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Spire Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted loss per share improved: Adjusted loss from continuing operations was $15.7 million, or $(0.26) per share, against a $13.3 million loss, or $(0.29) per share, a year earlier. The dollar loss was larger. Source
  • Discontinued operations added gain: Income from discontinued operations was $253.8 million, including an after-tax gain on sale of $254.6 million from the completed divestitures. Source
  • Gas Utility adjusted loss narrowed: The Gas Utility adjusted loss was $3.2 million, against a $10.0 million loss a year earlier. Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama both improved. Source
  • Contribution margin rose $30.6 million: Gas Utility contribution margin rose $30.6 million, driven mainly by new Spire Missouri rates effective October 2025 and higher ISRS revenues. Source
  • Divestitures done, portfolio largely complete: Management said the portfolio optimization is largely complete and that the company is positioned to execute on its strategic priorities. Source
  • FY26 adjusted EPS guidance held: Fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS from continuing operations was kept at $3.90 - $4.10, with the discontinued operations classification reflected. Source

“Our third quarter results demonstrate the benefits of our focused utility strategy and the meaningful progress we've made in transforming Spire into a simpler, fully regulated business,”

Scott Doyle, president and chief executive officer of Spire

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EPS, continuing operations SourceFiscal 2026$3.90 - $4.10 per shareKept
Adjusted EPS SourceFiscal 2027$5.40 - $5.60Kept
Long-term adjusted EPS growth SourceLong-term5-7%Kept
Capital expenditures, continuing operations SourceFiscal 2026$797 millionKept
Capital investment target Source10 years through fiscal 2035$11.2 billionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Ended: The Spire Storage sale, announced in the prior quarter, is now completed. Spire Marketing and Spire Storage are both out of continuing operations. Source
  • Guidance kept: The fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS range of $3.90 - $4.10 was reaffirmed, the same range set in the prior quarter's update. Source
  • Guidance kept: The fiscal 2027 adjusted EPS range of $5.40 - $5.60 was reaffirmed, with no change from the prior quarter. Source
  • Guidance kept: The long-term adjusted earnings growth target of 5-7% was reaffirmed, with no change from the prior quarter. Source

Quarter results and drivers

  • Adjusted loss per share improved: Adjusted loss from continuing operations was $15.7 million, or $(0.26) per share, against a $13.3 million loss, or $(0.29) per share, a year earlier. The dollar loss was larger. Source
  • GAAP loss reflects excluded items: GAAP net loss from continuing operations was $42.6 million, or $(0.72) per share. The gap to adjusted results reflects items excluded from adjusted earnings. Source
  • Discontinued operations added gain: Income from discontinued operations was $253.8 million, including an after-tax gain on sale of $254.6 million from the completed divestitures. Source
  • Nine-month adjusted earnings rose: Nine-month adjusted earnings were $301.8 million, or $5.01 per share, against $248.1 million, or $4.05 per share, a year earlier. Source

Gas Utility and Other segments

  • Gas Utility adjusted loss narrowed: The Gas Utility adjusted loss was $3.2 million, against a $10.0 million loss a year earlier. Spire Missouri and Spire Alabama both improved. Source
  • Other activities loss widened: Other activities had an adjusted loss of $12.5 million, against $3.3 million a year earlier. Management attributed the variance to higher corporate costs and interest expense. Source
  • Nine-month Gas Utility earnings higher: Nine-month Gas Utility adjusted earnings were $335.5 million, against $263.0 million. Other activities were a $33.7 million loss, against a $14.9 million loss. Source

“The strength of our results enables us to reaffirm our fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings guidance as we remain focused on safely delivering reliable service for our customers, investing in infrastructure and creating sustainable long-term value for our shareholders.”

Scott Doyle, president and chief executive officer of Spire

Margin, rates and usage

  • Contribution margin rose $30.6 million: Gas Utility contribution margin rose $30.6 million, driven mainly by new Spire Missouri rates effective October 2025 and higher ISRS revenues. Source
  • Alabama usage and CCM added margin: Higher Spire Alabama usage, net of weather mitigation, and favorable CCM performance also raised margin. Favorable off-system sales at both utilities added to earnings. Source

Operating costs and interest

  • Adjusted O&M rose only $0.4 million: Operation and maintenance was $3.8 million higher than a year ago. After adjusting for a pension reclass and bad debt expense, the increase was $0.4 million. Source
  • Depreciation rose $11.8 million: Depreciation rose $11.8 million, driven by capital investment and updated depreciation schedules under Spire Missouri's new rates. Source
  • Interest and property taxes rose: Interest expense rose $2.4 million on higher long-term debt, partly offset by lower rates. Taxes other than income taxes rose $4.0 million, mainly on revised property tax amortization. Source

“Results for the quarter reflect solid performance across the utilities supported by new rates, infrastructure investment and disciplined cost management.”

Spire Inc., press release

Capital, debt and dividends

  • Acquisition and divestiture cash flows: Nine-month cash flows show $2,500.8 million for business acquisitions and $819.9 million of proceeds from the sale of discontinued operations. Source
  • Operating cash flow higher: Nine-month net cash provided by operating activities was $613.6 million, against $582.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Long-term debt rose substantially: Long-term debt, less current portion, was $5,758.0 million at June 30, 2026, against $3,369.4 million at September 30, 2025. Source
  • Dividend per share higher: Dividends declared were $0.825 per common share in the quarter, against $0.785 a year earlier. The nine-month total was $2.475. Source

Portfolio and strategy

  • Divestitures done, portfolio largely complete: Management said the portfolio optimization is largely complete and that the company is positioned to execute on its strategic priorities. Source
  • Results exclude Spire Tennessee: Results and guidance reflect continuing operations for the gas utilities, excluding Spire Tennessee, unless otherwise noted. Source
  • Organic growth and continuous improvement: The company describes its vision as transforming the business through organic growth, infrastructure investment and continuous improvement. Source

Guidance and capital plan

  • FY26 adjusted EPS guidance held: Fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS from continuing operations was kept at $3.90 - $4.10, with the discontinued operations classification reflected. Source
  • FY27 guidance and growth target held: Fiscal 2027 adjusted EPS guidance of $5.40 - $5.60 and the 5-7% long-term growth target were both reaffirmed. Source
  • $11.2 billion capital plan through 2035: The 10-year capital target supports the 5-7% growth target, using the original $5.75 fiscal 2027 guidance midpoint as the base. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 August 2026

  • Spire Mississippi sale pending: The release lists the announced sale of Spire Mississippi alongside Spire Storage. Spire Storage is reported as completed; no completion of the Spire Mississippi sale is reported. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Capital plan Source$11.2 billion 10-year capital investment target through fiscal 2035
Capital plan Source$797 million fiscal 2026 capital expenditures, continuing operations
EPS growth target Source5-7% long-term adjusted earnings growth
Rate cases SourceNew Spire Missouri rates effective October 2025; Spire Alabama RSE rates effective December 2025

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Nine-month results include a Spire Alabama customer refund provision, which partly offset earnings gains from other drivers. Source
  • Demand: Nine-month usage, net of weather mitigation, was lower at Spire Missouri and higher at Spire Alabama. Source
  • Financial: Acquisition activities were excluded from adjusted results at $36.0 million pre-tax in the quarter, covering Piedmont Tennessee transaction costs. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The earlier agreements covered three business sales. The release does not state a status for each sale in the same terms.

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.