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Black Hills Corp.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EPS rose to $0.45: Third-quarter adjusted EPS was $0.45, excluding $0.10 of merger-related costs, against $0.35 a year earlier. GAAP EPS was $0.34 compared with $0.35. Source
  • Electric operating income declined: Electric Utilities operating income fell $2.7 million in the quarter, on milder weather and higher operating expenses, partly offset by new rates and rider recovery. Source
  • Gas operating income rose $9.9 million: Gas Utilities operating income rose $9.9 million on new rates from the Arkansas, Kansas and Nebraska rate reviews and lower operating expenses, partly offset by wet summer weather. Source
  • Unplanned outages cut availability: Total contracted generation availability was 89.9% against 95.1%, with coal availability at 77.3% against 90.7%, after unplanned outages at several facilities. Source
  • Microsoft and Meta drive data center load: Management attributes planned data center demand to continued Microsoft expansion and Meta’s new AI data center, which moves from construction power to permanent service later this year. Source
  • Joint filings made in three states: The companies filed joint applications in October with commissions in Montana, Nebraska and South Dakota. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026. Source

“This would drive significant earnings growth incremental to our current plan through our innovative data center tariff and strategic investments in new transmission and generation.”

Linn Evans, president and CEO of Black Hills Corp.

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EPS Sourcefull year 2025$4.00 to $4.20Kept
Equity issuance Source2025$215 million to $235 millionKept
Effective tax rate Sourcefull year 2025approximately 13%Kept
Operations and maintenance expense growth Sourcecompounded annual growth from 2023approximately 3.5%Kept
Ready Wyoming transmission project Sourceyear-end 2025260 miles, $350 million, in service by year-end 2025Kept
Lange II generation facility Sourcesecond half of 202699 MW, $280 million, in service in second half of 2026Kept
Five-year capital plan Sourcefive years$4.7 billion
Data center demand in five-year plan Sourceby 2029500 MW
Data center load pipeline Sourcecurrentmore than 3 GWRaised from more than 1 GW

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: 2025 adjusted EPS guidance was reaffirmed at $4.00 to $4.20, the same as the prior guidance. Source
  • New: Black Hills and NorthWestern Energy announced a tax-free, all-stock merger on Aug. 19, 2025, after the prior quarter's release. Source
  • New: Nebraska Gas filed a unanimous settlement on Oct. 7 for its natural gas rate review, pending commission approval. Source
  • New: On Oct. 2 the company completed a $450 million offering of 4.55% senior unsecured notes due Jan. 31, 2031. Source

Third-quarter earnings and drivers

  • Adjusted EPS rose to $0.45: Third-quarter adjusted EPS was $0.45, excluding $0.10 of merger-related costs, against $0.35 a year earlier. GAAP EPS was $0.34 compared with $0.35. Source
  • New rates added $0.21 a share: New rates and rider recovery contributed $0.21 per share in the quarter, more than offsetting higher financing and depreciation costs and unfavorable weather. Source
  • Nine-month adjusted EPS reached $2.68: Year-to-date adjusted EPS was $2.68, excluding $0.11 of merger-related costs, against $2.52. Year-to-date GAAP EPS was $2.58 compared with $2.52. Source
  • Net income available for common stock higher: Net income available for common stock was $24.9 million for the quarter, against $24.4 million, and $186.6 million year to date, against $175.0 million. Source

Electric and gas segment results

  • Electric operating income declined: Electric Utilities operating income fell $2.7 million in the quarter, on milder weather and higher operating expenses, partly offset by new rates and rider recovery. Source
  • Gas operating income rose $9.9 million: Gas Utilities operating income rose $9.9 million on new rates from the Arkansas, Kansas and Nebraska rate reviews and lower operating expenses, partly offset by wet summer weather. Source
  • Corporate loss tied to merger costs: Corporate and Other operating loss rose $4.3 million, mainly on $8.4 million of merger-related costs, partly offset by an unallocated favorable true-up of operating expenses. Source
  • Nine-month electric income lower: Year-to-date electric operating income fell $10.3 million on higher operating expenses and unplanned generation outages, with lower transmission revenues and unfavorable weather also cited. Source
  • Nine-month gas income higher: Year-to-date gas operating income rose $43.1 million on new rates and rider recovery from four rate reviews, along with favorable weather. Source

“Our joint regulatory filings underscore the transaction’s substantial benefits for our customers and stakeholders.”

