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Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 8 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Reported EPS up, core EPS down: Net income was $30 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, against $27 million, or $0.15, a year earlier. Core net income was $31 million, or $0.18, against $40 million, or $0.23. Source
  • Settlement finalized in April: The last subrogation insurers withdrew their appeals on April 10, which cleared the final legal hurdle to the global tort settlement. Source
  • Holding company loss narrowed: Holding and other companies net loss was $5 million against $21 million. Core net loss was $5 million against $10 million, mainly on lower net interest expense. Source
  • Liquidity about $1.5 billion: Enterprise-wide liquidity was approximately $1.5 billion at quarter-end. Source

“As we pivot from finalization of the settlement and navigate a transitional year ahead of our rate rebasing in 2027, we are expecting higher operations and maintenance expenses for the full year 2026.”

Scott Seu, HEI president and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Hawaiian Electric O&M expense, excluding pension Sourcefull year 2026significantly outpace inflationNew
Maui wildfire global settlement payments Sourceannual, first paid April 2026four annual $479 million paymentsNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: A 2026 expectation for Hawaiian Electric O&M expense, excluding pension, to significantly outpace inflation was given. The prior release contained no such figure. Source
  • New guidance: The maximum penalty under the Fuel Cost Risk Sharing mechanism was newly expected, recorded as a reduction of fuel revenue. Source
  • New: The global tort settlement was finalized and the first of four $479 million payments was issued in April. The prior release said final court approval was nearing. Source
  • New: Effective June 1, Scott Seu becomes CEO of both HEI and Hawaiian Electric, and Shelee Kimura becomes President of both companies. Source
  • New: An updated Wildfire Mitigation Plan covering 2026 and 2027 was submitted in April 2026. Source

Earnings and core results

  • Reported EPS up, core EPS down: Net income was $30 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, against $27 million, or $0.15, a year earlier. Core net income was $31 million, or $0.18, against $40 million, or $0.23. Source
  • Hawaiian Electric profit fell: Hawaiian Electric net income was $35 million against $48 million. Its Core net income was $36 million against $50 million. Source
  • Revenue rose on rate adjustment: Hawaiian Electric revenues were $10 million higher, mainly from the annual revenue adjustment mechanism. Source

Maui settlement and credit rating

  • Settlement finalized in April: The last subrogation insurers withdrew their appeals on April 10, which cleared the final legal hurdle to the global tort settlement. Source
  • First settlement payment issued: HEI and Hawaiian Electric issued the first of four $479 million settlement payments in April. Source
  • Moody's raised both credit ratings: After the settlement was finalized, Moody's upgraded HEI to Ba2 and Hawaiian Electric to Ba1. Source

“Utility core operations performed well despite elevated expenses related to multiple severe storms and historic flooding impacting the state in the first quarter.”

Scott Seu, HEI president and CEO

Sales, fuel and power costs

  • Kilowatthour sales edged up: Total kilowatthour sales were 1,972 million against 1,965 million a year earlier. Hawaiian Electric sales were 1,457 million against 1,453 million. Source
  • Fuel oil cost per barrel fell: Average fuel oil cost per barrel was $95.53, against $104.55 a year earlier. Source

Holding company results

  • Holding company loss narrowed: Holding and other companies net loss was $5 million against $21 million. Core net loss was $5 million against $10 million, mainly on lower net interest expense. Source
  • Pacific Current review still ongoing: Core results exclude costs of the ongoing strategic options review for Pacific Current. Source

“Moving forward, we’ll continue to focus on making the investments outlined in our WMP, while operating efficiently and maintaining financial strength.”

Scott Seu, HEI president and CEO

Wildfire safety and mitigation

  • Updated wildfire mitigation plan filed: An updated Wildfire Mitigation Plan for 2026 and 2027 was submitted in April 2026. Source
  • WMP investments to continue: Management said it will keep making the WMP investments while operating efficiently and maintaining financial strength. Source

Customers, rates and liquidity

  • Liquidity about $1.5 billion: Enterprise-wide liquidity was approximately $1.5 billion at quarter-end. Source
  • Customer support on fuel prices: The utility will keep offering customer support because of affordability pressure from higher fuel prices tied to geopolitical conflict. Source
  • Rate rebasing request for 2027: The proposed rate rebasing, for 2027, is intended to address higher O&M costs such as increased insurance premiums. Source

Leadership and structure

  • Kimura becomes President of both: Shelee Kimura becomes President of both companies, having been Hawaiian Electric President and CEO since 2022. Source
  • PUC decision enabled simpler structure: A recent Hawaii Public Utilities Commission decision enabled the simplified leadership structure, reflecting the pure-play utility focus. Source

Coming up, as management said on 8 May 2026

  • Settlement payments continue annually: Three further annual payments of $479 million remain after the first was issued in April 2026. Source
  • Wildfire mitigation investments continue: Management plans to keep making the investments in the updated 2026 and 2027 Wildfire Mitigation Plan. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Load growth (kWh sales, millions) Source1,972 in Q1 2026 vs 1,965 in Q1 2025
Rate case SourceProposed rate rebasing in 2027

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Multiple severe storms and historic flooding in the first quarter raised storm response and other expenses. Source
  • Financial: Higher insurance premiums are adding to O&M costs, reflecting deferral treatment that applied before 2026. Source
  • Regulatory: The maximum penalty under the Fuel Cost Risk Sharing mechanism is expected, reducing fuel revenue. Source
  • External: Higher fuel prices tied to geopolitical conflict are affecting customer affordability. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The first annual settlement payment was issued in April 2026, with three annual payments remaining. Source
  • Not stated: Management refers to continuing the WMP investments; the release does not state their status. 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.