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Ameren Corp.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Third-quarter EPS rose to $2.42: Third quarter 2026 GAAP diluted EPS was $2.42, against $2.35 in 2025. Adjusted EPS was also $2.42, against $2.17 in the 2025 quarter, which excluded a tax benefit. Source
  • Infrastructure and energy technology earnings drove results: Earnings on reliability, resiliency and service-quality investments, plus earnings on innovative energy technology investments, lifted results, with higher Ameren Missouri retail sales from warmer weather. Source
  • Ameren Missouri earnings rose to $582 million: Ameren Missouri earned $582 million against $518 million, reflecting infrastructure earnings, higher electric retail sales from warmer weather, and lower income tax expense partly from timing. Source
  • Ameren Missouri retail sales rose: Ameren Missouri retail load was 9,328 million kWh against 8,982 million, with residential sales of 4,171 million kWh against 3,894 million, mainly from warmer temperatures. Source
  • $38.1 billion infrastructure plan: Multi-year earnings growth is expected to be driven by $38.1 billion of planned infrastructure investments, underpinning projected rate base growth of about 13.3% a year through 2031. Source
  • Operating cash flow was $2.2 billion: Net cash provided by operating activities was $2,193 million for nine months against $2,397 million, with changes in assets and liabilities using $707 million. Source

“Our third-quarter results were driven by continued execution of our strategy and disciplined investment in critical energy infrastructure to deliver reliable energy for our customers at the lowest cost possible,”

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

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Diluted EPS Source2026$5.35 to $5.55Raised from $5.25 to $5.45
Diluted EPS Source2027$5.70 to $5.90New
Diluted EPS growth Source2027 through 20318% to 10% compound annual rateNew
Rate base growth Source2026 through 2031approximately 13.3% compounded annually
Planned infrastructure investment Sourcemulti-year$38.1 billion
Dividend payout ratio Sourceannual45% to 55% of annual EPS

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: 2026 EPS guidance raised to $5.35 to $5.55 from $5.25 to $5.45. Source
  • New guidance: 2027 EPS guidance range of $5.70 to $5.90 established. Source
  • New guidance: Multi-year EPS growth guidance of 8% to 10% issued for 2027 through 2031. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Third-quarter EPS rose to $2.42: Third quarter 2026 GAAP diluted EPS was $2.42, against $2.35 in 2025. Adjusted EPS was also $2.42, against $2.17 in the 2025 quarter, which excluded a tax benefit. Source
  • Nine-month EPS reached $4.83: Nine-month GAAP net income attributable to common shareholders was $1,347 million, or $4.83 per diluted share, against $4.43 in 2025, which was $4.25 adjusted. Source
  • Infrastructure and energy technology earnings drove results: Earnings on reliability, resiliency and service-quality investments, plus earnings on innovative energy technology investments, lifted results, with higher Ameren Missouri retail sales from warmer weather. Source
  • Higher share count shaped EPS comparison: Diluted weighted-average shares were 278.9 million against 272.2 million. The EPS comparison reflected the higher weighted-average basic share count. Source

Segment results

  • Ameren Missouri earnings rose to $582 million: Ameren Missouri earned $582 million against $518 million, reflecting infrastructure earnings, higher electric retail sales from warmer weather, and lower income tax expense partly from timing. Source
  • Transmission earnings rose on infrastructure: Ameren Transmission earned $110 million against $151 million GAAP and $103 million adjusted in 2025. The adjusted comparison reflected earnings on increased infrastructure investments. Source
  • Illinois electric distribution earned $72 million: Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution earned $72 million against $57 million, with the increase reflecting earnings on increased infrastructure investments. Source
  • Illinois gas loss narrowed to $7 million: Ameren Illinois Natural Gas posted a $7 million loss against $13 million in 2025, a comparison that reflected infrastructure investments in natural gas service rates effective December 2, 2025. Source
  • Parent loss widened to $81 million: Ameren Parent posted an $81 million loss against $73 million. Higher income tax expense from timing and higher interest expense were partly offset by earnings from innovative energy technology investments. Source

