Entergy posts $940 million in third-quarter earnings, narrows 2026 guidance
Key Facts
Entergy reported on Nov. 2 that third-quarter 2026 earnings were $940 million, or $1.98 per share, compared with $694 million and $1.53 per share in the same period of 2025. The company narrowed its adjusted earnings-per-share guidance for the year to $4.35–$4.45. The quarterly increase was concentrated in the utility business, while losses at the parent company and other activities widened. Chief Executive Drew Marsh said the company had made "very strong progress" in customer, operational, regulatory and financial performance. The company held its earnings call the same day to discuss its financial performance.
Utility earnings attributable to Entergy were about $1.079 billion, or $2.28 per share, compared with $810 million and $1.79 per share a year earlier. The company attributed the improvement to higher retail sales volumes, including the effect of weather, the net impact of regulatory actions, returns on construction work in progress and higher other income. These factors were partly offset by higher interest, operations and maintenance, and depreciation expenses. The company estimated the after-tax impact of weather at $116 million, or $0.24 per share, in the third quarter. The comparable impact was $28 million, or $0.06 per share, in the third quarter of 2025.
By contrast, the parent company and other activities posted a loss of $139 million, or 29 cents per share, compared with a loss of $117 million and 26 cents per share a year earlier. Entergy attributed the decline mainly to higher interest expenses. Adjusted earnings for the first nine months of 2026 were about $1.821 billion, or $3.89 per share, compared with $1.522 billion and $3.40 per share in the same period of 2025. The figures show utility results improving alongside continued pressure from parent-company costs. Full-year adjusted earnings-per-share guidance remains in a range of $4.35 to $4.45.
On demand and infrastructure, Entergy Arkansas announced an expansion of its services agreement with Google at its West Memphis campus in Arkansas. The company said the agreement would deliver at least $500 million in new customer savings, beginning in 2028 and extending over 20 years. The expansion will be submitted to the Arkansas Public Service Commission for regulatory review. In Texas, the Orange County Advanced Power Station began operating and supplying electricity to customers. The Louisiana Public Service Commission also approved the $1.2 billion Bayou to Weber transmission project.
The U.S. Department of Energy announced a $14 million award to Entergy companies to strengthen grid reliability. The board raised the quarterly cash dividend to 68 cents per share, an increase of 6%. These steps come as the company expands generation and transmission projects alongside expected load growth, including demand associated with large data centers. Entergy listed the possibility that contracted or expected load growth may not materialize or continue, as well as the possibility that some regulatory costs may not be recovered in the expected amount or on the expected timetable, among its risks. Telephone registration for the earnings call was available through Nov. 9, 2026.
Entergy shares closed at $110.11 on Oct. 30, the latest closing price reported before the earnings announcement. That price did not reflect the stock's movement during the earnings-announcement session. The third-quarter results combined growth in utility earnings, supported by sales, weather and regulatory factors, with a larger parent-company loss due to higher interest costs. Adjusted annual guidance was set at $4.35 to $4.45 per share after the range was narrowed. The company said risks to the sustainability of load growth and recovery of regulatory costs remain among the factors that could affect future results.