Edison International Reports First Quarter 2008 Earnings

Business Wire,  May 8, 2008  

Tags: Edison International

• E-mail
• Print
• Link

ROSEMEAD, Calif. -- Edison International (NYSE: EIX):

* First quarter 2008 GAAP earnings were $0.91 per share compared to $1.01 per share in the first quarter of 2007.

* Core earnings increased 2% to $0.92 per share in the first quarter from $0.90 per share in the year-ago quarter, reflecting an increase of $0.01 per share at both Southern California Edison (SCE) and Edison Mission Group (EMG). The increase was largely due to lower net interest expense at SCE and higher gross margin at EMG's Midwest Generation. Core earnings exclude non-core items and discontinued operations.

* The current outlook for Edison International 2008 core earnings is around the high end of its guidance range of $3.61 - $4.01 per share.

[TABLE OMITTED]

Note: GAAP earnings refer to net income and GAAP earnings per share refer to basic earnings per share throughout this release. Core earnings is a non-GAAP financial measure; see reconciliation of core earnings to GAAP earnings and reconciliation of core earnings guidance to GAAP earnings guidance.

Edison International (NYSE: EIX) today reported first quarter 2008 earnings of $0.91 per share. Excluding non-core items, first quarter 2008 core earnings were $0.92 per share, up two percent compared with $0.90 per share in the year-ago first quarter.

"First quarter results were solid. Our improved outlook for the full year reflects positive margin trends in our unregulated power generation business," said John E. Bryson, chairman and chief executive officer of Edison International.

Earnings from Continuing Operations

SCE's first-quarter 2008 earnings from continuing operations were $0.46 per share, compared to earnings of $0.55 per share in the same quarter last year; this decrease was primarily due to a non-core tax benefit of $0.10 per share last year from the favorable resolution of the income tax treatment of certain environmental remediation costs. Excluding the tax item, SCE's core earnings in the first quarter increased $0.01 per share, compared to the same quarter last year. This increase was primarily due to lower net interest expense.

EMG's first-quarter 2008 earnings from continuing operations and core earnings were $0.49 per share, compared to $0.48 per share in the same quarter last year. The increase was primarily due to higher gross margin and the buy-out of a coal contract at Midwest Generation together with higher energy trading results. This was partially offset by lower earnings from Edison Capital and other generation projects together with higher costs associated with EMG's growth programs.

Discontinued Operations

Edison International's loss from discontinued operations was $(0.01) per share in the first quarter of 2008 versus earnings from discontinued operations of $0.01 per share in the first quarter of 2007; both related to the 2004 sale of its international businesses.

[TABLE OMITTED]
[TABLE OMITTED]

1 See Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures below. The impact of participating securities is included in EIX parent company and other and was $(0.01) per share in both quarters.

2008 EARNINGS GUIDANCE

The company reaffirmed its previously announced 2008 earnings guidance of $3.61 - $4.01 per share. It now sees 2008 core earnings being around the high end of the guidance range. See the risk disclosure statement below and the presentation accompanying the company's conference call for further information.

[TABLE OMITTED]

1 Guidance excludes discontinued operations and non-core items. The expected impact of participating securities is ($0.05) per share and is included in EIX parent company and other.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Edison International's earnings are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles used in the United States and represent the company's earnings as reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our management uses core earnings and EPS by principal operating subsidiary internally for financial planning and for analysis of performance. We also use core earnings and EPS by principal operating subsidiary as primary performance measurements when communicating with analysts and investors regarding our earnings results and outlook, as it allows us to more accurately compare the company's ongoing performance across periods. Core earnings exclude discontinued operations and other non-core items and are reconciled to GAAP earnings per share.

EPS by principal operating subsidiary is based on the principal operating subsidiary net income and Edison International's weighted average outstanding common shares. The impact of participating securities (vested stock options that earn dividend equivalents that may participate in undistributed earnings with common stock) for each principal operating subsidiary is not material to each principal operating subsidiary's EPS and is therefore reflected in the results of the Edison International holding company, which we refer to as EIX parent company. EPS and core EPS by principal operating subsidiary are reconciled to GAAP earnings per share.