Enel's profit declines in H1, keeps 2021 forecast

Italian energy giant Enel SpA (BIT:ENEL) on Thursday reported year-on-year declines in all key indicators of its financial performance for the first half of 2021, but still reiterated its 2021 guidance.

Enel saw its group net ordinary profit decrease by 4.4% on the year to about EUR 2.3 billion (USD 2.74bn). It blamed the drop on the negative performance of the result from operations and on the higher level of taxes at EUR 93 million, mainly resulting from the effects of the adjustments of current and deferred taxation in Argentina and Spain.

Ordinary earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 4.9% as most business lines, including Enel Green Power, made lower contributions.

“In the second quarter of the year, the Group's performance accelerated solidly and visibly, returning the main operating figures to pre-COVID levels,” commented Group CEO Francesco Starace.

The table below shows more information about the group’s financial performance in January-June 2021.

In relation to the drop in revenues, Enel said that the Thermal Generation and Trading segment registered lower trading activities in Italy during the period and incurred a negative exchange rate effect in Latin America. The increase in revenues at Enel Green Power could only partially offset these factors.

The group’s capital expenditure in January-June 2021 rose by 16.3% on the year to EUR 4.8 billion mainly in relation to Infrastructure and Networks, End-User Markets and Enel X.

“In light of the trend recorded in the first half of 2021, we confirm the year-end targets of Ordinary EBITDA and Net Ordinary Income, as well as the guaranteed dividend per share of EUR 0.38, up 6% year-on-year,” Starace concluded.

During the six-month period, Enel increased its total net efficient installed capacity to 85.5 GW by adding 0.3 GW of fresh wind in each of Brazil and South Africa, as well as about 0.5 GW of new solar in the US. At present, the group's generation mix includes 52% renewables, 36% thermal and 12% nuclear energy.

(EUR 1.0 = USD 1.190)

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