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CMS Energy Corporation (NYSE:CMS) reported first quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share of $1.02, up 5% from $0.97 in the same period last year, according to the company’s quarterly presentation released on April 24, 2025. The Michigan-based utility is maintaining its full-year 2025 adjusted EPS guidance of $3.54-$3.60, with management indicating results are trending "toward the high end" of that range.
Quarterly Performance Highlights
CMS Energy’s first quarter results benefited from favorable weather conditions, which contributed 26 cents to earnings per share. This positive impact was partially offset by higher financing costs, taxes, and other expenses, which reduced EPS by 23 cents. Rate increases, renewable energy investments, and other infrastructure investments added 7 cents to the quarterly result.
"We’re executing on plan," noted the company in its presentation, highlighting the continued implementation of its clean energy transition strategy.
As shown in the following quarterly earnings breakdown:
Weather-normalized electric deliveries showed growth across most segments compared to Q1 2024, with residential sales up 2.3%, commercial sales increasing 3.8%, and total deliveries rising 1.6%. Industrial sales were the only segment showing a decline, down 2.3%. The company also reported strong customer growth, with both electric and gas customer bases expanding at a 2% five-year average rate.
Strategic Initiatives
CMS Energy continues to position itself as a leader in the clean energy transition, emphasizing several key strategic advantages including its strong cash flow and balance sheet, infrastructure renewal initiatives, and operations in what it describes as an "attractive and diversified territory" with constructive regulation.
The company’s investment thesis is built around these core strengths:
A significant component of CMS Energy’s strategy involves its updated $20 billion customer investment plan, which represents a $3 billion increase from its previous capital expenditure outlook. This plan is expected to drive rate base growth from $26.2 billion in 2024 to $39.4 billion by 2029, representing an 8.5% annual growth rate.
The investment plan allocation shows a strong focus on electric utility infrastructure and clean energy generation:
Michigan’s regulatory environment continues to provide a supportive framework for CMS Energy’s investments, with timely recovery mechanisms and constructive returns on equity. The company received a March 21st order for $176 million with a 9.9% ROE for its electric business and has a pending gas rate case filed in December for $248 million with a requested 10.25% ROE, with an expected decision by October 16th.
Detailed Financial Analysis
CMS Energy maintains a strong balance sheet with credit ratings of BBB+ from S&P, Baa1 from Moody’s, and BBB+ from Fitch. The company emphasized its 100% fixed rate debt structure, limited near-term maturities, and strong operating cash flow generation as key financial strengths.
The company’s financial position is illustrated in the following slide:
For 2025, CMS Energy outlined its financing plans, including $1,125 million in first mortgage bonds for Consumers Energy, $1,270 million in new debt issuances at the parent company level, and planned equity of up to $500 million. These financings are intended to fund customer investments while maintaining ample liquidity, which currently stands at approximately $2.2 billion.
The company has also highlighted its long-term financial performance, demonstrating consistent growth through various economic cycles, including recessions and the pandemic:
Economic Development and Growth Opportunities
CMS Energy is actively pursuing economic development opportunities across Michigan, with projects representing an additional 9,000 MW of potential load. Major investments in the company’s service territory include Ford’s Blue Oval Battery Park ($2.6 billion investment, 1,700 jobs), Corning Inc (NYSE:GLW). ($900 million investment, 1,100 jobs), and several other significant manufacturing and data center projects.
The following map illustrates the distribution of these economic development initiatives:
The company emphasized that these economic development efforts drive diversified growth across Michigan while helping to reduce customer rates through expanded load sharing of fixed costs.
Forward-Looking Statements
Looking ahead, CMS Energy reaffirmed its long-term adjusted EPS growth target of 6% to 8%, indicating results are trending "toward the high end" of that range. The company also expects consistent dividend growth, targeting a payout ratio of approximately 60% over time. For 2025, the annual dividend per share is set at $2.17, an increase of 11 cents from the previous year.
CMS Energy also highlighted its preparedness for potential challenges, noting that approximately 90% of its supply chain is domestically sourced with broad vendor redundancy, and 95-100% of its gas supply is domestically sourced. The company emphasized that it has manageable inflationary impacts and is not dependent on imported electricity, positioning it well to navigate the current operating environment.
The stock closed at $73.50 on April 23, 2025, down 0.27% for the day, but was trading up 2.71% at $75.49 in pre-market trading following the earnings release.
Full presentation:
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