Category: Financial Markets

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Commodities Trading Ideas & Charts

Exelon Secures Another Legislative Win; Byron and Dresden to Remain Open

We expect Exelon’s regulated utilities to drive all of our earnings growth through 2025. The segment’s four-year, $27 billion capital investment plan supports 7.5% rate base growth and 6%-8% utility earnings growth. 

Exelon’s generation continues to be a primary concern and the reason we value the company at a discount to its peer regulated utilities. As the largest nuclear power plant owner in the United States, Exelon has suffered as low natural gas prices slashed power prices. The company has shown its political clout, winning price subsidies in Illinois, New York, and New Jersey to keep some of its nuclear fleet running. Illinois recently approved clean energy legislation that will subsidize the Byron and Dresden nuclear facilities.

Illinois lawmakers passed energy legislation that would provide subsidies worth $700 million to Exelon’s Dresden and Byron nuclear plants. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has indicated he plans to sign the legislation, and Exelon has said it is in the process of refuelling both plants.

Financial Strength:

Management has done a good job paring down its nonutility debt. Only about 15% of Exelon’s consolidated debt is directly tied to its generation segment. As long as power markets remain relatively stable and Exelon maintains its investment-grade ratings, we don’t expect the company to have trouble refinancing its near-term maturities. Continued power market weakness could make refinancing more difficult and stress Exelon’s credit metrics.

Balance sheet is expected to remain sound and in line with regulatory requirements, supported by the company’s low revenue cyclicality. Exelon’s operating leverage is somewhat higher than its regulated utility peers’ due to its merchant generation unit.

Exelon’s dividend policy to pay out 70% of regulated earnings is appropriate, given the high quality and relatively stable nature of its regulated assets.

Bulls Say:

  • Exelon’s proposed divestiture of its merchant generation unit would eliminate its earnings sensitivity to cyclical commodity prices that have dragged down returns recently. 
  • The company’s regulated utilities have good growth investment opportunities that should support earnings and dividend growth. 
  • The state subsidies that management has secured for a portion of its nuclear portfolio are a positive for shareholders

Company Profile:

Exelon serves approximately 10 million power and gas customers at its six regulated utilities in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. Exelon owns approximately 31 gigawatts of generation capacity throughout North America.

(Source: Morningstar)

General Advice Warning

Any advice/ information provided is general in nature only and does not take into account the personal financial situation, objectives or needs of any particular person.

Categories
Commodities Trading Ideas & Charts

AusNet’s Returns Are Falling but Revenue to Rise on Network Expansion

Business Strategy and Outlook

AusNet Services’ security price has risen in recent months in sympathy with Spark Infrastructure, after the latter received a takeover offer. While the two businesses are very similar, AusNet is 51%-owned by Singapore Power and China’s State Grid, which may deter any takeover approach. AusNet trades at a 16% premium to our unchanged AUD 1.70 fair value estimate, offering a distribution yield of 4.8% with modest growth potential.

 As the owner of monopoly infrastructure assets, revenue is highly defensive but heavyhanded regulation rules out excess returns and thus an economic moat. Returns at its three regulated networks are reset every five years to ensure they aren’t overearning, with no meaningful ability to appeal decisions. Slightly better returns can be achieved by cutting costs below allowances set by the regulator. But cost allowances get trued up every five years and outperforming is getting more difficult as privatised networks get more efficient.

Company’s Future Outlook

Timing of the Victorian electricity distribution network’s regulatory reset was fortuitous. The spike in 10-year government bond yields in early 2021 resulted in an allowed return on equity of 5.1% for the distribution network for the five years to mid-2026, up from 4.6% in the draft decision. All else being equal, we estimate this translates to an additional AUD 100 million, or 2.6 cents per security, in earnings each year compared with the draft decision. Bond yields have since weakened but we expect them to trend higher over the long term, pushing allowed returns on equity higher.

For now, an allowed return of 5.1% isn’t too bad. While allowed return on equity has fallen from 7.5% in the prior period, we expect the 30% larger regulated asset base to drive a near 10% increase in average revenue for the next five years. The draft decision for the Victorian electricity transmission network uses a 5.3% allowed return on equity, but that will likely fall to 4.9% in the final decision later this year if government bond yields remain around current levels. That represents a significant fall from 7.1% in the past five years. Revenue, however, should get a boost from lower inflation forecasts and an expanded regulated asset base.

Company Profile 

AusNet Services is a diversified energy infrastructure business, operating Victoria’s primary electricity transmission network, an electricity distribution network in eastern Victoria and a gas distribution network in western Victoria. Singapore Power owns 31% of AusNet, and China’s State Grid owns 20%.

General Advice Warning

Any advice/ information provided is general in nature only and does not take into account the personal financial situation, objectives or needs of any particular person.