FirstEnergy Announces Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) reported Q3 2025 GAAP EPS $0.76 and Core EPS $0.83, up 9% year-over-year; year-to-date GAAP EPS $1.85 and Core EPS $2.02, up 15%.

The company narrowed 2025 Core EPS guidance to $2.50–$2.56 and affirmed a 6–8% compound annual Core EPS growth target (2025–2029). FirstEnergy increased its 2025 capital program to $5.5B (deployed >$4B through Sept.) and said its Energize365 plan totals $28B (2025–2029). Management projects a 30% rise in transmission investments and cited 16% transmission rate base growth in Q3 2025.

Positive

• Core EPS +9% Q3 2025 vs Q3 2024
• YTD Core EPS +15% through Sept. 2025
• 2025 capital plan increased to $5.5B; >$4B deployed YTD
• Energize365 plan: $28B of investments (2025–2029)
• Transmission rate base growth 16% in Q3 2025

Negative

• Higher planned operating expenses partially offset earnings
• Increased financing costs and equity dilution from FET transaction
• Forward-looking risks include ongoing investigations and regulatory matters related to HB 6

Insights

Electric utility financial analyst

Results show modest EPS growth, tighter guidance, and heavier capital deployment supporting regulated growth.

FirstEnergy reported third-quarter GAAP EPS of $0.76 and Core EPS of $0.83, up 9% year‑over‑year for the quarter and 15% year‑to‑date to $2.02. Management narrowed 2025 Core EPS guidance to $2.50–$2.56, lifted planned 2025 capital spending to $5.5 billion (from $5.0 billion) and reiterated a 6–8 compound annual Core EPS growth target through 2029.

The business mechanism is straightforward: regulated rate base growth and new base rates (notably Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New Jersey) are driving Core Earnings higher, while accelerated work and higher operating costs partially offset gains. Key dependencies and risks disclosed include higher planned operating expense, an elevated effective tax rate in parts of the portfolio, and forward‑looking caveats tied to special items and regulatory processes. Concrete items to watch in the near term include the company’s 2025 Core EPS delivery against the narrowed $2.50–$2.56 range, execution of the increased $5.5 billion capital program, progress on the $28 billion Energize365 plan through 2029, and development milestones for the proposed 1.2 gigawatt combined‑cycle project targeting around 2031.

Reports GAAP earnings of $0.76 per share for the third quarter, $1.85 per share year to date

Delivers Core Earnings (non-GAAP) of $0.83 per share for the third quarter and $2.02 per share year to date; improvements of 9% and 15%, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2024

Narrows full-year 2025 Core Earnings guidance range to $2.50 to $2.56 per share, in the upper half of original range

Deployed over $4 billion in capital investments through September to support grid reliability and resiliency; increases 2025 investment program by 10% to $5.5 billion

Projects 30% increase in future transmission investments driven by industry transformation

Affirms 6-8% compounded annual Core Earnings growth rate from 2025 through 2029

AKRON, Ohio, Oct. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) today reported third quarter 2025 GAAP earnings of $441 million, or $0.76 per basic and diluted share, on revenue of $4.1 billion. This compares to third quarter 2024 GAAP earnings of $419 million, or $0.73 per basic and diluted share, on revenue of $3.7 billion. GAAP results include the impact of special items listed in the table below.

Core Earnings (non-GAAP) for the third quarter of 2025 were $0.83 per share, compared to $0.76 per share in the third quarter of 2024, an increase of 9%. 

Based on the strength of its year-to-date results and outlook for the balance of the year, FirstEnergy is narrowing 2025 Core Earnings guidance to $2.50 to $2.56 per share, in the upper half of its original range of $2.40 to $2.60 per share. The company deployed over $4 billion in capital investments through the first nine months of 2025 and is increasing its planned investments from $5.0 billion to $5.5 billion this year. FirstEnergy also affirmed its 6-8% compounded annual Core Earnings growth rate target from 2025 through 2029. This growth is supported by the company's Energize365 capital investment plan, which includes $28 billion in investments from 2025 to 2029. 

"Our strong results reflect our team's unwavering focus on creating value for our customers and investors," said Brian X. Tierney, FirstEnergy Board Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We remain ahead of plan on each of our key financial metrics, and we are well-positioned to deliver 2025 Core Earnings between $2.50 to $2.56 per share. Our solid execution also allowed us to increase our 2025 capital program by 10% – putting even more resources into making energy service more reliable and resilient for our customers and fueling our communities' and company's growth. We are in a great position to continue making these important investments in the years ahead.

