Exhibit 99.1

 

    

For the nine months ended June 30, 2016 , consolidated net income was $315.9 million , or $3.06 per diluted share, compared with net income of $291.6 million , or $2.86 per diluted share for the same period last year. Consolidated net income includes net unrealized gains of $7.8 million , or $0.08 per diluted share for the nine months ended June 30, 2016 , compared with net unrealized gains of $5.2 million , or $0.05 per diluted share for the prior-year period.

“Our financial and operational performance in the quarter puts us on track for another year of achieving our commitments," said Kim Cocklin, chief executive officer of Atmos Energy Corporation. “We continue to make investments to enhance the safety and reliability for our customers, while delivering consistent results for our shareholders. As we enter the final quarter of fiscal 2016, we are poised to deliver earnings per diluted share in the range of $3.25 to $3.35," Cocklin concluded.

Results for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2016

Regulated distribution gross profit increased $8.4 million to $275.4 million for the fiscal 2016 third quarter, compared with $267.0 million in the prior-year quarter. Gross profit reflects a net $6.5 million increase in rates, primarily in the Mississippi, Louisiana and West Texas Divisions. Additionally, higher customer counts primarily in our Mid-Tex and Louisiana Divisions increased gross profit $1.5 million.

Regulated pipeline gross profit increased $12.2 million to $109.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 , compared with $97.0 million for the same quarter last year. This increase is primarily the result of an $11.3 million increase in revenues from the Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program (GRIP) filings approved in 2016 and 2015.

Nonregulated gross profit increased $5.0 million to $22.8 million for the fiscal 2016 third quarter, compared with $17.8 million for the prior-year quarter, as a result of a $2.8 million increase in realized margins, combined with a $2.2 million increase in unrealized margins. The quarter-over-quarter increase in realized margins reflects the timing and magnitude of settlement gains on financial positions.

Consolidated operation and maintenance expense for the quarter June 30, 2016 , was $137.4 million , compared with $132.4 million for the prior-year period. This increase was primarily driven by increased pipeline maintenance spending and legal expenses, partially offset by lower employee-related costs.

Results for the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2016

Regulated distribution gross profit increased $20.9 million to $1,018.0 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2016 , compared with $997.1 million in the prior-year period. Gross profit reflects a net $37.2 million increase in rates, primarily in the Mid-Tex, Mississippi and West Texas Divisions. This increase was partially offset by a $14.5 million decrease in revenue-related taxes and a $3.6 million decrease in consumption. Weather was 25 percent warmer than the prior-year period, before adjusting for weather normalization mechanisms, which resulted in a 19 percent decrease in sales volumes.

Regulated pipeline gross profit increased $27.3 million to $299.6 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2016 , compared with $272.3 million in the prior-year period. This increase primarily reflects a $28.4 million increase in revenue from the GRIP filings approved in 2016 and 2015. This increase was partially offset by decreased through-system volumes and lower storage and blending fees due to warmer weather in the current-year period.

Nonregulated gross profit decreased $5.0 million to $51.7 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2016 , compared with $56.7 million for the prior-year period, as a result of a $9.4 million decrease in realized margins, partially offset by a $4.3 million increase in unrealized margins. The year-over-year decrease in realized margins reflects larger settlement losses incurred during the second quarter during a period of falling natural gas prices, partially offset by the aforementioned settlement gains realized during the third quarter.

Consolidated operation and maintenance expense for the nine months ended June 30, 2016 , was $396.0 million , compared with $384.5 million for the prior-year period. This increase was primarily driven by increased pipeline maintenance spending and legal expenses partially offset by lower employee-related costs.

Capital expenditures increased to $796.0 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2016 , compared with $667.5 million in the prior-year period driven by a planned increase in spending in the company's regulated operations.

For the nine months ended June 30, 2016 , the company generated operating cash flow of $624.6 million , a $93.0 million decrease compared with the nine months ended June 30, 2015 . The year-over-year decrease primarily reflects the timing of deferred gas cost recoveries.

The debt capitalization ratio at June 30, 2016 was 47.4 percent , compared with 47.7 percent at September 30, 2015 and 45.5 percent at June 30, 2015 . At June 30, 2016 , there was $670.5 million of short-term debt outstanding, compared with $457.9 million at September 30, 2015 and $252.0 million at June 30, 2015 .

Outlook

The leadership of Atmos Energy remains focused on enhancing system safety and reliability through infrastructure investment while delivering shareholder value and consistent earnings growth. Atmos Energy continues to expect fiscal 2016 earnings to be in the range of $3.25 to $3.35 per diluted share, excluding net unrealized margins. Net income from regulated operations is expected to be in the range of $320 million to $335 million. Net income from nonregulated operations is expected to be in the range of $14 million to $19 million, excluding net unrealized margins. Capital expenditures for fiscal 2016 are now expected to be at the top end of the previously announced range, approximating $1.1 billion.

Conference Call to be Webcast August 4, 2016

 

Atmos Energy will host a conference call with financial analysts to discuss the financial results for the fiscal 2016 third quarter on Thursday, August 4, 2016 , at 10:00 a.m. Eastern. The domestic telephone number is 877-485-3107 and the international telephone number is 201-689-8427. Kim Cocklin, chief executive officer, Mike Haefner, president and chief operating officer, Bret Eckert, senior vice president and chief financial officer, along with other members of the leadership team, will participate in the conference call. The conference call will be webcast live on the Atmos Energy website at www.atmosenergy.com . A playback of the call will be available on the website later that day.

Highlights and Recent Developments

S&P Upgrades Atmos Energy's Senior Unsecured Debt

On May 13, 2016, S&P Global Ratings upgraded Atmos Energy's senior unsecured debt rating to A from A- with a ratings outlook of stable, citing the company's robust financial performance, largely due to the timely recovery of invested capital.

 

This news release should be read in conjunction with the attached unaudited financial information.

Forward-Looking Statements

The matters discussed in this news release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements made in good faith by the company and are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this news release or in any of the company's other documents or oral presentations, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “intend,” “objective,” “plan,” “projection,” “seek,” “strategy” or similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in this news release, including the risks and uncertainties relating to regulatory trends and decisions, the company's ability to continue to access the capital markets and the other factors discussed in the company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These factors include the risks and uncertainties discussed in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015 and in the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2016 . Although the company believes these forward-looking statements to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will approximate actual experience or that the expectations derived from them will be realized. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The information in this news release utilizes certain financial measures that are not presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Specifically, in addition to presenting the traditional U.S. GAAP measures, historical net income and diluted earnings per share for the quarter and year-to-date periods are presented after excluding net unrealized margins on financial positions utilized in the Company's nonregulated operations. These non-GAAP financial measures are included because the Company believes they more accurately reflect the Company's financial performance since the net unrealized margins relate to positions that will settle in the future and are not necessarily indicative of the value of those positions when they are ultimately settled. In addition, the Company's fiscal year guidance for expected diluted earnings per share and net income from nonregulated operations excludes net unrealized margins because these amounts are not determinable until after the end of the fiscal year.

About Atmos Energy

Atmos Energy Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, is the country's largest natural-gas-only distributor, serving over three million natural gas distribution customers in over 1,400 communities in eight states from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the East to the Rocky Mountains in the West. Atmos Energy also manages company-owned natural gas pipeline and storage assets, including one of the largest intrastate natural gas pipeline systems in Texas and provides natural gas marketing and procurement services to industrial, commercial and municipal customers primarily in the Midwest and Southeast. For more information, visit www.atmosenergy.com .

 

Atmos Energy Corporation

Financial Highlights, continued (Unaudited)

 

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