
837 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,037 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Income (loss) before income taxes |
|
2,447 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(542 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Income tax (benefit) expense |
|
859 |
|
|
|
(859 |
) |
|
(j) |
|
|
(388 |
) |
|
|
388 |
|
|
(j) |
Equity in income (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates |
|
(11 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
(13 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
Net income (loss) |
|
1,577 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(167 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests |
|
(46 |
) |
|
|
77 |
|
|
(k) |
|
|
(7 |
) |
|
|
49 |
|
|
(k) |
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders |
$ |
1,623 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(160 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Effective tax rate |
|
35.1 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
71.6 |
% |
|
|
|
|
||||
Earnings per average common share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Basic |
$ |
5.02 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.49 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Diluted |
$ |
5.01 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.49 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Average common shares outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Basic |
|
323 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
328 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Diluted |
|
324 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
329 |
|
|
|
|
|
__________ | ||
(a) |
Results reported in accordance with GAAP. |
|
(b) |
Adjustment for mark-to-market on economic hedges and fair value adjustments related to gas imbalances and equity investments. |
|
(c) |
Adjustment for all gains and losses associated with NDTs, ARO accretion, ARO remeasurement, and any earnings neutral impacts of contractual offset for Regulatory Agreement Units. |
|
(d) |
Adjustment for certain incremental costs related to the separation (system-related costs, third-party costs paid to advisors, consultants, lawyers, and other experts assisting in the separation), including a portion of the amounts billed to us pursuant to the |
|
(e) |
Adjustment for Pension and OPEB Non-Service credits. |
|
(f) |
Adjustment for costs related to a multi-year ERP system implementation |
|
(g) |
Adjustments related to plant retirements and divestitures. |
|
(h) |
Adjustment for depreciation and amortization expense. |
|
(i) |
Adjustment for interest expense. |
|
(j) |
Adjustment for income taxes. |
|
(k) |
Adjustment for elimination of the noncontrolling interest related to certain adjustments. |
|
(l) |
Adjustment for certain changes in environmental liabilities. |
|
(m) |
Adjustment includes amounts contractually owed to Exelon under the tax matters agreement. |
|
(n) |
Reversal of a charge related to a prior 2012 merger commitment. |
|
(o) |
Adjustment for an asset impairment. |
|
(p) |
Adjustment for acquisition related costs. |
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240226437222/en/
Investor Relations
833-447-2783
investorrelations@constellation.com
Corporate Communications
667-218-7700
paul.adams@constellation.com
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