“Our strong year-to-date performance gives us confidence to raise our 2026 earnings guidance. As we look to 2027, we’ll continue executing our strategy and investing in energy infrastructure to deliver long-term value for customers and shareholders,”

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

Products and customers

  • Ameren Missouri retail sales rose: Ameren Missouri retail load was 9,328 million kWh against 8,982 million, with residential sales of 4,171 million kWh against 3,894 million, mainly from warmer temperatures. Source
  • Off-system volume up, revenue down: Off-system kWh were 881 million against 581 million, while off-system sales and capacity revenue was $262 million against $300 million. Source
  • Illinois industrial sales declined: Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution industrial kWh were 2,558 million against 2,791 million in the quarter; total distribution kWh were 9,377 million against 9,446 million. Source
  • Gas revenue rose on Illinois sales: Ameren Illinois Natural Gas revenue was $136 million against $117 million, and Ameren Missouri gas revenue was $24 million against $20 million. Total gas revenue was $160 million against $136 million. Source
  • Customer base described in release: The company said it powers quality of life for 2.5 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers across a 64,000-square-mile area. Source

Costs, margins and income

  • Fuel and purchased power costs rose in quarter: Fuel and purchased power expense was $809 million against $768 million in the quarter, and $1,749 million for nine months against $2,064 million. Source
  • Other operations and maintenance rose: Other operations and maintenance expense was $535 million against $502 million, with the company citing reliability-focused tree trimming and energy center maintenance. Source
  • Income taxes rose against 2025 benefit: Consolidated income taxes were $119 million against $52 million. The 2025 quarter included a tax benefit that was excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Interest charges and other income rose: Interest charges were $216 million against $208 million, and other income, net was $112 million against $76 million. Source
  • Operating income and depreciation increased: Operating income was $900 million against $825 million, and depreciation and amortization was $436 million against $415 million. Source

“Our updated long-term outlook reflects the significant investments needed to serve growing demand from large customers and support economic growth across our region.”

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

Capital plan and rate base

  • $38.1 billion infrastructure plan: Multi-year earnings growth is expected to be driven by $38.1 billion of planned infrastructure investments, underpinning projected rate base growth of about 13.3% a year through 2031. Source
  • Capital expenditures reached $4.1 billion: Capital expenditures for nine months were $4,089 million against $3,118 million; net property, plant and equipment was $42,239 million at September 30, 2026. Source
  • Debt issuances rose to $3.2 billion: Issuances of long-term debt were $3,234 million for nine months against $1,960 million. Source

Cash flow and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow was $2.2 billion: Net cash provided by operating activities was $2,193 million for nine months against $2,397 million, with changes in assets and liabilities using $707 million. Source
  • Dividends paid rose to $622 million: Dividends on common stock were $622 million for nine months against $576 million; dividends to noncontrolling interest holders were $4 million in each period. Source
  • Shares outstanding and book value rose: Shares outstanding were 276.9 million and book value per share was $51.31 at September 30, 2026, against 276.4 million and $48.48 at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Current debt maturities and balance noted: Current maturities of long-term debt were $1,574 million and short-term debt was $496 million at September 30, 2026. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Call and slides archived online: The call and slide presentation will be archived in the Investors section of the website under Quarterly Earnings. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Rate base growth Sourceapproximately 13.3% compounded annually from 2026 through 2031
Capital plan Source$38.1 billion of planned infrastructure investments
EPS growth target Source8% to 10% compound annual rate from 2027 through 2031
Load growth SourceAmeren Missouri retail load subtotal 9,328 million kWh vs 8,982 million kWh
Rate cases Sourcenatural gas service rates effective December 2, 2025

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Guidance and multi-year growth expectations are subject to regulatory, judicial and legislative actions, along with energy center and transmission and distribution operations. Source
  • External: Market conditions, customer usage, severe storms and returns on market-based investments are named among factors that affect guidance. Source
  • External: Guidance assumes normal temperatures for the last three months of 2026, so weather different from normal would differ from the assumption behind the range. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it will continue executing its strategy and investing in energy infrastructure as it looks to 2027. 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.