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Provided by AGPRAPID CITY, S.D., May 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026. Net income available for common stock and earnings per share, diluted (EPS) for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2025, were:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||
| 2026 | 2025 | ||||
| (in millions, except per share amounts) | |||||
| GAAP: | |||||
| Net income available for common stock | $ | 131.0 | $ | 134.3 | |
| Earnings per share, Diluted | $ | 1.73 | $ | 1.87 | |
| Non-GAAP (a): | |||||
| Adjusted earnings | $ | 135.1 | $ | 134.3 | |
| Adjusted EPS | $ | 1.79 | $ | 1.87 | |
| (a) | During the three months ended March 31, 2026, Black Hills incurred costs of $0.05 per share, related to the pending merger with NorthWestern Energy. See additional details in the GAAP-to-Non-GAAP reconciliation table in the Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures section below. Minor differences may result due to rounding. |
First-quarter GAAP EPS was $1.73 compared to $1.87 in the same period in 2025. First-quarter adjusted EPS of $1.79, excluding $0.05 of after-tax merger-related costs, compared to $1.87 in the same period in 2025. Financial results included $0.18 per share of weather impacts from mild winter temperatures, and higher financing and depreciation costs, which were partially offset by new rates and rider recovery and lower operations and maintenance expenses.
“I'm proud of the strong operational performance by our team and progress on our strategic initiatives in 2026 to date, providing us confidence in reaffirming our full-year earnings guidance,” said Linn Evans, president and CEO of Black Hills Corp. “We maintained our solid financial position and executed on our capital plan for our customers, including ongoing construction of our 99-MW Lange II generation project in Rapid City that is expected to begin serving customers in the fourth quarter. During the first quarter, we also requested our first rate review in more than a decade for our South Dakota Electric utility, seeking recovery of our investments and costs to serve our customers safely and reliably.
“Our data center pipeline of more than 3 GW includes 600 MW by 2030 in our five-year financial plan primarily driven by Microsoft’s expansion of existing operations and Meta’s new AI data center. In addition, we continue to make progress toward definitive agreements to serve other large-load projects, including a 1.8 GW data center, which would be additive to our current plan. We are also excited about Microsoft's recognition of the value of Wyoming and our decades-long relationship, and their recently announced intention to invest in 3,200 acres of additional land for future data center expansion in Cheyenne, which would provide upside potential to our growth pipeline.
“Our customer-focused strategy has positioned us to consistently and innovatively deliver safe, reliable, and affordable energy while supporting the needs of our customers and communities for growth. We are confident in our ability to deliver earnings in the upper half of our 4% to 6% long-term EPS growth target, and we look forward to an even stronger energy future for all our stakeholders as a larger, premier Midwest utility following our merger with NorthWestern Energy,” concluded Evans.
Merger with NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc.
Black Hills Corp. and NorthWestern Energy announced a tax-free, all-stock merger on Aug. 19, 2025, which was approved by shareholders of both companies on April 2, 2026. During the first quarter, the companies continued to seek joint approval of the transaction from regulatory commissions in Montana, Nebraska and South Dakota, reaching settlements with certain intervenors in all three states to date. The waiting period was completed under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act on April 20, 2026, satisfying a U.S. antitrust condition to closing, and the initial public comment period regarding the joint application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission closed on Jan. 20, 2026, with a decision expected by mid-2026. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions.
FIRST-QUARTER 2026 HIGHLIGHTS AND RECENT UPDATES
Electric Utilities
Gas Utilities
Corporate and Other
2026 ADJUSTED EARNINGS GUIDANCE REAFFIRMED
Black Hills reaffirms its guidance for 2026 adjusted EPS* to be in the range of $4.25 to $4.45, based on the following assumptions:
This guidance excludes the expected merger with NorthWestern Energy, which is expected to close in the second half of 2026.
* The 2026 Adjusted EPS guidance shown above is a forward-looking, non-GAAP financial measure. The company is not able to provide comparable GAAP EPS guidance due to items that are not considered representative of the company's underlying operating performance that cannot be reasonably quantified for the full-year period. These items include merger-related costs the company expects to incur in 2026, in addition to any other unplanned items that may affect GAAP results in 2026.
USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
As noted in this earnings release, in addition to presenting its earnings information in conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), the company has presented non-GAAP Adjusted earnings and Adjusted EPS, which reflect adjustments for expenses, gains and losses that the company believes do not reflect ongoing core operating performance, such as costs related to the pending merger with NorthWestern. The company’s management uses non-GAAP measures for financial planning and analysis, for reporting of results to the Board of Directors, in determining performance-based compensation and communicating its earnings outlook to analysts and investors. Non-GAAP financial measures are intended to supplement investors’ understanding of our performance and should not be considered alternatives for financial measures presented in accordance with GAAP. Our non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to those of other companies.
Reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included below.
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | |||||
| (in millions, except per share amounts) | ||||||
| Net income available for common stock (GAAP) | $ | 131.0 | $ | 134.3 | ||
| Adjustment: | ||||||
| Merger-related costs | 4.6 | - | ||||
| Less: tax effect of adjustment | (0.5 | ) | - | |||
| Adjustment, net of tax | 4.1 | - | ||||
| Adjusted earnings (non-GAAP) | $ | 135.1 | $ | 134.3 | ||
| Weighted average shares, diluted | 75.6 | 71.8 | ||||
| Earnings per share, diluted (GAAP) | $ | 1.73 | $ | 1.87 | ||
| Adjustment: | ||||||
| Merger-related costs | 0.06 | - | ||||
| Less: tax effect of adjustment | (0.01 | ) | - | |||
| Adjustment, net of tax | 0.05 | - | ||||
| Rounding | 0.01 | - | ||||
| Adjusted EPS (non-GAAP) | $ | 1.79 | $ | 1.87 | ||
|
BLACK HILLS CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL RESULTS (Minor differences may result due to rounding) | |||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | ||||||
| (in millions, except per share amount) | |||||||
| Revenue | $ | 780.7 | $ | 805.2 | |||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||
| Fuel, purchased power and cost of natural gas sold | 337.9 | 359.7 | |||||
| Operations and maintenance | 148.0 | 153.7 | |||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 74.8 | 69.2 | |||||
| Taxes other than income taxes | 18.1 | 17.6 | |||||
| Total operating expenses | 578.8 | 600.2 | |||||
| Operating income | 201.9 | 205.0 | |||||
| Interest expense, net | (51.9 | ) | (51.3 | ) | |||
| Other income (expense), net | 0.7 | 0.8 | |||||
| Income tax benefit (expense) | (17.6 | ) | (18.1 | ) | |||
| Net income | 133.1 | 136.4 | |||||
| Net income attributable to non-controlling interest | (2.1 | ) | (2.1 | ) | |||
| Net income available for common stock | $ | 131.0 | $ | 134.3 | |||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding: | |||||||
| Basic | 75.4 | 71.6 | |||||
| Diluted | 75.6 | 71.8 | |||||
| Earnings per share: | |||||||
| Earnings per share, Basic | $ | 1.74 | $ | 1.87 | |||
| Earnings per share, Diluted | $ | 1.73 | $ | 1.87 | |||
CONSOLIDATING INCOME STATEMENTS - YEAR-TO-DATE
(Minor differences may result due to rounding)
| Consolidating Income Statement | |||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2026 | Electric Utilities | Gas Utilities | Corporate and Other | Total | |||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 241.6 | $ | 543.1 | $ | (4.0 | ) | $ | 780.7 | ||||
| Fuel, purchased power and cost of natural gas sold | 66.8 | 271.2 | (0.1 | ) | 337.9 | ||||||||
| Operations and maintenance | 65.1 | 82.3 | 0.6 | 148.0 | |||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 40.6 | 34.2 | - | 74.8 | |||||||||
| Taxes other than income taxes | 9.2 | 8.9 | - | 18.1 | |||||||||
| Operating income | $ | 59.9 | $ | 146.5 | $ | (4.5 | ) | $ | 201.9 | ||||
| Interest expense, net | (51.9 | ) | |||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net | 0.7 | ||||||||||||
| Income tax benefit (expense) | (17.6 | ) | |||||||||||
| Net income | 133.1 | ||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to non-controlling interest | (2.1 | ) | |||||||||||
| Net income available for common stock | $ | 131.0 | |||||||||||
| Consolidating Income Statement | |||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 | Electric Utilities | Gas Utilities | Corporate and Other | Total | |||||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 236.7 | $ | 572.4 | $ | (3.9 | ) | $ | 805.2 | ||||
| Fuel, purchased power and cost of natural gas sold | 67.2 | 292.6 | (0.1 | ) | 359.7 | ||||||||
| Operations and maintenance | 68.8 | 87.9 | (3.0 | ) | 153.7 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 37.1 | 32.1 | - | 69.2 | |||||||||
| Taxes other than income taxes | 9.3 | 8.3 | - | 17.6 | |||||||||
| Operating income | $ | 54.3 | $ | 151.5 | $ | (0.8 | ) | $ | 205.0 | ||||
| Interest expense, net | (51.3 | ) | |||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net | 0.8 | ||||||||||||
| Income tax benefit (expense) | (18.1 | ) | |||||||||||
| Net income | 136.4 | ||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to non-controlling interest | (2.1 | ) | |||||||||||
| Net income available for common stock | $ | 134.3 | |||||||||||
Three Months Ended March 31, 2026, Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025
