AES Corp.'s Q4 Earnings Beat Estimates, Revenues Decline Y/Y

The AES Corporation’s AES fourth-quarter 2024 adjusted earnings of 54 cents per share beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 34 cents by 58.8%. However, the bottom line declined 26% from 73 cents per share in the year-ago quarter.Find the latest EPS estimates and surprises on Zacks Earnings Calendar.The company generated GAAP earnings of 79 cents per share against the GAAP loss of 15 cents per share in the fourth quarter of 2023.AES reported 2024 adjusted earnings of $2.14 per share, which were higher than the year-ago figure of $1.76.The year-over-year improvement was driven by higher contributions from renewables projects placed in service in the current year, a lower adjusted tax rate and higher contributions from the Utilities SBU.AES’ Total RevenuesThe company’s total revenues amounted to $2.96 billion, down 0.2% year over year due to lower non-regulated revenues. The figure also missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.26 billion by 9.1%.The company reported revenues of $12.28 billion in 2024, which were lower than $12.67 billion in 2023.The AES Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise The AES Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | The AES Corporation QuoteHighlights of AES’ ReleaseThe total cost of sales in the fourth quarter was $2.54 billion, up 2.7% year over year.The operating income totaled $420 million, down 15% from $494 million in the year-ago period.Interest expenses amounted to $360 million, up 2% from $353 million in the prior-year quarter.During 2024, the company signed 6.8 gigawatts (GW) of new agreements, including 4.4 GW of renewables under long-term PPAs, 2.1 GW of new data center load growth at AES Ohio and 310 megawatts of retail supply to support data centers throughout Ohio. This brought AES’ total backlog to 11.9 GW signed long-term PPAs, including 4.9 GW under construction.AES’ Financial ConditionAES had cash and cash equivalents of $1.52 billion as of Dec. 31, 2024, compared with $1.43 billion as of Dec. 31, 2023.Non-recourse debt totaled $20.63 billion as of the same date, up from $18.48 billion as of Dec. 31, 2023.The net cash flow from operating activities amounted to $2.75 billion during 2024 compared with $3.03 billion at the end of 2023.Total capital expenditure was $1.73 billion during the fourth quarter, down from $2.43 billion recorded a year ago.AES’ 2025 GuidanceAES introduced its 2025 earnings guidance.It expects to generate adjusted earnings in the range of $2.10-$2.26 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at $2.02 per share, which lies below the company’s guided range.The company reaffirmed its average annual earnings growth target to be in the band of 7-9% through 2027.AES expects to add a total of 3.2 GW of new renewables to its operating portfolio by the end of 2025.AES’ Zacks RankAES currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.Recent Utility ReleasesNextEra Energy, Inc. NEE reported fourth-quarter 2024 adjusted earnings of 53 cents per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 51 cents by 3.9%. The company reported operating revenues of $5.38 billion, which lagged the consensus estimate of $6.49 billion by 17%.WEC Energy Group WEC reported fourth-quarter 2024 earnings of $1.43 per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.44 by 0.7%. The company reported operating revenues of $2.28 billion, which missed the consensus estimate of $2.6 billion by 12.1%.National Fuel Gas Company NFG reported first-quarter fiscal 2025 adjusted operating earnings of $1.66 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.57 by 5.7%. The company reported sales of $549.5 million, which missed the consensus estimate of $594 million by 7.5%.Just Released: Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2025Hurry – you can still get in early on our 10 top tickers for 2025. Handpicked by Zacks Director of Research Sheraz Mian, this portfolio has been stunningly and consistently successful. From inception in 2012 through November, 2024, the Zacks Top 10 Stocks gained +2,112.6%, more than QUADRUPLING the S&P 500’s +475.6%. Sheraz has combed through 4,400 companies covered by the Zacks Rank and handpicked the best 10 to buy and hold in 2025. You can still be among the first to see these just-released stocks with enormous potential. See New Top 10 Stocks >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE): Free Stock Analysis Report WEC Energy Group, Inc. (WEC): Free Stock Analysis Report The AES Corporation (AES): Free Stock Analysis Report National Fuel Gas Company (NFG): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks