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Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 new, 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EPS from continuing operations rose: Adjusted EPS from continuing operations was $0.20 for the quarter, against $0.06 a year earlier. Nine-month adjusted EPS was $2.69, against $2.28. Source
  • Operating margin up on rate changes: Operating margin rose $3.8 million to $278.1 million for the quarter. For nine months it was $1.1 billion. Updated rates better aligned with cost of service drove the increase. Source
  • Nevada returns and capital structure set: The Nevada decision kept the 9.5% authorized return on equity and approved a 51.35% equity and 48.65% debt capital structure. Source
  • Shippers committed about 1 Bcf per day: Shippers have signed binding precedent agreements and posted surety for about 1 Bcf per day. On FERC approval they must sign 20-year transportation agreements. Source
  • Margin supported by cost-of-service: Because the project is cost-of-service, the contracted 1 Bcf per day fully supports the expected margin once the project is in service. Source
  • Nine-month capital investment near $806 million: Infrastructure investment on an accrual basis was nearly $806 million in the first nine months of 2026. About $148 million went to the Great Basin 2028 expansion project. Source
  • Available liquidity near $0.7 billion: The company ended the quarter with nearly $0.7 billion of available liquidity, down from nearly $1.0 billion in the prior release. Source

“We achieved several important regulatory milestones, completing our Nevada and California rate cases, which resulted in approximately $80 million of combined annual revenue increases”

Justin Brown, President and CEO of Southwest Gas Holdings

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EPS from continuing operations Source2026$4.17 - $4.32 per shareKept
Capital expenditures Source2026~$1.25 billionKept
Adjusted EPS from continuing operations CAGR Source2026-203012.0% - 14.0%Kept
Capital expenditures Source2026-2030$6.3 billionKept
Rate base CAGR Source2026-20309.5% - 11.5%Kept
Great Basin 2028 expansion incremental annual margin SourceBeginning expected fourth quarter 2028 in-service$270 million to $300 millionKept
Great Basin 2028 expansion capital spending timing Source2026, 2027 and 202815% in 2026, 25% in 2027, 60% in 2028New
Great Basin 2028 expansion pipeline capacity with compression SourceBeyond the current designapproximately 4 Bcf per dayNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The Nevada general rate case reached a final decision, with about $48 million of incremental annual revenue effective October 2026. The prior release had sought about $74 million. Source
  • New: The California rate case concluded with $32.6 million of incremental annual revenue. The prior release had reported about $40 million, with the cost-of-capital decision still pending. Source
  • New: Commission Staff proposed $58 million of incremental annual revenue, a 9.75% return on equity and a move to formula rates in the Arizona case. Source
  • New: A draft FAST-41 application was submitted for the Great Basin 2028 expansion project, alongside key draft resource reports. Source

Earnings and margin results

  • Adjusted EPS from continuing operations rose: Adjusted EPS from continuing operations was $0.20 for the quarter, against $0.06 a year earlier. Nine-month adjusted EPS was $2.69, against $2.28. Source
  • Continuing operations income turned positive: Net income from continuing operations was $12.8 million for the quarter, against a $3.7 million loss a year earlier. Adjusted net income was $14.7 million. Source
  • Consolidated EPS below prior-year gain: Consolidated diluted EPS was $0.18, against $3.63 a year earlier. The prior-year figure included a Centuri disposition gain in discontinued operations. Source
  • Operating margin up on rate changes: Operating margin rose $3.8 million to $278.1 million for the quarter. For nine months it was $1.1 billion. Updated rates better aligned with cost of service drove the increase. Source
  • Utility return on equity held at 8.0%: Utility return on period-end equity was 8.0% over the twelve months to September 30, 2026, and adjusted utility return was also 8.0%. The prior release reported 8.1% unadjusted. Source

Rate case outcomes by state

  • Nevada returns and capital structure set: The Nevada decision kept the 9.5% authorized return on equity and approved a 51.35% equity and 48.65% debt capital structure. Source
  • California capital structure approved: The California commission approved 50% equity and 50% debt with a 10% return on equity. The automatic trigger adjustment was cut from 50 to 20 basis points. Source
  • Arizona integrity mechanism added margin: The Arizona System Integrity Mechanism added $1.5 million to operating margin in the quarter, through a higher recovery. Source

“Together, these accomplishments demonstrate the disciplined execution of our strategy and position the company to deliver sustainable growth while maintaining our dedication to operational excellence.”

Justin Brown, President and CEO of Southwest Gas Holdings

Great Basin 2028 expansion project

  • Shippers committed about 1 Bcf per day: Shippers have signed binding precedent agreements and posted surety for about 1 Bcf per day. On FERC approval they must sign 20-year transportation agreements. Source
  • Design allows nearly 2 Bcf per day: The 48-inch pipe serves the contracted 1 Bcf per day and can carry nearly 2 Bcf with modest added investment. Added demand within that design is expected to lower the rate for all subscribed shippers. Source
  • Margin supported by cost-of-service: Because the project is cost-of-service, the contracted 1 Bcf per day fully supports the expected margin once the project is in service. Source

Capital investment and rate base

  • Nine-month capital investment near $806 million: Infrastructure investment on an accrual basis was nearly $806 million in the first nine months of 2026. About $148 million went to the Great Basin 2028 expansion project. Source
  • Authorized rate base rose: Total authorized rate base was $6,088,042 thousand, up from $5,809,781 thousand in the prior release. The weighted return on common equity was 9.81%. Source
  • Arizona and Nevada rate base unchanged: Authorized rate base for Arizona and Southern Nevada was unchanged from the prior release, at $3,175,484 thousand and $1,780,757 thousand. Source

Operating costs and expenses

  • Operations and maintenance rose on labor: Operations and maintenance rose $2.0 million, mainly on employee labor costs, including a one-time incentive award adjusted out of non-GAAP results. Source
  • Depreciation rose with plant growth: Depreciation and amortization rose $1.8 million, or 2%, reflecting gas plant in service up $788.2 million, or 7%, from a year earlier. Source
  • Lower interest deductions on gas balances: Net interest deductions fell $4.9 million, mainly from lower over-collected gas cost balances in Nevada and higher capitalized borrowing costs. Source
  • Income tax benefit higher on state rates: Income tax benefit rose $3.4 million on a higher deferred state income tax benefit, tied to a change in state apportionment rates. Source

Demand and customer base

  • Customer growth added margin: Customer growth added $6.1 million to nine-month margin across all territories. Source
  • Residential throughput fell over nine months: Residential throughput was 47.5 million dekatherms for nine months, down from 56.7 million a year earlier. Small commercial throughput also declined. Source
  • Customer to employee ratio improved: The customer to employee ratio at quarter end was 956 to 1, against 942 to 1 in the prior release. Source

Balance sheet and shareholder returns

  • Available liquidity near $0.7 billion: The company ended the quarter with nearly $0.7 billion of available liquidity, down from nearly $1.0 billion in the prior release. Source
  • Interest costs eased after term loan repaid: Net interest deductions fell $21.1 million for nine months, mainly from repaying the $550.0 million term loan in summer 2025 and lower revolver balances. Source
  • Dividend yield and market-to-book ratio: At quarter end the common stock dividend yield was 3.1%, up from 2.9%, and market value to book value per share was 144%, down from 156%. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • Arizona hearing and new rates: The Arizona rate case hearing is scheduled for December. Management expects new rates to take effect in April 2027. Source
  • Long-term guidance update in February: Long-term guidance will be updated with the annual five-year plan in February 2027. The company does not expect the updated project estimate to materially affect 2026 capital expenditure guidance. Source
  • Converting expressions of interest to contracts: The company is working to convert about 1.8 Bcf per day of non-binding expressions of interest for 2029 to 2035 in-service dates into binding precedent agreements. Source
  • Great Basin in-service by fourth quarter 2028: Management remains focused on delivering the Great Basin 2028 expansion project by the fourth quarter of 2028. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Rate base CAGR, 2026-2030 Source9.5% - 11.5%
Capital plan, 2026-2030 Source$6.3 billion
EPS growth target, 2026-2030 Source12.0% - 14.0% adjusted EPS CAGR
Rate case, Arizona staff recommendation Source$58 million incremental annual revenue; 9.75% return on equity
Customer growth1% net customer growth, twelve months to June 30, 2026
Load, total system throughput, nine months Source155,294,206 dekatherms, against 159,807,190 in 2025

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: A petition for reconsideration covers about $50 million of certification plant that was deferred to a future proceeding. Source
  • Financial: Taxes other than income taxes rose $1.3 million, mainly on higher property taxes in California and Nevada. Source
  • Operational: Operations and maintenance also rose on bad debt expense of $1.7 million, alongside employee labor costs. Source
  • Demand: The additional 1.8 Bcf per day of expressions of interest is non-binding and depends on converting to binding agreements. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said it is on track to achieve its full-year 2026 guidance. Source
  • On track: The FERC certificate application for the Great Basin 2028 expansion project is on track for filing by year-end. Source
  • Met: The prior release expected the California cost-of-capital decision in August. The current release reports that the California rate case has concluded.
  • Not stated: Management continues to target relatively flat operations and maintenance expense on a per customer basis. 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.