OPERATING STATISTICS
Electric Utilities
| Revenue | Quantities Sold | ||||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| By Customer Class | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | |||||
| (in millions) | (in GWh) | ||||||||
| Retail Revenue - | |||||||||
| Residential | $ | 63.1 | $ | 66.4 | 358.9 | 406.4 | |||
| Commercial | 70.0 | 68.8 | 492.2 | 517.2 | |||||
| Industrial (a) | 56.2 | 48.2 | 707.4 | 609.8 | |||||
| Municipal | 4.3 | 4.5 | 31.1 | 34.6 | |||||
| Other Retail | 3.4 | 3.4 | — | — | |||||
| Subtotal Retail Revenue - Electric | 197.0 | 191.3 | 1,589.6 | 1,568.0 | |||||
| Wholesale | 6.0 | 7.1 | 140.1 | 147.8 | |||||
| Market - off-system sales | 10.9 | 11.3 | 198.3 | 173.6 | |||||
| Transmission | 12.0 | 12.1 | — | — | |||||
| Other (b) | 15.7 | 14.9 | — | — | |||||
| Total Revenue and Quantities Sold | $ | 241.6 | $ | 236.7 | 1,928.0 | 1,889.4 | |||
| Other Uses, Losses, or Generation, net (c) | 103.2 | 94.1 | |||||||
| Total Energy | 2,031.2 | 1,983.5 | |||||||
________________
| (a) | The increase in industrial revenues and quantities sold for the three months ended Mar. 31, 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, was primarily driven by Wyoming Electric LPCS Tariff and BCIS Tariff customers. |
| (b) | Includes Integrated Generation, inter-segment rent, and non-regulated services to our retail customers under the Service Guard Comfort Plan and Tech Services. |
| (c) | Includes company uses and line losses. |
| Revenue | Quantities Sold | ||||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| By Business Unit | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | |||||
| (in millions) | (in GWh) | ||||||||
| Colorado Electric | $ | 69.2 | $ | 72.4 | 495.9 | 532.3 | |||
| South Dakota Electric | 86.7 | 86.9 | 679.7 | 682.0 | |||||
| Wyoming Electric | 74.8 | 66.6 | 726.6 | 645.8 | |||||
| Integrated Generation | 10.9 | 10.8 | 25.8 | 29.3 | |||||
| Total Revenue and Quantities Sold | $ | 241.6 | $ | 236.7 | 1,928.0 | 1,889.4 | |||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||
| 2026 | 2025 | |||
| Degree Days | Actual | Variance from Normal | Actual | Variance from Normal |
| Heating Degree Days: | ||||
| Colorado Electric | 2,001 | (21)% | 2,733 | 9% |
| South Dakota Electric | 2,567 | (22)% | 3,438 | 5% |
| Wyoming Electric | 2,325 | (23)% | 3,140 | 5% |
| Combined (a) | 2.263 | (22)% | 3,060 | 7% |
| Cooling Degree Days: | ||||
| Colorado Electric | 11 | N/M | --- | --- |
| South Dakota Electric | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wyoming Electric | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Combined (a) | 5 | N/M | --- | --- |
________________
| (a) | Degree days are calculated based on a weighted average of total customers by state. |
OPERATING STATISTICS (continued)
Gas Utilities
| Revenue | Quantities Sold and Transported | ||||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| By Customer Class | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | |||||
| (in millions) | (Dth in millions) | ||||||||
| Retail Revenue - | |||||||||
| Residential | $ | 311.7 | $ | 344.1 | 25.2 | 30.7 | |||
| Commercial | 125.5 | 134.3 | 12.2 | 14.0 | |||||
| Industrial | 6.9 | 6.6 | 0.9 | 1.0 | |||||
| Other Retail (a) | 14.6 | 14.7 | — | — | |||||
| Subtotal Retail Revenue - Gas | 458.7 | 499.7 | 38.3 | 45.7 | |||||
| Transportation | 54.5 | 57.7 | 46.2 | 50.4 | |||||
| Other (b) | 29.9 | 15.0 | — | — | |||||
| Total Revenue and Quantities Sold | $ | 543.1 | $ | 572.4 | 84.5 | 96.1 | |||
________________
| (a) | Includes Black Hills Energy Services revenue under the Choice Gas Program. |
| (b) | Includes inter-segment rent and non-regulated services under the Service Guard Comfort Plan, Tech Services, and HomeServe. |
| Revenue | Quantities Sold and Transported | ||||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| By Business Unit | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | |||||
| (in millions) | (Dth in millions) | ||||||||
| Arkansas Gas | $ | 122.1 | $ | 124.8 | 11.5 | 13.2 | |||
| Colorado Gas | 90.2 | 115.8 | 10.8 | 13.2 | |||||
| Iowa Gas | 93.8 | 86.8 | 14.1 | 15.2 | |||||
| Kansas Gas | 60.6 | 66.1 | 10.2 | 11.7 | |||||
| Nebraska Gas | 130.9 | 130.2 | 26.2 | 29.6 | |||||
| Wyoming Gas | 45.5 | 48.7 | 11.7 | 13.2 | |||||
| Total Revenue and Quantities Sold | $ | 543.1 | $ | 572.4 | 84.5 | 96.1 | |||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||
