EC
EXELON CORP (EXC)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q1 2025 beat Street: adjusted operating EPS $0.92 vs $0.86 consensus and revenue $6.71B vs $6.45B, driven by new distribution/transmission rates (+$0.14 EPS), favorable PECO weather (+$0.03) and tax repairs timing (+$0.02), partly offset by higher interest expense (-$0.03) and timing at ComEd (-$0.09, expected to reverse) .
- Guidance unchanged: reaffirmed FY25 adjusted EPS $2.64–$2.74, 5–7% EPS CAGR through 2028, and a $38B four‑year capex plan producing 7.4% rate base growth; FY25 capex plan of $9.1B reiterated .
- Financing de‑risked: completed all planned corporate debt for 2025 (including $1.0B hybrid) and ~50% of total 2025 debt; ~60% of ~$700M annual equity need priced via ATM/forwards .
- Structural tailwinds: large-load pipeline intact (17 GW) with advanced studies on an additional 16 GW; regulatory progress at FERC/PJM and pro‑security/affordability legislation in Maryland support incremental T&D investment opportunity beyond plan ($10–$15B transmission) .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
-
What Went Well
- EPS/revenue beat with quality drivers: “Exelon earned $0.92 per share… higher results of $0.24 per share over the same period,” led by new rates (+$0.14), PECO weather (+$0.03), and tax timing (+$0.02) .
- Policy/regulatory momentum: “The 17 gigawatt pipeline… remains fully intact… [and] advanced studies on an additional 16 gigawatts of high‑density load,” with Maryland passing bills to procure dispatchable resources and battery storage—expanding utility investment avenues .
- Balance sheet execution: “Completed… all of our $2 billion of debt financing needs at corporate, including $1 billion of hybrid debt… [and] derisked nearly 60% of our annualized [2025] equity needs via our ATM” .
-
What Went Wrong
- Higher interest expense headwind (‑$0.03 EPS YoY) and elevated O&M timing at ComEd (‑$0.07 in 1Q, expected to reverse later in year) .
- Customer affordability pressures: BGE bills up ~50% in the cold winter, with 80% of the increase tied to weather, commodities and legislative changes—necessitating expanded customer relief actions .
- Tariff risk, albeit manageable: proposed tariff policy impact estimated at ~1.5% of the 4‑year capital and O&M plan (majority capital), with effects delayed by inventories/lead times .
Financial Results
Notes:
- Consensus values marked with an asterisk (*) are from S&P Global; Values retrieved from S&P Global.
- Net income margin is calculated from cited revenue and GAAP net income sources.
Segment detail and YoY earnings mix
- Consolidated operating revenues by utility, Q1 2025: ComEd $2,065M; PECO $1,333M; BGE $1,554M; PHI $1,778M .
- Adjusted operating earnings by utility:
Key KPIs and financing progress
Non‑GAAP notes: Q1 2025 adjusted EPS excludes regulatory matters (+$0.02) and minor FERC audit liability/tiny cost mgmt items; reconciliations provided in the 8‑K exhibits .
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO: “2025 is off to a good start. We are reporting operating earnings of $0.92 per share… ahead of expectations, which keeps us on track to deliver on our 2025 operating earnings guidance range” .
- CEO: “The 17 gigawatt pipeline… remains fully intact. We are also conducting advanced studies on an additional 16 gigawatts of high-density load…” .
- CFO: “Exelon earned $0.92 per share in the first quarter of 2025 compared to $0.68… primarily driven by $0.14 of new… rates… $0.03 of favorable weather at PECO and $0.02 of tax repairs timing… offset by $0.03 of higher interest expense” .
- CEO: “With approximately 90% of our supply sourced domestically, we have estimated [proposed tariff policy] impact to be around 1.5% of our 4‑year capital and O&M… with the majority impacting capital” .
- CFO: “We have completed nearly 50% of our planned long‑term debt financing transactions… and [priced] nearly 60% of our [2025] equity needs via our ATM” .
Q&A Highlights
- Maryland reconciliations/MYPs: Management is confident reconciliations will conclude soon and future Maryland MYPs can be executed without reconciliations, supported by new legislation recognizing MYPs and large‑load cost allocation rules .
- FERC 206/co‑location: Open to settlement but prefer quick FERC decision; principles unchanged—front‑of‑the‑meter treatment, equitable cost allocation, and reliability studies akin to other large loads .
- Pennsylvania regulated generation: Exelon will support solutions that ensure affordability and resource adequacy, with an emphasis on clear recoverability in any legislative constructs .
- Data center phasing and timing: ~70% Phase 1, 20% Phase 2, 10% Phase 3 for the 16 GW disclosed in Q4; additional 16 GW broadly similar; ~10% of load on by 2028, ~1/3 by 2030, ~3/4 by 2034 .
- Affordability actions: Winter cost spikes led to suspension of disconnections, extended payment plans, increased outreach, and partnership with state relief funds (e.g., $200M in Maryland) .
Estimates Context
Notes: Consensus values are from S&P Global; Values retrieved from S&P Global. Surprise amounts are calculated vs S&P Global consensus.
Where estimates may adjust
- Positive revisions likely to carry through near‑term given the beat and CFO’s shaping commentary (Q2 ~14% of FY midpoint; ~48% of FY earnings in 1H), with ComEd timing expected to reverse over balance of year .
- Rate/affordability dynamics (Maryland reconciliation outcomes; PJM capacity reforms; FERC co‑location decision) could drive medium‑term capex pacing and earnings visibility .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Quality beat with reaffirmed full‑year guide; seasonal cadence/ComEd timing support trajectory to midpoint or better of FY range .
- Structural load tailwind is strengthening (17 GW intact + 16 GW under study), with clear phasing and multi‑year ramp, underpinning T&D capex beyond the plan .
- Balance sheet/cost of capital well managed: hybrid issuance, pre‑issuance hedging, and equity ATM/forwards de‑risk 2025 funding; credit metrics stay above downgrade thresholds .
- Policy catalysts: Maryland’s energy security/battery storage framework and forthcoming FERC 206 clarity on co‑location can unlock incremental regulated investment and protect affordability .
- Watch affordability optics: elevated bills and PJM capacity dynamics sustain political risk; Exelon’s customer programs and decoupling mitigate volume risk but headline sensitivity remains .
- Near‑term trading implication: positive reaction bias on beat/guide reaffirmation and funding progress; medium‑term multiple support from data‑center‑driven T&D growth and potential transmission awards beyond plan .
Additional Materials Consulted
- Q1 2025 8‑K press release and exhibits (including consolidating financials) .
- Q1 2025 earnings call transcript (prepared remarks and Q&A) .
- Q4 2024 8‑K press release and presentation for prior quarter comps & guidance baseline .
- Other Q2’25 timing notice and governance press releases (context) .