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ST. LOUIS, April 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Spire Inc. (NYSE: SR) today reported results for its fiscal 2025 second quarter ended March 31. Highlights include:

• Second quarter net income of $209.3 million ($3.51 per diluted share) compared to $204.3 million ($3.58 per share) a year ago
• Second quarter adjusted earnings* of $214.4 million ($3.60 per share) compared to $196.6 million ($3.45 per share) a year ago
• Reaffirm fiscal 2025 adjusted earnings guidance range of $4.40–$4.60

For fiscal 2025 second quarter, Spire reported adjusted earnings per share of $3.60, an increase of $0.15 compared to last year. Gas Utility earnings grew as new rates across all utilities and higher Spire Missouri usage net of weather mitigation was partially offset by higher depreciation expense. Midstream earnings reflected growth due to additional capacity, contract renewals at higher rates and asset optimization for Spire Storage. Gas Marketing earnings were slightly lower due to market conditions.

"Our solid second quarter results reflect our continued commitment to operational excellence and disciplined execution of our strategy. We remain focused on safely delivering reliable energy to our customers while advancing key infrastructure investments enhancing our growth profile," said Scott Doyle, president and chief executive officer of Spire. "As we move forward, our strategy remains unchanged, and we are confident in our ability to create long-term value for our customers, communities and shareholders. We continue to expect our fiscal 2025 earnings to be in the range of $4.40 to $4.60 per share."

Adjusted earnings excludes from net income, as applicable, the impacts of fair value accounting and timing adjustments associated with energy-related transactions, the impacts of acquisition, divestiture and restructuring activities, and the largely non-cash impacts of other non-recurring or unusual items such as impairments and certain regulatory, legislative, or GAAP standard-setting actions.

Gas Utility

Gas Utility fiscal 2025 second quarter adjusted earnings were $195.2 million, an increase from $188.0 million in the prior year, reflecting higher earnings at Spire Missouri, partially offset by lower Spire Alabama earnings.

Contribution margin was $14.7 million higher primarily due to higher Spire Missouri Infrastructure System Replacement (ISRS) revenues, Spire Missouri usage net of weather mitigation and Spire Alabama margins due to the annual rate update. These items were partially offset by unfavorable usage net of weather mitigation at Spire Alabama.

After adjusting for the impact of a pension reclass and bad debt expense, operation and maintenance expense was $0.8 million lower than a year ago, reflecting lower administration and general and other support costs resulting from customer affordability initiatives implemented last year, offset, in part, by higher field operation expense.

Depreciation expense increased $4.1 million from last year reflecting increased capital investment. Interest expense decreased $4.5 million as a result of lower rates and lower average short-term debt balances. Gas carrying cost credits decreased by $3.2 million compared to the prior year due to lower gas cost balances.

Gas Marketing

Gas Marketing fiscal 2025 second quarter adjusted earnings were $14.8 million compared to $15.5 million in the prior year. Earnings in the current year reflect reduced volatility in regional basis differentials.

Midstream

Midstream fiscal 2025 second quarter adjusted earnings were $15.8 million, up from $3.8 million in the year-ago period. The improvement was driven by higher Spire Storage earnings, reflecting additional capacity, contract renewals at higher rates and asset optimization.

Other

Spire's other activities reported an adjusted loss of $11.4 million versus $10.7 million in the prior year. The variance in earnings is primarily due to higher interest expense reflecting higher balances partially offset by lower short-term rates. This increase was partially offset by lower corporate expenses.

For the first six months of fiscal 2025, Spire reported consolidated net income of $290.6 million ($4.86 per diluted share) compared to prior-year net income of $289.4 million ($5.14 per diluted share). Adjusted earnings were $295.5 million ($4.95 per share) compared to $279.3 million ($4.96 per share) last year. The results reflect growth at the Gas Utility and Midstream segments, partially offset by lower Gas Marketing earnings.

Gas Utility results reflect a solid performance across all utilities. Earnings increased due to new rates and Spire Missouri usage net of weather mitigation. These items were offset, in part, by unfavorable usage net of impact of weather mitigation at Spire Alabama and higher depreciation costs.

Gas Marketing adjusted earnings were lower compared to a year ago due to market conditions.

Midstream adjusted earnings improved driven by additional storage capacity, contract renewals at higher rates, asset optimization and the acquisition of MoGas.

Spire's other activities reflect higher interest expense in the current year and the absence of a prior-year benefit of an interest rate hedge.

Guidance and Outlook

Spire continues to expect fiscal 2025 adjusted earnings to be in the range of $4.40–$4.60 per share. We remain confident in our ability to grow long-term adjusted earnings per share 5–7% driven by an expected long-term 7–8% annualized rate base growth at Spire Missouri, reflecting our robust capital investment plan, and 6% equity growth at Spire Alabama and Spire Gulf.

Our 10-year $7.4 billion capital investment target through fiscal 2034 is driven by investment in infrastructure upgrades and new business in the Gas Utility segment. Expected total capital expenditures for fiscal 2025 has increased from $790 million to $840 million. 

Conference Call and Webcast

Spire will host a conference call and webcast today to discuss its fiscal 2025 second quarter financial results. To access the call, please dial the applicable number approximately 5–10 minutes in advance.

The webcast can be accessed at Investors.SpireEnergy.com under Events & Presentations. A replay of the call will be available approximately one hour following the call until May 7, 2025, by dialing 877-344-7529 (U.S.), 855-669-9658 (Canada), or 412-317-0088 (international). The replay access code is 5397934.

About Spire

At Spire Inc. (NYSE: SR) we believe energy exists to help make people's lives better. It's a simple idea, but one that's at the heart of our company. Every day we serve 1.7 million homes and businesses making us one of the largest publicly traded natural gas companies in the country. We help families and business owners fuel their daily lives through our gas utilities serving Alabama, Mississippi and Missouri. Our natural gas-related businesses include Spire Marketing and Spire Midstream. We are committed to transforming our business through growing organically, investing in infrastructure, and advancing through innovation. Learn more at SpireEnergy.com.

Forward-Looking Information and Non-GAAP Measures

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Spire's future operating results may be affected by various uncertainties and risk factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, including weather conditions, economic factors, the competitive environment, governmental and regulatory policy and action, and risks associated with acquisitions. More complete descriptions and listings of these uncertainties and risk factors can be found in the Company's annual (Form 10-K) and quarterly (Form 10-Q) filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

This news release includes the non-GAAP financial measures of "adjusted earnings," "adjusted earnings per share," and "contribution margin." Management also uses these non-GAAP measures internally when evaluating the Company's performance and results of operations. Adjusted earnings exclude from net income, as applicable, the impacts of fair value accounting and timing adjustments associated with energy-related transactions, the impacts of acquisition, divestiture and restructuring activities and the largely non-cash impacts of impairments and other non-recurring or unusual items such as certain regulatory, legislative, or GAAP standard-setting actions. The fair value and timing adjustments, which primarily impact the Gas Marketing segment, include net unrealized gains and losses on energy-related derivatives resulting from the current changes in the fair value of financial and physical transactions prior to their completion and settlement, lower of cost or market inventory adjustments, and realized gains and losses on economic hedges prior to the sale of the physical commodity. Management believes that excluding these items provides a useful representation of the economic impact of actual settled transactions and overall results of ongoing operations. Contribution margin adjusts revenues to remove the costs that are directly passed on to customers and collected through revenues, which are the wholesale cost of natural gas and gross receipts taxes. These internal non-GAAP operating metrics should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, GAAP measures such as operating income, net income, or earnings per share.