"The proliferation of large data center load is transforming the electric industry, particularly in our region," Tierney added. "We see a strong need for additional transmission capital investments to reliably serve customers and move power where it's needed. We believe our transmission system, which is ideally situated in the middle of the PJM region, is a strategic advantage to FirstEnergy to support and enable this transformation. We currently expect total transmission investments to increase by 30% in our next 5-year capital plan, driving compound transmission rate base growth up to 18%.

"In West Virginia, we recently provided our recommendations to keep power affordable, accessible and reliable," Tierney continued. "As part of our Integrated Resource Plan, we are pursuing a project to add 1.2 gigawatts of dispatchable combined-cycle generation in the state that would be operational around 2031. This project is aligned with West Virginia's energy goals and would represent a 35% increase in FirstEnergy's current regulated generation portfolio."

Third Quarter Results

Third quarter 2025 Core Earnings benefited from the impact of new base rates in Pennsylvania and growth in transmission rate base under formula rate programs, partially offset by higher planned operating expense that was approved with new base rates and work that was accelerated into 2025.

In the Distribution segment, Core Earnings increased $0.03 per share compared to the third quarter of 2024, primarily due to new base rates in Pennsylvania that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, and higher residential and commercial load. This was partially offset by higher planned operating expenses as described above.  

In the Integrated segment, the company's capital investments in formula rate programs drove transmission rate base growth of 16% and benefited earnings by $0.03 per share. This was more than offset by a higher effective tax rate, lower distribution demand from commercial customers and higher planned operating expenses as described above.   

In the Stand-Alone Transmission segment, Core Earnings increased $0.08 per share compared to the third quarter of 2024, primarily due to a 9% increase in rate base resulting from capital investments and a lower effective tax rate.

In Corporate/Other, results were flat compared to the third quarter.   

Year-to-Date Results

For the first nine months of 2025, FirstEnergy reported GAAP earnings of $1,069 million, or $1.85 per basic and diluted share, on revenue of $11.3 billion. This compares to GAAP earnings of $717 million, or $1.25 per basic share ($1.24 diluted), on revenue of $10.3 billion in the first nine months of 2024. GAAP results for both periods reflect the impact of special items listed below.

Core Earnings (non-GAAP) for the first nine months of 2025 were $2.02 per share, compared to $1.76 per share in the same period of 2024, an increase of 15%.

Core Earnings growth reflects the continued success of the company's regulated investment strategy, the impact of new base rates in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New Jersey, and higher weather-related distribution sales. These factors offset the impacts of higher planned operating expenses, which includes the impact of accelerated work, increased financing costs and dilution from the FET equity interest transaction that closed in March 2024.

Consolidated GAAP Earnings Per Share (EPS) to Core (Non-GAAP) EPS Reconciliation
					Three Months Ended Sept. 30,			Nine Months Ended Sept. 30,
					2025	2024		2025	2024
	Earnings Attributable to FirstEnergy Corp. (GAAP) - $M				$441	$419		$1,069	$717
	Basic EPS (GAAP)				$0.76	$0.73		$1.85	$1.25
	Excluding Special Items:
		Net Pension/OPEB credits			(0.01)	(0.03)		(0.04)	(0.07)
		Signal Peak earnings impact			—	(0.06)		—	(0.13)
		ARO regulatory change			—	—		—	0.28
		Debt-related costs			—	—		0.03	0.12
		Enhanced employee retirement and other related costs			—	0.01		—	0.01
		FE Forward cost to achieve			—	0.08		—	0.09
		Investigation and other related costs			0.05	0.03		0.09	0.10
		Regulatory charges			0.01	—		0.01	0.03
		Reorganization costs			—	—		0.06	—
		Strategic transaction charges			0.02	—		0.02	0.08
		Total Special Items			0.07	0.03		0.17	0.51
	Core EPS (Non-GAAP)				$0.83	$0.76		$2.02	$1.76
	Per share amounts for the special items above are based on the after-tax effect of each item divided by the number of shares outstanding for the period. The current and deferred income tax effect was calculated by applying the subsidiaries' statutory tax rate to the pre-tax amount if deductible/taxable. The income tax rate ranges from 21% to 29%. Basic EPS (GAAP), and Core EPS (non-GAAP) are based on 577 million shares for the third quarter and first nine months of 2025, 576 million shares for the third quarter of 2024 and 575 million shares for the first nine months of 2024.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We refer to certain financial measures, including Core Earnings (non-GAAP) per share ("Core EPS"), as "non-GAAP financial measures," which are not calculated in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") and exclude the impact of "special items" from earnings attributable to FirstEnergy Corp., as reflected in the table above. Core EPS is calculated based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding in the respective period.

Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate the company's and its segments' performance and manage its operations and frequently references these non-GAAP financial measures in its decision-making, using them to facilitate historical and ongoing performance comparisons. Management believes that the non-GAAP financial measures of Core Earnings and Core EPS, including by segment, provide consistent and comparable measures of performance of its businesses on an ongoing basis. Management also believes that such measures are useful to shareholders and other interested parties to understand performance trends and evaluate the company against its peer group by presenting period-over-period operating results without the effect of certain special items that may not be consistent or comparable across periods or across the company's peer group. These non-GAAP financial measures are intended to complement, and are not considered as alternatives to, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, which for Core EPS is EPS attributable to FirstEnergy Corp. (GAAP), as reconciled in the above table. Also, such non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other entities.

Special items represent charges incurred or benefits realized that management believes are not indicative of, or may obscure trends useful in evaluating the company's ongoing core activities and results of operations or otherwise warrant separate classification. Special Items for the period can be found in more detail in the Company's Strategic and Financial Highlights, available at www.firstenergycorp.com/ir.

Forward-Looking Non-GAAP Measures

A quantitative reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP measures, including 2025 Core EPS and compound annual Core EPS growth rate projections, to the most directly comparable GAAP measures is not provided because comparable GAAP measures for such measures are not available without unreasonable efforts due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying measures that would be necessary for such reconciliation. Specifically, management cannot, without unreasonable effort, predict the impact of these special items in the context of Core EPS guidance and compound annual Core EPS growth rate projections because these items, which could be significant, are difficult to predict and may be highly variable. In addition, the company believes such a reconciliation would imply a degree of precision and certainty that could be confusing to investors. Forward-looking statements, including these special items, are based upon current expectations and are subject to factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested here, including those factors set forth under "Forward-Looking Statements," below.

Investor Materials and Teleconference

FirstEnergy's Strategic and Financial Highlights presentation is posted on the company's Investor Information website – www.firstenergycorp.com/ir. It can be accessed through the Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results link. Important information may be disseminated initially or exclusively via the company's Investor Information website; investors should consult the site to access this information.

