- ETR +3.05%
Strategic Performance and Market Dynamics
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Management characterized 2025 as an 'affirmational' year, validating a long-term strategy centered on meeting unprecedented power demand from large-scale industrial and data center customers.
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Industrial sales grew by 7% in 2025, contributing to a 4% overall retail sales increase, which management attributes to the competitive advantages of their service area, including low rates and vertical integration.
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The company secured approximately 3.5 gigawatts in new electric service agreements (ESAs) during 2025, with a focus on steel, petrochemical, LNG, and hyperscale data center sectors.
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Management emphasized a 'customer-first' approach to capital allocation, prioritizing investments in reliability and resilience that are funded in part by the fixed-cost contributions of new large-load customers.
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Operational success was highlighted by a 90% unit capability factor in the nuclear fleet and the successful execution of major refueling outages and capacity upgrades.
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The regulatory environment was described as increasingly supportive, with new legislation in Arkansas and Texas and policy initiatives in Louisiana designed to expedite infrastructure for economic development.
Growth Outlook and Strategic Assumptions
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Entergy projects an 8% compound annual growth rate for retail sales through 2029, underpinned by a 15% CAGR in the industrial segment.
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The 4-year capital plan has been increased to $43 billion, including the $1.8 billion acquisition and improvement of the Cottonwood Generating Station to meet immediate capacity needs.
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Management maintains a conservative forecasting methodology for data centers, only including projects in the financial plan once an ESA is signed and using only minimum build levels for projections.
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The company has secured equipment, including turbines, to serve 8 gigawatts of incremental load beyond the current plan, providing a clear line of sight for future expansion.
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Guidance for 2026 assumes continued benefits from sales growth and the implementation of new regulatory mechanisms, partially offset by higher financing costs and a larger share count.
Risk Factors and Structural Developments
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Winter Storm Fern resulted in preliminary restoration cost estimates of up to $560 million across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas, with the majority expected to be recovered through normal regulatory mechanisms.
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The company plans to monetize approximately $215 million in nuclear production tax credits (PTCs) in 2026, which will ultimately provide benefits to customers.
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Equity needs for the 2026-2029 period are approximately 45% contracted, with management indicating no immediate need to transact further until well into 2027.
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Large-load contracts are structured with early termination penalties and minimum bills to protect existing residential customers from the stranded cost risk of infrastructure investments.
Q&A Session Highlights
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Protections and collateral requirements for large-load data center projects-
Management confirmed that electric service agreements (ESAs) include significant credit requirements, termination fees, and minimum bills to protect the company and other ratepayers.
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For hyperscale customers like Meta, the ESA is backstopped by the parent corporation, providing a 15-year guarantee regardless of secondary financing structures.
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Entergy fully expects to utilize the ordered turbines on their original timelines due to high customer demand.
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If a specific ESA is not in place when payments are due, management intends to use reimbursement agreements with customers to mitigate financial risk.
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Current data center contracts are estimated to generate $5 billion in rate offsets over their life, averaging more than $5 per residential customer per month.
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Management views this as a conservative estimate that does not include additional benefits from fuel efficiency, improved reliability, or local tax base increases.
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