WEC Energy Group announces plan to increase dividend by 6.9 percent

Rhea-AI Summary

WEC Energy Group (NYSE: WEC) announced plans to increase its quarterly dividend by 6.9% to 89.25 cents per share in Q1 2025, representing a 5.75 cents per share increase. The dividend, equivalent to an annual rate of $3.57 per share, would be payable March 1, 2025, to stockholders of record on February 14, 2025.

The company maintains a target dividend payout ratio of 65-70% of earnings and projects earnings growth of 6.5-7% compound annual growth rate. For 2025, WEC introduced earnings guidance of $5.17-$5.27 per share, with a midpoint of $5.22, representing 7.6% growth from the 2024 adjusted guidance midpoint of $4.85 per share.

Positive

• Planned 6.9% increase in quarterly dividend to $0.8925 per share
• Projected 7.6% earnings growth for 2025 vs 2024
• Strong earnings guidance for 2025 ($5.17-$5.27 per share)
• Maintains healthy dividend payout ratio target of 65-70%

Negative

• None.

MILWAUKEE, Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of WEC Energy Group (NYSE: WEC) today announced that it is planning to raise the quarterly dividend on the company's common stock to 89.25 cents per share in the first quarter of 2025. This would represent an increase of 5.75 cents per share, or 6.9 percent.

The directors expect to declare the new dividend at their regularly scheduled meeting in January. The dividend — which would be equivalent to an annual rate of $3.57 per share — would be payable March 1, 2025, to stockholders of record on Feb. 14, 2025.

"The board's review today is consistent with our ongoing plan targeting a dividend payout ratio of 65 to 70 percent of earnings," said Scott Lauber, president and CEO. "The projected dividend for 2025 is in line with the company's longer-term objective to grow earnings per share at a 6.5 to 7 percent compound annual growth rate."

In addition, the company introduced earnings guidance for 2025. Calendar year 2025 earnings are expected to be in a range of $5.17 to $5.27 per share. The midpoint of the range is $5.22 per share. This represents growth of 7.6 percent from the midpoint of the company's 2024 adjusted guidance of $4.85 per share.

WEC Energy Group (NYSE: WEC), based in Milwaukee, is one of the nation's premier energy companies, serving 4.7 million customers in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota.

The company's principal utilities are We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service, Peoples Gas, North Shore Gas, Michigan Gas Utilities, Minnesota Energy Resources and Upper Michigan Energy Resources. Another major subsidiary, We Power, designs, builds and owns electric generating plants. In addition, WEC Infrastructure LLC owns a growing fleet of renewable generation facilities in states ranging from South Dakota to Texas.

WEC Energy Group (wecenergygroup.com) is a Fortune 500 company and a component of the S&P 500. The company has approximately 34,000 stockholders of record, 7,000 employees and more than $45 billion of assets.

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based upon management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning management's expectations and projections regarding earnings, earnings growth rates, dividend payments and future results. In some cases, forward-looking statements may be identified by reference to a future period or periods or by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "guidance," "intends," "may," "objectives," "plans," "possible," "potential," "projects," "should," "targets," "will" or similar terms or variations of these terms.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions, including business and competitive conditions in the company's service territories; timing, resolution and impact of rate cases and other regulatory decisions, including rider reconciliations; the company's ability to continue to successfully integrate the operations of its subsidiaries; availability of the company's generating facilities and/or distribution systems; unanticipated changes in fuel and purchased power costs; key personnel changes; unusual, varying, or severe weather conditions; continued industry restructuring and consolidation; continued advances in, and adoption of, new technologies that produce power or reduce power consumption; energy and environmental conservation efforts; electrification initiatives, mandates and other efforts to reduce the use of natural gas; the company's ability to successfully acquire and/or dispose of assets and projects and to execute on its capital plan; terrorist, physical or cyber-security threats or attacks and data security breaches; construction risks; labor disruptions; equity and bond market fluctuations; changes in the company's and its subsidiaries' ability to access the capital markets; changes in tax legislation or our ability to use certain tax benefits and carryforwards; federal, state, and local legislative and regulatory changes, including changes in rate-setting policies or procedures and environmental standards, the enforcement of these laws and regulations and changes in the interpretation of regulations or permit conditions by regulatory agencies; supply chain disruptions; inflation; political or geopolitical developments, including impacts on the global economy, supply chain and fuel prices, generally, from ongoing, escalating, or expanding regional conflicts; the impact from any health crises, including epidemics and pandemics; current and future litigation and regulatory investigations, proceedings or inquiries; changes in accounting standards; the financial performance of American Transmission Company as well as projects in which the company's energy infrastructure business invests; the ability of the company to obtain additional generating capacity at competitive prices; goodwill and its possible impairment; and other factors described under the heading "Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity and Capital Resources" in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and under the headings "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information" and "Risk Factors" contained in the company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and in subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as may be required by law, the company expressly disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.

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SOURCE WEC Energy Group

FAQ

What is WEC Energy Group's planned dividend increase for 2025?

WEC Energy Group plans to increase its quarterly dividend by 6.9% to 89.25 cents per share in the first quarter of 2025.

When will WEC Energy Group's new dividend be payable?

The new dividend would be payable on March 1, 2025, to stockholders of record on February 14, 2025.

What is WEC Energy Group's earnings guidance for 2025?

WEC Energy Group expects 2025 earnings to be between $5.17 and $5.27 per share, with a midpoint of $5.22 per share.

What is WEC Energy Group's target dividend payout ratio?

WEC Energy Group targets a dividend payout ratio of 65 to 70 percent of earnings.