The company invites investors, customers and other interested parties to listen to a live webcast of its teleconference for financial analysts and view presentation slides at 9:00 a.m. EDT tomorrow. FirstEnergy management will present an overview of the company's financial results followed by a question-and-answer session. The teleconference and presentation can be accessed on the Investor Information website by selecting the Third Quarter 2025 Earnings Webcast link. The webcast and presentation will be archived on the website.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving more than 6 million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. FirstEnergy's transmission subsidiaries operate more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com and on X @FirstEnergyCorp.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release includes forward-looking statements based on information currently available to management and unless the context requires otherwise, references to "we," "us," "our" and "FirstEnergy" refers to FirstEnergy Corp. and its subsidiaries. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These statements include declarations regarding management's intents, beliefs and current expectations. These statements typically contain, but are not limited to, the terms "anticipate," "potential," "expect," "forecast," "target," "will," "intend," "believe," "project," "estimate," "plan" and similar words. Forward-looking statements involve estimates, assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, which may include the following: the potential liabilities, increased costs and unanticipated developments resulting from government investigations and agreements, including those associated with compliance with or failure to comply with the Deferred Prosecution Agreement entered into July 21, 2021 and settlements with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio and the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"); the risks and uncertainties associated with government investigations and audits regarding Ohio House Bill 6, as passed by Ohio's 133rd General Assembly ("HB 6") and related matters, including potential adverse impacts on federal or state regulatory matters, including, but not limited to, matters relating to rates; the risks and uncertainties associated with litigation, arbitration, mediation and similar proceedings, particularly regarding HB 6 related matters; changes in national and regional economic conditions, including recession, volatile interest rates, inflationary pressure, supply chain disruptions, higher fuel costs, and workforce impacts, affecting us and/or our customers and those vendors with which we do business; variations in weather, such as mild seasonal weather variations and severe weather conditions (including events caused, or exacerbated, by climate change, such as wildfires, hurricanes, flooding, droughts, high wind events and extreme heat events) and other natural disasters, which may result in increased storm restoration expenses or material liability and negatively affect future operating results; the potential liabilities and increased costs arising from regulatory actions or outcomes in response to severe weather conditions and other natural disasters; legislative and regulatory developments, and executive orders, including, but not limited to, matters related to rates, energy regulatory policies, compliance and enforcement activity, cyber security, climate change, and equity and inclusion; the ability to access the public securities and other capital and credit markets in accordance with our financial plans, the cost of such capital and overall condition of the capital and credit markets affecting us, including the increasing number of financial institutions evaluating the impact of climate change on their investment decisions, and the loss of FirstEnergy Corp.'s status as a well-known seasoned issuer; the risks associated with physical attacks, such as acts of war, terrorism, sabotage or other acts of violence, and cyber-attacks and other disruptions to our, or our vendors', information technology system, which may compromise our operations, and data security breaches of sensitive data, intellectual property and proprietary or personally identifiable information; the ability to accomplish or realize anticipated benefits through establishing a culture of continuous improvement and our other strategic and financial goals, including, but not limited to, executing Energize365, our transmission and distribution investment plan, executing on our rate filing strategy, controlling costs, improving credit metrics, maintaining investment grade ratings, strengthening our balance sheet and growing earnings; changing market conditions affecting the measurement of certain liabilities and the value of assets held in our pension trusts may negatively impact our forecasted growth rate, results of operations and may also cause it to make contributions to its pension sooner or in amounts that are larger than currently anticipated; changes in assumptions regarding factors such as economic conditions within our territories, the reliability of our transmission and distribution system, our generation resource planning in West Virginia, or the availability of capital or other resources supporting identified transmission and distribution investment opportunities; human capital management challenges, including among other things, attracting and retaining appropriately trained and qualified employees and labor disruptions by our unionized workforce; mitigating exposure for remedial activities associated with retired and formerly owned electric generation assets, including those sites impacted by the legacy coal combustion residual rules that were finalized during 2024, and the Environmental Protection Agency's reconsideration of such rule; changes to environmental laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, federal and state rules related to climate change, and potential changes to such laws and regulations; changes in customers' demand for power, including, but not limited to, economic conditions, the impact of climate change, emerging technology, particularly with respect to electrification, energy storage and distributed sources of generation; future actions taken by credit rating agencies that could negatively affect either our access to or terms of financing or our financial condition and liquidity; the potential of non-compliance with debt covenants in our credit facilities; the ability to comply with applicable reliability standards and energy efficiency and peak demand reduction mandates; changes to significant accounting policies; any changes in tax laws or regulations, including, but not limited to, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, as signed into law on July 4, 2025, or adverse tax audit results or rulings and potential changes to such laws and regulations; the ability to meet our publicly-disclosed goals relating to climate-related matters, opportunities, improvements, and efficiencies, including FirstEnergy's Greenhouse gas reduction goals' and the risks and other factors discussed from time to time in FirstEnergy Corp.'s SEC filings. Dividends declared from time to time on FirstEnergy Corp.'s common stock during any period may in the aggregate vary from prior periods due to circumstances considered by the FirstEnergy Corp. Board at the time of the actual declarations. A security rating is not a recommendation to buy or hold securities and is subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency. Each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating. These forward-looking statements are also qualified by, and should be read together with, the risk factors included in FirstEnergy Corp.'s Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and in other filings with the SEC. The foregoing review of factors also should not be construed as exhaustive. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all such factors, nor assess the impact of any such factor on FirstEnergy Corp.'s business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. FirstEnergy Corp. expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise, except as required by law, any forward-looking statements contained herein or in the information incorporated by reference as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

What were FirstEnergy (FE) Q3 2025 GAAP and Core EPS results?

FirstEnergy reported Q3 2025 GAAP EPS $0.76 and Core EPS $0.83.

How did FirstEnergy narrow its 2025 Core EPS guidance on Oct. 22, 2025?

The company narrowed 2025 Core EPS guidance to $2.50–$2.56, in the upper half of its original range.

How much has FirstEnergy invested in 2025 and what is the updated capital plan?

FirstEnergy deployed over $4.0B through Sept. 2025 and increased its 2025 investment program to $5.5B.

What is FirstEnergy’s planned investment pace under Energize365 (2025–2029)?

Energize365 includes $28B of planned investments from 2025–2029.

What transmission investment growth did FirstEnergy report for Q3 2025 and the next five years?

Q3 2025 transmission rate base grew 16%; company projects a 30% increase in transmission investments in the next five-year plan.

What growth target did FirstEnergy reaffirm for Core EPS through 2029?

FirstEnergy affirmed a 6–8% compound annual Core EPS growth target from 2025 through 2029.