Linn Evans, president and CEO of Black Hills Corp.

Weather and generation performance

  • Wet summer weather hit irrigation loads: Wet summer weather reduced margins on Nebraska irrigation loads in the quarter, partly offsetting new rates in the gas segment. Source
  • Unplanned outages cut availability: Total contracted generation availability was 89.9% against 95.1%, with coal availability at 77.3% against 90.7%, after unplanned outages at several facilities. Source
  • Wind output lower: Wind capacity factor was 26.1% in the quarter, against 32.0% a year earlier. Source

Load growth and data centers

  • Microsoft and Meta drive data center load: Management attributes planned data center demand to continued Microsoft expansion and Meta’s new AI data center, which moves from construction power to permanent service later this year. Source
  • Industrial electric revenue increased: Industrial electric revenue rose to $49.8 million from $41.6 million in the quarter, with sales up to 639.1 GWh, driven by Wyoming Electric LPCS and BCIS Tariff customers. Source

“Our team delivered strong financial and operational results while successfully advancing key regulatory and growth initiatives,”

Linn Evans, president and CEO of Black Hills Corp.

Capital, financing and dividend

  • Equity issued in quarter: The company issued 2.6 million new common shares in the quarter for $154 million net, including a block equity trade. Year to date it issued 3.7 million shares for $220 million. Source
  • Quarterly dividend held at $0.676: The board approved a quarterly dividend of $0.676 per share, payable Dec. 1, 2025, marking 55 consecutive years of increases. Source

NorthWestern merger

  • Joint filings made in three states: The companies filed joint applications in October with commissions in Montana, Nebraska and South Dakota. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026. Source
  • Merger costs excluded from adjusted results: Merger-related transaction costs were $0.10 per share in the quarter and $0.11 per share year to date, excluded from adjusted EPS. Source

Growth projects and regulatory steps

  • Lange II construction started: South Dakota Electric began construction in the third quarter of the 99 MW, $280 million Lange II gas-fired project, which replaces generation planned for retirement. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2025

  • Nebraska Gas final rates Jan. 1, 2026: The Nebraska settlement allows final rates from Jan. 1, 2026, replacing interim rates in effect since Aug. 1, 2025. Source
  • Arkansas gas rate review filing: Management said it is preparing to file a new Arkansas gas rate review by year-end 2025. Source
  • South Dakota electric rate review: The company plans to file an electric rate review in South Dakota in the first quarter of 2026, its first in more than a decade. Source
  • Kansas Gas abbreviated case: The company is approved to file an abbreviated Kansas Gas case in the first quarter of 2026, including capital placed in service through Dec. 31, 2025. Source
  • FERC merger filing in fourth quarter: The companies anticipate filing a merger application with FERC in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
  • Merger expected close second half 2026: The merger is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to certain closing conditions being satisfied or waived. Source
  • Colorado battery approval expected by year-end: The company filed a settlement on its battery storage certificate request and anticipates approval by year-end 2025. Source
  • EEI Financial Conference attendance: Black Hills leadership will attend the 2025 Edison Electric Institute Financial Conference from Nov. 9 through Nov. 11, 2025. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Rate cases SourceNebraska Gas settlement of $23.9 million of new annual revenue, pending commission approval
Capital plan Source$4.7 billion five-year capital plan
Customer growth Source1.35 million natural gas and electric utility customers in eight states
Load growth Source500 MW of data center demand by 2029; pipeline of more than 3 GW
EPS growth targetLong-term 4% to 6%, upper half of range

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Unplanned generation outages at the Black Hills Colorado IPP lowered net income attributable to non-controlling interest in the quarter. Source
  • External: Milder weather and wet summer conditions reduced electric and gas margins in the quarter. Source
  • Financial: Interest expense rose on higher short-term borrowings and lower interest income on cash balances. Source
  • Regulatory: The merger is subject to satisfying or waiving certain closing conditions, which the company does not control. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the planned 2025 debt and equity financings were completed. Source
  • On track: In the prior quarter, management said the company was on track to meet 2025 guidance, which represents 5% growth at the midpoint.
  • On track: Management said the Ready Wyoming transmission project is on track for in-service by year-end 2025. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it was executing on a plan to deliver in the upper half of the long-term 4% to 6% growth target.

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.