| 2026 | 2025 | |||
| Heating Degree Days | Actual | Variance from Normal | Actual | Variance from Normal |
| Arkansas Gas (a) | 1,572 | (16)% | 1,957 | 2% |
| Colorado Gas | 2,059 | (27)% | 2,837 | 2% |
| Iowa Gas | 2,994 | (9)% | 3,288 | (1)% |
| Kansas Gas (a) | 2,034 | (15)% | 2,616 | 10% |
| Nebraska Gas (a) | 2,545 | (15)% | 3,039 | 2% |
| Wyoming Gas | 2,464 | (24)% | 3,323 | 3% |
| Combined (b) | 2,513 | (18)% | 3,082 | 1% |
________________
| (a) | Arkansas Gas and Kansas Gas have weather normalization mechanisms that mitigate the weather impact on Gas Utility margins. Nebraska Gas received NPSC approval to develop a two-year pilot program for a weather normalization mechanism which was effective in August 2025. |
| (b) | Heating degree days are calculated based on a weighted average of total customers by state excluding Kansas Gas and Nebraska Gas (effective in August 2025) due to their weather normalization mechanisms. Arkansas Gas is partially excluded based on the weather normalization mechanism in effect from November through April. |
CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST
Black Hills will host a live conference call and webcast at 11 a.m. EST on Thursday, May 7, 2026, to discuss the company's financial results.
To participate by phone and ask a question during the live broadcast, participants can access the event directly at Black Hills Corp. Conference Q&A. Please allow at least five minutes to register. Upon registration, dial-in information will be provided, including a personal identification number.
To access a listen-only webcast and view presentation slides, please register at Black Hills Corp. Webcast. At the conclusion of the call, a replay of the broadcast will be available at this link and at Black Hills’ investor relations website for up to one year.
AGA FINANCIAL FORUM PARTICIPATION
Leadership from Black Hills Corp. is scheduled to meet with investors and analysts at the 2026 AGA Financial Forum taking place from May 17, 2026, through May 19, 2026. An investor presentation will be available prior to the conference on Black Hills’ website at www.blackhillscorp.com under “Events and Presentations."
ABOUT BLACK HILLS CORP.
Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) is a customer-focused, growth-oriented utility company with a tradition of improving life with energy and a vision to be the energy partner of choice. Based in Rapid City, South Dakota, the company serves more than 1.37 million natural gas and electric utility customers in eight states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. More information is available at www.blackhillscorp.com.
CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release includes “forward-looking statements” as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. We make these forward-looking statements in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. This includes, without limitations, our 2026 earnings guidance, long-term growth target and our expectations for regulatory approvals for and the closing of the merger with NorthWestern Energy. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions which we believe are reasonable based on current expectations and projections about future events and industry conditions and trends affecting our business. However, whether actual results and developments will conform to our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that, among other things, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including without limitation, the risk factors described in Item 1A of Part I of our 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports that we file with the SEC from time to time, and the following:
New factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements emerge from time-to-time, and it is not possible for us to predict all such factors, or the extent to which any such factor or combination of factors may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statement. We assume no obligation to update publicly any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
| Investor Relations: | |
| Sal Diaz | |
| Phone | 605-399-5079 |
| investorrelations@blackhillscorp.com | |
| Media Contact: | |
| 24-hour Media Assistance | 888-242-3969 |
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