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Ameren Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Diluted EPS rose to $1.28: Net income attributable to common shareholders was $357 million, or $1.28 per diluted share, against $289 million, or $1.07, a year earlier. Diluted weighted-average shares were 278.4 million against 271.4 million. Source
  • Ameren Missouri earnings rose on rates: Ameren Missouri earned $76 million against $42 million, reflecting earnings on infrastructure included in electric and natural gas rates effective June 1 and September 1, 2025, partly offset by lower electric sales and higher interest expense. Source
  • Warm winter reduced Missouri electric sales: Ameren Missouri retail load subtotal was 7,932 million kWh against 8,207 million kWh, with residential at 3,596 million kWh against 3,864 million. Management attributed the decline mainly to warmer winter temperatures. Source
  • Capital spending rose to $1.57 billion: Capital expenditures were $1,574 million in the quarter, against $1,064 million a year earlier. Source
  • Long-term debt issuance rose: Issuances of long-term debt were $1,297 million against $1,099 million. Short-term debt, net was a $534 million inflow against $108 million. Source

“Customers depend on us every day for safe, reliable, and affordable energy - and demand is growing,”

Martin J. Lyons, Jr., chairman, president and chief executive officer of Ameren Corporation

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Diluted EPS Source2026 full year$5.25 to $5.45 per diluted shareKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: The 2026 diluted EPS guidance range of $5.25 to $5.45 was reaffirmed, the same range given in the previous release. Source
  • New: The forward-looking statements now refer to large load customers that signed electric service agreements with Ameren Missouri in 2026. Source
  • New: Ameren Illinois filed its 2025 electric distribution revenue requirement reconciliation adjustment review with the ICC in April 2026. Source

Quarterly results and drivers

  • Diluted EPS rose to $1.28: Net income attributable to common shareholders was $357 million, or $1.28 per diluted share, against $289 million, or $1.07, a year earlier. Diluted weighted-average shares were 278.4 million against 271.4 million. Source
  • Infrastructure earnings drove results: Management attributed the results to earnings on infrastructure investments for reliability, resilience and service quality at Ameren Missouri and Illinois. Lower Missouri electric sales and higher interest expense partly offset these gains. Source
  • More shares affected per-share comparison: Management noted the per-share comparison reflected higher weighted-average basic common shares outstanding, at 276.5 million against 270.0 million. Source
  • Operating income rose to $532 million: Operating income was $532 million against $430 million. Total operating revenues were $2,176 million against $2,097 million, and other income, net was $90 million against $85 million. Source

Ameren Missouri earnings and sales

  • Ameren Missouri earnings rose on rates: Ameren Missouri earned $76 million against $42 million, reflecting earnings on infrastructure included in electric and natural gas rates effective June 1 and September 1, 2025, partly offset by lower electric sales and higher interest expense. Source
  • Warm winter reduced Missouri electric sales: Ameren Missouri retail load subtotal was 7,932 million kWh against 8,207 million kWh, with residential at 3,596 million kWh against 3,864 million. Management attributed the decline mainly to warmer winter temperatures. Source
  • Off-system sales revenue declined: Ameren Missouri off-system sales and capacity revenue was $42 million against $180 million, on 1,099 million kWh of off-system sales against 1,214 million kWh. Source
  • Missouri gas revenue rose: Ameren Missouri natural gas revenue was $79 million against $64 million. Total company natural gas sales were 70 million dekatherms against 74 million. Source

“Meeting these needs requires disciplined ongoing infrastructure investment.”

Martin J. Lyons, Jr., chairman, president and chief executive officer of Ameren Corporation

Other segment earnings

  • Transmission earnings rose on investment: Ameren Transmission earned $98 million against $89 million. Management attributed the increase to earnings on increased infrastructure investments. Source
  • Illinois electric distribution earnings rose: Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution earned $66 million against $63 million in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Illinois gas earnings rose on rates: Ameren Illinois Natural Gas earned $122 million against $108 million. Management tied the increase to infrastructure included in natural gas service rates effective December 2, 2025. Source
  • Parent loss narrowed to $5 million: Ameren Parent, which holds items not reported in a business segment, posted a loss of $5 million against $13 million a year earlier. Source

Costs and interest

  • Fuel and purchased power costs fell: Fuel and purchased power expense was $433 million against $502 million. Natural gas purchased for resale was $171 million against $169 million. Source
  • Total operating expenses slightly lower: Total operating expenses were $1,644 million against $1,667 million. Depreciation and amortization was $398 million against $367 million. Source
  • Interest charges rose $29 million: Interest charges were $204 million against $175 million. Management cited higher interest expense at Ameren Missouri as a factor offsetting its earnings gain. Source

Capital spending and balance sheet

  • Capital spending rose to $1.57 billion: Capital expenditures were $1,574 million in the quarter, against $1,064 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net plant rose in the quarter: Property, plant and equipment, net was $40,471 million at March 31, 2026, against $39,313 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Short-term debt increased on balance sheet: Short-term debt was $1,178 million at March 31, 2026, against $643 million at December 31, 2025. Current maturities of long-term debt were $1,123 million against $973 million. Source

Cash flow, debt and strategy

  • Operating cash flow was $421 million: Net cash provided by operating activities was $421 million against $431 million. Net cash used in investing activities was $1,614 million against $1,087 million. Source
  • Long-term debt issuance rose: Issuances of long-term debt were $1,297 million against $1,099 million. Short-term debt, net was a $534 million inflow against $108 million. Source
  • Share count and book value rose: Shares outstanding were 276.7 million and book value per share $48.99, against 276.4 million and $48.48 at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Strategic plan spans all segments: Management said the strategic plan calls for prudent investments across each operating segment, aimed at serving customers today while preparing for the future. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Customers Source2.5 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers
Rate cases SourceMissouri electric rates effective June 1, 2025; Missouri natural gas rates effective September 1, 2025
Rate cases SourceIllinois natural gas rates effective December 2, 2025
Load growth SourceAmeren Missouri retail load 7,932 million kWh vs 8,207 million kWh
Capital plan SourceCapital expenditures $1,574 million in the quarter vs $1,064 million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Guidance assumes normal temperatures for the last nine months of 2026. Source
  • Regulatory: Guidance is subject to regulatory, judicial and legislative actions, among other factors. Source
  • Operational: Guidance is also subject to energy center and transmission and distribution operations, market conditions, customer usage and severe storms. Source
  • Financial: Higher interest expense at Ameren Missouri offset part of the quarter's earnings gains. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management reaffirmed the 2026 EPS guidance range it gave earlier, without stating progress against it. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.